RAF Lakenheath

EGUL / LKZ

Brandon, Suffolk, GB

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD EGUL 150518Z 1505/1611 31009KT 9999 FEW030 SCT040 BKN050 BKN150 620509 621403 QNH2968INS TEMPO 1509/1515 31012G18KT BECMG 1518/1519 32006KT 9999 SCT030 BKN050 OVC150 620509 621402 QNH2972INS BECMG 1600/1601 32006KT 5000 BR FEW035 QNH2971INS TEMPO 1604/1607 2400 BR BKN008 BECMG 1607/1608 26012KT 9999 NSW BKN035 620404 QNH2974INS TX13/1515Z TN05/1604Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
10:00Z
+-1h
Fri
11:00Z
+0h
Fri
12:00Z
+1h
Fri
13:00Z
+2h
Fri
14:00Z
+3h
Fri
15:00Z
+4h
Fri
16:00Z
+5h
Fri
17:00Z
+6h
Fri
18:00Z
+7h
Fri
19:00Z
+8h
Fri
20:00Z
+9h
Fri
21:00Z
+10h
Fri
22:00Z
+11h
Fri
23:00Z
+12h
Sat
00:00Z
+13h
Sat
01:00Z
+14h
Sat
02:00Z
+15h
Sat
03:00Z
+16h
Sat
04:00Z
+17h
Sat
05:00Z
+18h
Sat
06:00Z
+19h
Sat
07:00Z
+20h
Sat
08:00Z
+21h
Sat
09:00Z
+22h
Wind Dir
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
2.4 km
2.4 km
2.4 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW030
SCT040
FEW030
SCT040
FEW030
SCT040
FEW030
SCT040
FEW030
SCT040
FEW030
SCT040
FEW030
SCT040
FEW030
SCT040
SCT030
BKN050
SCT030
BKN050
SCT030
BKN050
SCT030
BKN050
SCT030
BKN050
SCT030
BKN050
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN035
BKN035
BKN035
Ceiling
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:15Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:15Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:15Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:15Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:15Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:43Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:43Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:43Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:43Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:43Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now%: Probability of occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
310° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW030 SCT040 BKN050 BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3000 feet, Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 09:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 12 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 18:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
320° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT030 BKN050 OVC150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet, Overcast skies at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 00:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Wind
320° at 6 kt
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
FEW035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Few clouds at 3500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 04:00Z - 07:00Z
IFR
Visibility
2.4 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 2.4 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 07:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
260° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (260°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.