RAF Fairford

EGVA / FFD

Fairford, Gloucestershire, GB

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF EGVA 031400Z 0314/0420 27010G20KT 9999 SCT180 QNH3032INS BECMG 0321/0322 27009KT 9999 SCT015 QNH3031INS TEMPO 0401/0408 BKN008 BECMG 0408/0409 27010G20KT 9999 BKN025 QNH3028INS TEMPO 0414/0420 30012G25KT TX26/0414Z TN14/0403Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
03:00Z
+-1h
Sat
04:00Z
+0h
Sat
05:00Z
+1h
Sat
06:00Z
+2h
Sat
07:00Z
+3h
Sat
08:00Z
+4h
Sat
09:00Z
+5h
Sat
10:00Z
+6h
Sat
11:00Z
+7h
Sat
12:00Z
+8h
Sat
13:00Z
+9h
Sat
14:00Z
+10h
Sat
15:00Z
+11h
Sat
16:00Z
+12h
Sat
17:00Z
+13h
Sat
18:00Z
+14h
Wind Dir
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
270°
W
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
Wind Speed
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 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
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT180
SCT180
SCT180
SCT180
SCT180
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
BKN025
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:27Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 04:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:27Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:27Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:32Z
☀️
Day
🌇 19:32Z
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
270° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT180
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (270°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 18000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 21:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (270°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 01:00Z - 08:00Z
IFR
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 08:00Z - 09:00Z
MVFR
Wind
270° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (270°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 12 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. 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.