Flight Briefing: Weather, Runways, SIGMETs and Terrain for Your Flight
Give a departure time, two airports and, if you like, your planned altitude, and v1prep writes the briefing in plain English: the weather at each airport for the time you are there, the runway most likely in use, SIGMETs along the route (in the US also AIRMETs and pilot reports), airports on the way with low cloud or poor visibility, and elevations and terrain, with the key points first. See a real example below.
Flight Briefing
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Data: the Aviation Weather Center of the US National Weather Service (METAR, TAF, SIGMET, AIRMET, pilot reports, airport and runway data) and terrain from OpenTopoData (Mapzen terrain tiles), through v1prep's server. Times are UTC.
An example briefing
This is what you get: a briefing v1prep wrote from live data. The weather in it is from the time it was written, so it is only an example. Your own briefings open in the same form, with Copy and Download buttons.
Flight briefing EGLL to EIDW
Departure Tue 29 Sep at 21:30 UTC, arrival about 22:24 UTC (flight time 54 min, assumed: 242 NM at 430 kt plus 20 min; enter yours for a better ETA). Planned altitude FL290.
Key points
- EGLL at 21:30 UTC: VFR.
- 4 SIGMETs along the route: turbulence, mountain waves; at your planned FL290 you are above them, but you climb or descend through 4 of them.
- EIDW at 22:24 UTC: MVFR, IFR possible.
- NOTAMs are not included: read them from an official source.
Departure: EGLL
EGLL (LHR), London/Heathrow Airport, GB. Elevation 85 ft (26 m). Runways: 09L/27R 3,902 m (12,802 ft), hard surface; 09R/27L 3,660 m (12,008 ft), hard surface.
Weather now
METAR of 20:20 UTC (33 min ago): From 120° true at 8 kt; 10 km or more; no cloud detected (automatic station); temperature 21 °C, dew point 18 °C (spread 3 °C); QNH 1011 hPa. Flight category VFR.
METAR EGLL 292020Z AUTO 12008KT 9999 NCD 21/18 Q1011
Forecast for departure, 21:30 UTC
Expected: from 140° true at 13 kt; 10 km or more; broken (5 to 7 oktas) at 4,800 ft above the aerodrome (VFR).
Possible (30% probability: temporary changes, from the 29th at 20:00 to the 30th at 05:00 UTC): from 150° true at 15 kt, gusting 25 kt.
TAF AMD EGLL 291848Z 2918/3024 14013KT 9999 BKN048 PROB40 TEMPO 2918/2921 6000 SHRA PROB30 TEMPO 2920/3005 15015G25KT PROB30 TEMPO 3002/3004 8000 -RA TEMPO 3004/3010 7000 -RA PROB30 TEMPO 3005/3009 16015G27KT 4000 RA SCT008 BKN012 BECMG 3009/3012 22013KT PROB30 TEMPO 3009/3016 21015G25KT PROB30 TEMPO 3021/3024 7000 -SHRA
Runway expected in use
Runways 09L and 09R (true heading 089°): headwind 7 kt, crosswind 4 kt from the right, with the wind of 120° true at 8 kt from the METAR. Noise rules, preferential runways, works and ATC can put another runway in use: the ATIS has the final word.
Elevation and terrain
Aerodrome elevation 85 ft (26 m). Highest terrain sampled within 10 NM: 341 ft (104 m); within 25 NM: 469 ft (143 m), 25 NM to the north, about 384 ft above the aerodrome. Check the minimum sector altitude (MSA) on the approach chart.
NOTAMs
NOTAMs are not in the v1prep briefing yet. Before any flight, read the NOTAMs for EGLL from the aeronautical information service, your operator or an official briefing: runway and navaid outages, closures and obstacles are there.
En route
Great-circle distance 242 NM, initial true track 301°. The route flown (SID, airways, STAR) is longer: this briefing looks 50 NM either side of the great circle for SIGMETs and AIRMETs, 40 NM for pilot reports and 25 NM for aerodrome reports.
