Sofia Airport

LBSF / SOF

Sofia, BG

Last Updated
May 15, 05:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 4 min ago
05:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
8°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 5°C
4 kt
120°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LBSF 150500Z 12004KT 090V150 9999 FEW083 08/05 Q1008 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,742 ft
FEW 8,300 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
8,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,042 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Sofia Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 8,300 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (120°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 8,300 ft.

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 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: Thunderstorm Rain, Showers Rain. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 4 to 16 knots. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 10:00Z and 15:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain between 15:00Z 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.

QNH
1008 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
950 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,742 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,900 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,478 ft
ISA Deviation: -3.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LBSF 142300Z 1500/1524 11008KT CAVOK BECMG 1500/1502 VRB04KT BECMG 1508/1510 10010KT SCT060 TEMPO 1510/1515 VRB16G26KT 3000 TSRA SCT030CB OVC050 TEMPO 1515/1518 5000 SHRA FEW030CB BKN050 BECMG 1520/1522 VRB04KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:03Z BASE
+0h
VFR 110° 8 kt
Visibility: >10km
08:00Z BECMG
+3h
VFR 100° 10 kt
10:00Z TEMPO
+5h
IFR VRB 16 kt
Visibility: 3 km
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Thunderstorm Rain
15:00Z TEMPO
+10h
MVFR
Visibility: 5 km
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Showers Rain

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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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
Active: 09
11,811 ft 147 ft ASP 95°
3.5 kt 2.0 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LBSF

11,038 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
72.4%
MVFR
19.8%
IFR
4%
LIFR
3.8%

Sofia Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 72.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 7.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 7.5 knots. Temperature extremes range from -11°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, September, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 7.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 5.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
6.1%
NE
5.9%
E
25.8%
SE
14.4%
S
4.7%
SW
2.3%
W
22.6%
NW
12.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.3°C
Range: -11°C to 31°C
-11°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 4.1%

Best Months for VFR

May September April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.1 kt

Statistics computed from 11,038 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 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.