Kirkwall Airport

EGPA / KOI

Orkney Islands, GB

Last Updated
Jul 4, 10:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 12 min ago
10:20Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
15°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
12 kt
200°
10+ km
Visibility
2,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGPA 041020Z 20012KT 9999 FEW018 BKN028 15/12 Q1013

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 50 ft
FEW 1,800 ft AGL
BKN 2,800 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,850 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,850 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Kirkwall Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,800 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots. Runway 24 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2800 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 15°C (59°F) with a dewpoint of 12°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 9 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: Light Rain. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Rain between 09:00Z and 18:00Z. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions between 09:00Z and 16:00Z. There is a 30% probability of VFR conditions between 13:00Z and 16:00Z.

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 EGPA 040758Z 0409/0418 21008KT 9999 SCT020 TEMPO 0409/0418 8000 -RA BKN012 PROB30 TEMPO 0409/0416 BKN008 BECMG 0411/0414 27010KT PROB30 TEMPO 0413/0416 28015G25KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:32Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
11:00Z BECMG
+1h
VFR 270° 10 kt
13:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+3h
VFR 280° 15 kt

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
GPA
06
24 ✈️
09
27
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 24
3,881 ft 151 ft ASP 58°
9.2 kt 7.7 kt
40° angle
09/27 4,690 ft 148 ft ASP 87°
4.7 kt 11.0 kt
113° angle
14/32 2,222 ft 61 ft ASP 140°
6.0 kt 10.4 kt
60° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - EGPA

13,360 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.6%
MVFR
21.8%
IFR
5.3%
LIFR
4.3%

Kirkwall Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 12.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 42 knots. Temperatures typically range between -3°C and 22°C with an average of 8°C. The best months for VFR flying are March, September, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 12.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 42 kt
Calm Winds: 0.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
5.7%
N
9.4%
S
31.1%
W
14.8%
NE
2.9%
NW
5.8%
SE
19.3%
SW
10.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 8°C
Range: -3°C to 22°C
-3°C 22°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.9%

Best Months for VFR

March September May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 9.6 kt
Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 9 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7 kt

Statistics computed from 13,360 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Kirkwall Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGPA
IATA Code: KOI
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 50 ft MSL

Location

City: Orkney Islands
Country: GB
Latitude: 58.957802°
Longitude: -2.905000°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 3,881 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 09/27
Length: 4,690 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 2,222 ft
Width: 61 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Kirkwall Airport

Overview

Kirkwall Airport serves the Orkney Islands in northern Scotland, positioned at 58.957802, -2.905000 with an elevation of 50 ft MSL. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical transportation infrastructure for this remote archipelago, supporting regional and commercial aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 66.1% of observations showing favorable visibility and weather. The airport experiences significant wind activity, with prevailing southerly winds averaging 13.4 knots and occasional gusts up to 42 knots. Temperature ranges from -3°C to 17°C, with an average of 8.1°C, suggesting potential winter operational considerations.

Notable Features

The airport features three asphalt runways with lengths ranging from 2,222 ft to 4,690 ft, providing multiple landing options. Its coastal location in the Orkney Islands introduces potential maritime weather influences, including rapid visibility changes and consistent wind patterns. All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, offering flexible operational capabilities.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection should consider the prevailing southerly winds, with minimal crosswind components. Runway 06/24 and 09/27 offer similar crosswind characteristics around 10.4 and 10.1 knots respectively, while runway 14/32 provides a slightly more benign crosswind environment at 7.2 knots. Pilots should anticipate excellent VFR conditions, particularly during September, November, and December.

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.