Sumburgh Airport

EGPB / LSI

Lerwick, Shetland, GB

Last Updated
May 14, 14:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 36 min ago
14:20Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
8°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 5°C
24 kt
350°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGPB 141420Z 35024KT 9999 VCSH SCT018CB 08/05 Q1002

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 20 ft
SCT 1,800 ft AGL (CB)
SCT (CB)
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,820 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Sumburgh Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 1,800 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north (350°) at 24 knots. Runway 33 is favored with a 23-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 1,800 ft (CB). Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 1,800 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 8°C (46°F) with a dewpoint of 5°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 fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 25 knots during the period. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Showers Rain between 12:00Z and 18:00Z.

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. 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 141057Z 1412/1421 36022KT 9999 SCT025 BECMG 1412/1415 35025G35KT PROB30 TEMPO 1412/1418 8000 -SHRA
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
14:55Z BASE
+0h
VFR 360° 22 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
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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
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°
10.9 kt 21.4 kt
63° angle
09/27 4,915 ft 144 ft ASP 84°
1.7 kt 23.9 kt
94° angle
✈️ 15/33
Active: 33
4,672 ft 141 ft ASP 144°
22.6 kt 8.2 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 - EGPB

15,762 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
56.9%
MVFR
28.5%
IFR
10.9%
LIFR
3.8%

Sumburgh Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 56.9% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 14.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 16 knots, with gusts recorded up to 46 knots. Temperatures typically range between -3°C and 16°C with an average of 7.3°C. The best months for VFR flying are May, September, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 16 kt
Maximum Recorded: 46 kt
Calm Winds: 1%
Direction Distribution:
N
13.6%
NE
2.4%
E
6.2%
SE
16.9%
S
24.3%
SW
15.8%
W
13.1%
NW
6.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.3°C
Range: -3°C to 16°C
-3°C 16°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.6%

Best Months for VFR

May September March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06H/24H
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 11.2 kt
Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 11 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 9.3 kt

Statistics computed from 15,762 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 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.