SIGMETs and AIRMETs
- Severe turbulence from the surface to 6,000 ft (SIGMET, EGTT London FIR), valid 19:33 UTC to 23:33 UTC: the route goes through the area from about 112 NM after departure. You are there at about 21:54 UTC. At your planned FL290 you are above it, but you climb or descend through its levels there.
- Severe turbulence from the surface to 6,000 ft (SIGMET, EISN Shannon FIR), valid 19:15 UTC to 23:15 UTC: the route goes through the area from about 224 NM after departure. You are there at about 22:19 UTC. At your planned FL290 you are above it, but you climb or descend through its levels there.
- Severe mountain waves from 5,000 ft to FL200 (SIGMET, EGPX Scottish FIR), valid 19:22 UTC to 23:22 UTC: the area is about 40 NM from the route, near 242 NM after departure. You are there at about 22:24 UTC. At your planned FL290 you are above it, but you climb or descend through its levels there.
- Severe mountain waves from 5,000 ft to FL210 (SIGMET, EISN Shannon FIR), valid 20:00 UTC to 23:30 UTC: the route goes through the area from about 242 NM after departure. You are there at about 22:24 UTC. At your planned FL290 you are above it, but you climb or descend through its levels there.
WSUK31 EGRR 291809 EGTT SIGMET 03 VALID 291933/292333 EGRR- EGTT LONDON FIR SEV TURB FCST W OF LINE N4930 W00434 - N5312 W00232 - N5500 W00211 SFC/FL060 MOV E 10KT NC=
WSIE31 EIDB 291841 EISN SIGMET 08 VALID 291915/292315 EINN- EISN SHANNON FIR SEV TURB FCST E OF LINE N5424 W01132 - N5315 W00900 - N5131 W00701 SFC/FL060 MOV ENE 35KT WKN=
WSUK33 EGRR 291807 EGPX SIGMET 07 VALID 291922/292322 EGRR- EGPX SCOTTISH FIR SEV MTW FCST WI N5508 W00656 - N5836 W00540 - N5710 W00128 - N5504 W00540 - N5400 W00540 - N5427 W00800 - N5508 W00656 FL050/200 STNR NC=
WSIE31 EIDB 291948 EISN SIGMET 09 VALID 292000/292330 EINN- EISN SHANNON FIR SEV MTW FCST WI N5425 W00810 - N5400 W00605 - N5310 W00600 - N5410 W01035 - N5445 W00900 - N5520 W00815 - N5520 W00700 - N5425 W00810 FL050/210 STNR WKN=
Pilot reports
No pilot reports near the route in the last 3 hours (they are mostly from North America).
Aerodromes along the route
5 aerodromes within 25 NM of the route reporting now: 5 VFR. None with low cloud, poor visibility or significant weather.
Terrain along the route
Highest terrain sampled within 10 NM of the route: 1,985 ft (605 m), about 136 NM after departure (52.5N 3.8W). Sampled every 10 NM or so from a terrain model: a sample can miss a peak. Use the MORA or grid MORA and the minimum en-route altitudes on your charts.
Your planned FL290 is about 27,015 ft above the highest terrain sampled along the route. A flight level is a pressure altitude: in low pressure or cold air the aircraft is lower than it reads.
Arrival: EIDW
EIDW (DUB), Dublin Airport, IE. Elevation 246 ft (75 m). Runways: 10/28 2,637 m (8,652 ft), hard surface; 16/34 2,073 m (6,800 ft), hard surface. Magnetic variation 2W.
Weather now
METAR of 20:30 UTC (23 min ago): From 160° true at 17 kt, gusting 31 kt; 5 km; light rain and drizzle; few (1 to 2 oktas) at 500 ft above the aerodrome; broken (5 to 7 oktas) at 700 ft above the aerodrome; temperature 17 °C, dew point 16 °C (spread 1 °C); QNH 998 hPa. 4,000 m. Flight category IFR.
