Sofia Airport

LBSF / SOF

Sofia, BG

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LBSF 141700Z 1418/1518 11010KT 9999 SCT070 BECMG 1500/1502 VRB03KT TEMPO 1510/1514 VRB15G26KT 4000 TSRA FEW035CB BKN050 BECMG 1514/1515 10010KT TEMPO 1516/1518 5000 SHRA FEW030CB BKN050

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
22:00Z
+-1h
Thu
23:00Z
+0h
Fri
00:00Z
+1h
Fri
01:00Z
+2h
Fri
02:00Z
+3h
Fri
03:00Z
+4h
Fri
04:00Z
+5h
Fri
05:00Z
+6h
Fri
06:00Z
+7h
Fri
07:00Z
+8h
Fri
08:00Z
+9h
Fri
09:00Z
+10h
Fri
10:00Z
+11h
Fri
11:00Z
+12h
Fri
12:00Z
+13h
Fri
13:00Z
+14h
Fri
14:00Z
+15h
Fri
15:00Z
+16h
Fri
16:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
110°
E
110°
E
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
Wind Speed
10 kt
10 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
15 kt
G26 kt
15 kt
G26 kt
15 kt
G26 kt
15 kt
G26 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 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
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
10+ km
10+ km
5 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain
SHRA
Clouds
SCT070
SCT070
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
FEW035CB
BKN050
FEW035CB
BKN050
FEW035CB
BKN050
FEW035CB
BKN050
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
FEW030CB
BKN050
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
5,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
5,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
🌙
Night
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
Day
🌅 04:55Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
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
110° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT070
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 7000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 00:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 10:00Z - 14:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 26 kt
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
FEW035CB BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 15 kt. Gusts up to 26 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Few clouds at 3500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 14:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
100° at 10 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (100°) at 10 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 16:00Z - 18:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
FEW030CB BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Few clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.