Kirkwall Airport

EGPA / KOI

Orkney Islands, GB

Last Updated
Aug 10, 20:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 22 min ago
20:50Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
10°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
5 kt
300°
10+ km
Visibility
4,300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGPA 102050Z AUTO 30005KT 9999 OVC043/// 10/07 Q1023

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 50 ft
OVC 4,300 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
4,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,350 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Kirkwall Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 4,300 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots. Runway 32 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 4300 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 10°C (50°F) with a dewpoint of 7°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. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

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 EGPA 101954Z 1021/1106 31010KT 9999 SCT040 BECMG 1022/1101 25005KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:11Z BASE
+0h
VFR 310° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
22:00Z BECMG
+1h
VFR 250° 5 kt

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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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
GPA
06
24
09
27
14
32 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
06/24 3,881 ft 151 ft ASP 58°
2.3 kt 4.4 kt
118° angle
09/27 4,690 ft 148 ft ASP 87°
4.2 kt 2.7 kt
147° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 32
2,222 ft 61 ft ASP 140°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - EGPA

15,150 observations | Sep 2025 - Aug 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
66%
MVFR
22.8%
IFR
6%
LIFR
5.2%

Kirkwall Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 66% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 12.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 42 knots. Temperatures typically range between -3°C and 22°C with an average of 8.7°C. The best months for VFR flying are March, September, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 12.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 42 kt
Calm Winds: 1.1%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.3%
N
9.6%
S
28.9%
W
16.5%
NE
3.1%
NW
6.6%
SE
17.7%
SW
10.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.7°C
Range: -3°C to 22°C
-3°C 22°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.9%

Best Months for VFR

March September May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 9.2 kt
Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.6 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.9 kt

Statistics computed from 15,150 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Aug 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Kirkwall Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGPA
IATA Code: KOI
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 50 ft MSL

Location

City: Orkney Islands
Country: GB
Latitude: 58.957802°
Longitude: -2.905000°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 3,881 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 09/27
Length: 4,690 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 2,222 ft
Width: 61 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Kirkwall Airport

Overview

Kirkwall Airport serves the Orkney Islands in northern Scotland, positioned at 58.957802, -2.905000 with an elevation of 50 ft MSL. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical transportation infrastructure for this remote archipelago, supporting regional and commercial aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 66.1% of observations showing favorable visibility and weather. The airport experiences significant wind activity, with prevailing southerly winds averaging 13.4 knots and occasional gusts up to 42 knots. Temperature ranges from -3°C to 17°C, with an average of 8.1°C, suggesting potential winter operational considerations.

Notable Features

The airport features three asphalt runways with lengths ranging from 2,222 ft to 4,690 ft, providing multiple landing options. Its coastal location in the Orkney Islands introduces potential maritime weather influences, including rapid visibility changes and consistent wind patterns. All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, offering flexible operational capabilities.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection should consider the prevailing southerly winds, with minimal crosswind components. Runway 06/24 and 09/27 offer similar crosswind characteristics around 10.4 and 10.1 knots respectively, while runway 14/32 provides a slightly more benign crosswind environment at 7.2 knots. Pilots should anticipate excellent VFR conditions, particularly during September, November, and December.

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.