RAF Lakenheath

EGUL / LKZ

Brandon, Suffolk, GB

Last Updated
Jun 15, 08:55Z

Military Airport

PPR Available

This is a Royal Air Force or Ministry of Defence aerodrome. Civil access may be available with Prior Permission Required (PPR).

Access Notes:

Many RAF stations accept civil PPR; consult UK AIP AD 2 for specific procedures

Consult official AIP (UK AIP ENR 2.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 35 min ago
08:55Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
15°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
6 kt
110°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGUL 150855Z AUTO 11006KT 9999 FEW180 15/08 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP176 T01520080 56007 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 32 ft
FEW 18,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
18,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
18,032 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

RAF Lakenheath is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 18,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots. Runway 05/23 is favored with a 3-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 18,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 15°C (59°F) with a dewpoint of 8°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 29 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast between 05:00Z and 10:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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.

QNH
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1016 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (32 ft)
Pressure Alt
-81 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -73 ft
ISA Deviation: +0.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD EGUL 150618Z 1506/1611 08006KT 9999 FEW035 BKN180 QNH3002INS BECMG 1512/1513 13010G15KT 9999 SCT020 BKN025 BKN100 621004 QNH2998INS BECMG 1520/1521 10009KT 9999 BKN030 QNH2986INS BECMG 1603/1604 VRB06KT 9000 -RA FEW015 BKN020 QNH2987INS TEMPO 1605/1610 BKN015 TX21/1514Z TN08/1604Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
09:29Z BASE
+0h
VFR 80° 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 18,000 ft
12:00Z BECMG
+3h
MVFR 130° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
20:00Z BECMG
+11h
VFR 100° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,000 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
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  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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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
GUL
05 ✈️
23

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 05
8,998 ft 150 ft PEM 56°
3.0 kt 5.2 kt
60° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - EGUL

11,950 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
52.4%
MVFR
29%
IFR
13.8%
LIFR
4.8%

RAF Lakenheath is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 52.4% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 18.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 9.7 knots. Temperature extremes range from -8°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, April, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 9.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 7.4%
Direction Distribution:
E
12.5%
N
5.6%
S
21.7%
W
8.7%
NE
7.6%
NW
6.4%
SE
13.6%
SW
16.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.6°C
Range: -8°C to 34°C
-8°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.4%

Best Months for VFR

May April June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt

Statistics computed from 11,950 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

RAF Lakenheath - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGUL
IATA Code: LKZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 32 ft MSL

Location

City: Brandon, Suffolk
Country: GB
Latitude: 52.409540°
Longitude: 0.561161°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 8,998 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No

About RAF Lakenheath

RAF Lakenheath is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the GB AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

RAF Lakenheath is a medium airport located in Suffolk, England, serving primarily as a United States Air Force base. Situated near Brandon at 32 ft mean sea level, the airport provides critical strategic aviation infrastructure in the eastern United Kingdom. The single runway 05/23 extends 8,998 feet and is constructed with a pavement (PEM) surface.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at RAF Lakenheath demonstrate consistent VFR operations, with 51% of observations reporting visual flight rules. The airport experiences mild temperature variations, ranging from -8°C to 28°C, with an average of 9.1°C. Wind patterns are predominantly southerly at 180 degrees, averaging 9.9 knots with occasional gusts up to 30 knots, and calm conditions occurring 7.3% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's geographic location in Suffolk provides relatively flat terrain typical of eastern England. With an elevation of just 32 ft MSL, pilots can expect minimal terrain-related challenges during approach and departure. The runway's orientation (05/23) and favorable wind conditions, with a 100% wind alignment and average crosswind of only 6.2 knots, contribute to predictable operational environments.

Approach Considerations

Seasonal flying is most favorable during September, October, and November, which demonstrate the most consistent VFR conditions. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility (fog appears in only 1.6% of observations). Pilots should anticipate primarily southerly winds and prepare for mild crosswind conditions when operating on runway 05/23.

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.