RAF Topcliffe

EGXZ

Thirsk, North Yorkshire, GB

Last Updated
Apr 22, 20:50Z

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
Fresh 25 min ago
20:50Z
🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
4°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 2°C
5 kt
40°
10+ km
Visibility
∞
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGXZ 222050Z AUTO 04005KT 9999 NCD 04/02 Q1032

Weather Briefing

VFR

RAF Topcliffe is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northeast (40°) at 5 knots. Runway 02/20 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 4°C (39°F) with a dewpoint of 2°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

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.

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
↑
GXZ
02 ✈️
20
13
31

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 02
 5,948 ft 148 ft ASP 22°
↑ 4.7 kt • ↔ 1.7 kt
20° angle
13/31 4,088 ft 148 ft ASP 126°
↑ 0.3 kt • ↔ 5.0 kt
86° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging
Airport Operations & AIP Data

Fuel, parking, approach procedures, PPL info, and more

Weather Statistics - EGXZ

9,961 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
52.4%
MVFR
26.8%
IFR
11.9%
LIFR
8.8%

RAF Topcliffe is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 52.4% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 20.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 9.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -9°C to 22°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, September, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 9.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 0.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
6.8%
NE
4.5%
E
11.6%
SE
27.2%
S
16%
SW
10.3%
W
9.8%
NW
13.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.7°C
Range: -9°C to 22°C
-9°C 22°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 2.7%

Best Months for VFR

April September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.7 kt
Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.7 kt

Statistics computed from 9,961 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

RAF Topcliffe - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGXZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 92 ft MSL

Location

City: Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Country: GB
Latitude: 54.204116°
Longitude: -1.380265°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 5,948 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 13/31
Length: 4,088 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Flight Planning Tools

Crosswind
40°@5kt
Density Alt
92ft, 4°C
Performance
Takeoff/Landing
Regions
Browse airports

Nearby Airports

EGXE VFR
RAF Leeming
8nm
15km
EGNV VFR
Teesside International Airport
18nm
34km
EGNM VFR
Leeds Bradford Airport
23nm
42km
EGXG N/A
Leeds East Airport
23nm
43km
EGNT MVFR
Newcastle International Airport
51nm
95km
EGNJ MVFR
Humberside Airport
52nm
97km
VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About RAF Topcliffe

RAF Topcliffe 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 Topcliffe is a medium-sized airport located near Thirsk in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Situated at an elevation of 92 feet MSL, the airport serves regional military and potentially civilian aviation operations. Its strategic location and dual-runway configuration make it a significant airfield in the northern region.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 53.8% of observations supporting clear flying. The airport experiences moderate weather variability, with Marginal VFR conditions occurring in 26.7% of observations. Temperature ranges from -9°C to 22°C, with an average of 8.1°C, suggesting potential seasonal temperature challenges.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: 02/20 at 5,948 feet and 13/31 at 4,088 feet. Prevailing winds are from the southeast (135°) at an average speed of 8.9 knots, with maximum recorded winds of 29 knots. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, providing flexible operational capabilities.

Approach Considerations

Wind conditions strongly favor both runways, with minimal crosswind challenges. Runway 02/20 experiences an average crosswind of 6.4 knots, while 13/31 has an even lower average crosswind of 4.2 knots. September, October, and November offer the best VFR flying conditions, with consistently good visibility averaging 10 statute miles.

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.

Learn More

Recommended guides based on current conditions at EGXZ

Fog Formation & Types
Why fog forms and how to predict it
fog narrow-spread
Temperature Inversions
How inversions trap pollution and fog
fog narrow-spread
Understanding PIREPs
Interpret pilot weather reports
icing
SIGMETs & AIRMETs Guide
Weather advisories for pilots
icing
Aircraft Icing Conditions
Types, detection, and avoidance strategies
icing
Coastal Weather Patterns
Sea breeze, marine layers, and coastal fog
fog
View all learning resources →

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.