Sumburgh Airport

EGPB / LSI

Lerwick, Shetland, GB

Last Updated
Aug 11, 22:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 7 min ago
22:20Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
14°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 10°C
15 kt
160°
10+ km
Visibility
1,700 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGPB 112220Z AUTO 16015KT 9999 OVC017/// 14/10 Q1023

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 20 ft
OVC 1,700 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,720 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Sumburgh Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 1,700 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (160°) at 15 knots. Runway 15/33 is favored with a 15-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 1700 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 14°C (57°F) with a dewpoint of 10°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 9 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 21:00Z and 06:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions between 21:00Z and 00:00Z. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions between 02:00Z and 06:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF EGPB 111955Z 1121/1206 16014KT 9999 SCT020 TEMPO 1121/1206 17017G27KT PROB30 TEMPO 1121/1124 BKN014 BECMG 1200/1203 BKN010 PROB30 TEMPO 1202/1206 BKN006
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:26Z BASE
+0h
VFR 160° 14 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
00:00Z BECMG
+2h
MVFR
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
02:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+4h
IFR
Ceiling: 600 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
GPB
06H
24H
09
27
15 ✈️
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
06H/24H 1,781 ft 144 ft ASP 53°
4.4 kt 14.3 kt
107° angle
09/27 4,915 ft 144 ft ASP 84°
3.6 kt 14.6 kt
76° angle
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
4,672 ft 141 ft ASP 144°
14.8 kt 2.6 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - EGPB

20,865 observations | Sep 2025 - Aug 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
55.4%
MVFR
26.8%
IFR
11.2%
LIFR
6.6%

Sumburgh Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 55.4% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 17.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 14.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 46 knots. Temperatures typically range between -3°C and 17°C with an average of 8.4°C. The best months for VFR flying are September, March, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 14.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 46 kt
Calm Winds: 0.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
12.6%
NE
3.1%
E
6%
SE
15.3%
S
22.3%
SW
16.2%
W
16.3%
NW
7.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.4°C
Range: -3°C to 17°C
-3°C 17°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.3%

Best Months for VFR

September March November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06H/24H
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 10 kt
Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 9.8 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.6 kt

Statistics computed from 20,865 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Aug 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sumburgh Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGPB
IATA Code: LSI
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 20 ft MSL

Location

City: Lerwick, Shetland
Country: GB
Latitude: 59.878899°
Longitude: -1.295560°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 06H/24H
Length: 1,781 ft
Width: 144 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 09/27
Length: 4,915 ft
Width: 144 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 4,672 ft
Width: 141 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Sumburgh Airport

Overview

Sumburgh Airport serves the Shetland Islands, located at the southernmost tip of the archipelago near Lerwick. As a medium-sized airport with three runways, it plays a critical role in connecting the remote Shetland region with mainland United Kingdom and supporting local aviation needs.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect highly variable weather conditions, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions present 55.2% of the time and marginal VFR conditions occurring 28.7% of observations. The prevailing southerly winds average 15.7 knots, with occasional strong gusts up to 43 knots, and temperatures ranging from -3°C to 16°C with an average of 8.3°C.

Notable Features

The airport's three runways offer multiple landing options with consistent wind coverage, each providing 100% favorable wind conditions. Located at a low elevation of 20 feet MSL, Sumburgh Airport sits in an exposed coastal environment typical of the Shetland Islands, which can produce challenging wind and visibility conditions.

Approach Considerations

All three runways demonstrate similar crosswind characteristics, with average crosswind components between 8.8 and 11.4 knots. The extended runway 09/27 at 4,915 feet provides the longest landing surface, which may be preferable during higher wind conditions or for larger aircraft operations.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.