RAF Lakenheath

EGUL / LKZ

Brandon, Suffolk, GB

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF AMD EGUL 040715Z 0407/0508 25010G15KT 9999 FEW025 SCT050 QNH3024INS BECMG 0410/0411 28015G25KT 9999 BKN025 BKN200 QNH3018INS BECMG 0417/0418 27010G15KT 9999 BKN035 BKN180 QNH3020INS BECMG 0421/0423 28009KT 9999 FEW010 SCT130 QNH3023INS TEMPO 0503/0507 BKN010 TX24/0415Z TN13/0502Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 0407 NEXT 0603

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
17:00Z
+-1h
Sat
18:00Z
+0h
Sat
19:00Z
+1h
Sat
20:00Z
+2h
Sat
21:00Z
+3h
Sat
22:00Z
+4h
Sat
23:00Z
+5h
Sun
00:00Z
+6h
Sun
01:00Z
+7h
Sun
02:00Z
+8h
Sun
03:00Z
+9h
Sun
04:00Z
+10h
Sun
05:00Z
+11h
Sun
06:00Z
+12h
Wind Dir
250°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
Wind Speed
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
10 kt
G15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
0.603 km
0.603 km
0.603 km
0.603 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW025
SCT050
BKN035
BKN180
BKN035
BKN180
BKN035
BKN180
BKN035
BKN180
BKN035
BKN180
BKN035
BKN180
BKN035
BKN180
BKN035
BKN180
BKN035
BKN180
BKN010
BKN010
BKN010
BKN010
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
1,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 19:33Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:33Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:33Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 19:33Z
🌙
Night
🌇 19:33Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:27Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:27Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 04:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:27Z
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
250° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW025 SCT050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2500 feet, Scattered clouds at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 10:00Z - 11:00Z
MVFR
Wind
280° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN025 BKN200
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (280°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 20000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 17:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 10 kt
Gusts: 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN035 BKN180
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (270°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 15 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 18000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 21:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
280° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW010 SCT130
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (280°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 1000 feet, Scattered clouds at 13000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 03:00Z - 07:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
0.603 km
Clouds
BKN010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be poor at 0.603 km. Broken clouds at 1000 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument 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.