RAF Lakenheath

EGUL / LKZ

Brandon, Suffolk, GB

Last Updated
Jul 4, 18:55Z

Military Airport

PPR Available

This is a Royal Air Force or Ministry of Defence aerodrome. Civil access may be available with Prior Permission Required (PPR).

Access Notes:

Many RAF stations accept civil PPR; consult UK AIP AD 2 for specific procedures

Consult official AIP (UK AIP ENR 2.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 57 min ago
18:55Z

🌇 Dusk
VFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 13°C
7 kt
290°
10+ km
Visibility
4,700 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1023 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGUL 041855Z AUTO 29007KT 9999 BKN047 24/13 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP233 T02370132 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 32 ft
BKN 4,700 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,732 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

RAF Lakenheath is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 4,700 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 4700 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 24°C (75°F) with a dewpoint of 13°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 25 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast between 03:00Z and 07:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1023 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1022 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (32 ft)
Pressure Alt
-261 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 827 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD EGUL 040715Z 0407/0508 25010G15KT 9999 FEW025 SCT050 QNH3024INS BECMG 0410/0411 28015G25KT 9999 BKN025 BKN200 QNH3018INS BECMG 0417/0418 27010G15KT 9999 BKN035 BKN180 QNH3020INS BECMG 0421/0423 28009KT 9999 FEW010 SCT130 QNH3023INS TEMPO 0503/0507 BKN010 TX24/0415Z TN13/0502Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 0407 NEXT 0603
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
19:51Z BASE
+0h
VFR 250° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
21:00Z BECMG
+2h
VFR 280° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
03:00Z TEMPO
+8h
LIFR
Visibility: 0.603 km
Ceiling: 1,000 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
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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
GUL
05
23 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
8,998 ft 150 ft PEM 56°
3.5 kt 6.1 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 - EGUL

12,504 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
54.1%
MVFR
28%
IFR
13.3%
LIFR
4.7%

RAF Lakenheath is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 54.1% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 18% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 9.6 knots. Temperature extremes range from -8°C to 38°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, June, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 9.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 7.5%
Direction Distribution:
E
12.8%
N
5.5%
S
21.3%
W
9%
NE
7.6%
NW
6.3%
SE
13.3%
SW
16.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 10.1°C
Range: -8°C to 38°C
-8°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.4%

Best Months for VFR

July June May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt

Statistics computed from 12,504 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

RAF Lakenheath - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGUL
IATA Code: LKZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 32 ft MSL

Location

City: Brandon, Suffolk
Country: GB
Latitude: 52.409540°
Longitude: 0.561161°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 8,998 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No

About RAF Lakenheath

RAF Lakenheath is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the GB AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

RAF Lakenheath is a medium airport located in Suffolk, England, serving primarily as a United States Air Force base. Situated near Brandon at 32 ft mean sea level, the airport provides critical strategic aviation infrastructure in the eastern United Kingdom. The single runway 05/23 extends 8,998 feet and is constructed with a pavement (PEM) surface.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at RAF Lakenheath demonstrate consistent VFR operations, with 51% of observations reporting visual flight rules. The airport experiences mild temperature variations, ranging from -8°C to 28°C, with an average of 9.1°C. Wind patterns are predominantly southerly at 180 degrees, averaging 9.9 knots with occasional gusts up to 30 knots, and calm conditions occurring 7.3% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's geographic location in Suffolk provides relatively flat terrain typical of eastern England. With an elevation of just 32 ft MSL, pilots can expect minimal terrain-related challenges during approach and departure. The runway's orientation (05/23) and favorable wind conditions, with a 100% wind alignment and average crosswind of only 6.2 knots, contribute to predictable operational environments.

Approach Considerations

Seasonal flying is most favorable during September, October, and November, which demonstrate the most consistent VFR conditions. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility (fog appears in only 1.6% of observations). Pilots should anticipate primarily southerly winds and prepare for mild crosswind conditions when operating on runway 05/23.

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.