Cardiff International Airport

EGFF / CWL

Cardiff, GB

Last Updated
Jul 4, 15:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 8 min ago
15:50Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 15°C
18 kt
280°
10+ km
Visibility
1,400 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGFF 041550Z AUTO 28018KT 9999 OVC014 18/15 Q1028

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 220 ft
OVC 1,400 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,620 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Cardiff International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 1,400 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 18 knots. Runway 30 is favored with a 17-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 1400 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 15°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 22 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions between 14:00Z and 20:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast between 20:00Z and 05:00Z. There is a 40% probability of IFR conditions between 21:00Z and 03:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD EGFF 041429Z 0414/0512 27015G25KT 9999 BKN020 PROB30 TEMPO 0414/0420 BKN014 BECMG 0416/0419 27011KT TEMPO 0420/0505 BKN014 PROB40 TEMPO 0421/0503 BKN009
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
15:58Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 270° 15 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
16:00Z BECMG
+1h
VFR 270° 11 kt
20:00Z TEMPO
+5h
MVFR
Ceiling: 1,400 ft
21:00Z PROB40 TEMPO
+6h
IFR
Ceiling: 900 ft

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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
GFF
12
30 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 30
7,723 ft 148 ft ASP 117°
16.9 kt 6.2 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - EGFF

13,395 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
61.8%
MVFR
26.3%
IFR
5.9%
LIFR
6.1%

Cardiff International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 61.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 9.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 32 knots. Temperature extremes range from -4°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, May, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 9.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 32 kt
Calm Winds: 0%
Direction Distribution:
E
19.3%
N
4.8%
S
11.4%
W
26.2%
NE
7.8%
NW
11.2%
SE
9.8%
SW
9.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 10.6°C
Range: -4°C to 34°C
-4°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.2%

Best Months for VFR

April May September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt

Statistics computed from 13,395 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Cardiff International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGFF
IATA Code: CWL
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 220 ft MSL

Location

City: Cardiff
Country: GB
Latitude: 51.396702°
Longitude: -3.343330°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 7,723 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Cardiff International Airport

Overview

Cardiff International Airport serves as a key regional airport in South Wales, located near the capital city of Cardiff. Situated at an elevation of 220 ft MSL, the airport provides critical air transportation infrastructure for the Cardiff metropolitan area and surrounding regions. The airport primarily handles commercial passenger traffic and supports general aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Cardiff International are predominantly favorable for flying, with 61.7% of observations reporting VFR conditions. Winds typically blow from the west (270°) at an average of 9.6 knots, with occasional gusts up to 31 knots. Temperature variations range from -4°C to 20°C, with an average of 9.5°C, creating generally stable atmospheric conditions for aviation.

Notable Features

The airport features a single runway (12/30) extending 7,723 feet with an asphalt surface. Its geographical location experiences relatively consistent wind patterns, with 100% favorable wind conditions for the primary runway. The surrounding terrain and coastal proximity likely contribute to the predictable wind characteristics observed in the METAR data.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal flying conditions during September, November, and January, which represent the best VFR months statistically. The runway's orientation allows for minimal crosswind challenges, with an average crosswind of just 5.5 knots. Visibility is consistently good, with an average of 10 statute miles and minimal instances of reduced visibility or fog.

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.