Sofia Airport

LBSF / SOF

Sofia, BG

Last Updated
Apr 22, 11:30Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 5 min ago
11:30Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
12°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 3°C
4 kt
Variable
10+ km
Visibility
8,100 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LBSF 221130Z VRB04KT 9999 VCSH FEW025TCU SCT040 SCT064 BKN081 12/03 Q1015 TEMPO 5000 SHRA

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,742 ft
FEW 2,500 ft AGL (TCU)
SCT 4,000 ft AGL
SCT 6,400 ft AGL
BKN 8,100 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW (TCU)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,242 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,742 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
6,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,142 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
8,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,842 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Sofia Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 8,100 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the variable directions at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 8100 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums. Caution: towering cumulus clouds reported at 2,500 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 12°C (54°F) with a dewpoint of 3°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Mist, Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 06:00Z and 07:00Z. There is a 40% probability of IFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 11:00Z and 16:00Z.

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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
957 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,742 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,690 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,748 ft
ISA Deviation: +0.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LBSF 220500Z 2206/2306 VRB03KT 9999 SCT050 TEMPO 2206/2207 3000 BR SCT005 BKN010 BECMG 2208/2210 01010KT PROB40 TEMPO 2211/2216 3000 TSRA SCT030CB BKN040 BECMG 2218/2220 VRB03KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:34Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
18:00Z BECMG
+7h
VFR VRB 3 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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  • • 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
BSF
09
27

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
09/27 11,811 ft 147 ft ASP 95° No wind data
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LBSF

9,959 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
70.2%
MVFR
21.3%
IFR
4.3%
LIFR
4.2%

Sofia Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 70.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 8.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 7.7 knots. Temperature extremes range from -11°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, April, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 5.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
5.7%
NE
5.5%
E
26.6%
SE
14.9%
S
4.5%
SW
2.3%
W
23.2%
NW
11.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.8°C
Range: -11°C to 31°C
-11°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 4.5%

Best Months for VFR

September April March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3 kt

Statistics computed from 9,959 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sofia Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LBSF
IATA Code: SOF
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,742 ft MSL

Location

City: Sofia
Country: BG
Latitude: 42.696357°
Longitude: 23.417671°
Time Zone: Europe/Athens

Runway Information

Runway 09/27
Length: 11,811 ft
Width: 147 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Sofia Airport

Overview

Sofia Airport serves as the primary international airport for Bulgaria, located in the capital city of Sofia. Positioned at an elevation of 1742 ft mean sea level, the airport is situated in the western part of the country, nestled in the Sofia Valley surrounded by mountainous terrain. As a large airport, it handles significant commercial and cargo traffic for Bulgaria's national operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport's elevation at 1742 ft MSL indicates potential considerations for density altitude, particularly during warmer summer months. Its geographic location in the Balkan region suggests potential for variable weather conditions, with mountain-influenced wind patterns and potential rapid meteorological changes. Pilots should anticipate potential thermal and orographic effects due to the surrounding mountainous landscape.

Notable Features

The single runway 09/27 provides a substantial 11,811 ft asphalt surface, offering significant operational flexibility for various aircraft types. Its orientation suggests potential crosswind challenges depending on prevailing regional wind patterns. The substantial runway length accommodates wide-body aircraft and provides generous landing/takeoff performance margins.

Approach Considerations

Runway 09/27's significant length allows for versatile approach options with reduced terrain constraints. The airport's elevated position and surrounding topography recommend thorough preflight planning for approach and departure procedures. Pilots should carefully assess wind direction and potential terrain-induced wind shifts when planning arrivals and departures.

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.