METAR EIDW 292030Z 16017G31KT 5000 -RADZ FEW005 BKN007 17/16 Q0998 TEMPO 4000
Forecast for arrival, 22:24 UTC
Expected: from 140° true at 15 kt, gusting 26 kt; 10 km or more; few (1 to 2 oktas) at 1,200 ft above the aerodrome; broken (5 to 7 oktas) at 2,000 ft above the aerodrome (MVFR).
Changing at about this time (becoming (gradual change), from the 29th at 22:00 to the 29th at 24:00 utc): from 160° true at 12 kt.
Possible (temporary changes, from the 29th at 20:00 to the 30th at 01:00 UTC): 4,000 m; moderate rain; broken (5 to 7 oktas) at 800 ft above the aerodrome (IFR).
TAF EIDW 291700Z 2918/3018 14015G26KT 9999 FEW012 BKN020 TEMPO 2918/2922 15019G31KT TEMPO 2918/2920 -RA BKN012 PROB40 TEMPO 2918/2921 16022G36KT TEMPO 2920/3001 4000 RA BKN008 BECMG 2922/2924 16012KT BECMG 3000/3002 19009KT PROB30 TEMPO 3001/3003 4000 RA BKN012 TEMPO 3003/3009 16009KT BECMG 3009/3011 18013KT TEMPO 3009/3018 -SHRA FEW020CB TEMPO 3012/3017 19015G25KT BECMG 3016/3018 21012KT
Runway expected in use
Runway 16 (true heading 159°): headwind 14 kt, crosswind 5 kt from the left (8 kt in the gusts), with the wind of 140° true at 15 kt gusting 26 from the TAF. Noise rules, preferential runways, works and ATC can put another runway in use: the ATIS has the final word.
Elevation and terrain
Aerodrome elevation 246 ft (75 m). Highest terrain sampled within 10 NM: 1,106 ft (337 m); within 25 NM: 1,106 ft (337 m), 10 NM to the south, about 860 ft above the aerodrome. Check the minimum sector altitude (MSA) on the approach chart.
NOTAMs
NOTAMs are not in the v1prep briefing yet. Before any flight, read the NOTAMs for EIDW from the aeronautical information service, your operator or an official briefing: runway and navaid outages, closures and obstacles are there.
An example only: the weather above was current on 29 September 2026, 20:53 UTC. Airport data from the Aviation Weather Center; terrain sampled from a terrain model.
What is in a briefing
- Key points: the flight category at each airport for your times, weather that matters (thunderstorms, fog, freezing precipitation, strong crosswind), SIGMETs on the route, and anything missing.
- Departure and arrival: name, elevation and runways; the latest METAR, decoded; the TAF worked out for the time you are there, with the changes in progress and the TEMPO and PROB groups that apply; the runway most likely in use with headwind and crosswind; the highest terrain sampled within 10 and 25 NM.
- En route: the great-circle distance and initial track; SIGMETs within 50 NM of the route, whether they are in force when you get there and whether your planned altitude is inside their levels; in the US, G-AIRMETs and pilot reports of moderate or worse turbulence or icing; the airports within 25 NM of the route reporting low cloud, poor visibility or significant weather; the highest terrain sampled within 10 NM of the route and, with a planned altitude, your clearance above it (a warning under 2,000 ft).
- NOTAMs: until v1prep is connected to the official sources, each briefing says where to read them.
Where the data comes from
Weather and airports. The METARs, TAFs, SIGMETs, AIRMETs and pilot reports come from the Aviation Weather Center of the US National Weather Service, which publishes the official reports of aerodromes and meteorological watch offices worldwide, as exchanged under ICAO and WMO rules. Airport positions, elevations and runways come from its airport database, which has errors at some airports: the briefing always says to check the ATIS for the runway in use.
Terrain. Heights come from a global elevation model (Mapzen terrain tiles, through OpenTopoData), sampled round each airport and along the route. A sample can miss a peak: use the minimum sector altitudes, MORA or grid MORA and minimum en-route altitudes on your charts.
NOTAMs. Only from official sources: v1prep has asked the FAA NOTAM Management Service and EUROCONTROL's European AIS Database (the official source for Europe) for access. Until then, read NOTAMs on the FAA NOTAM Search, EAD Basic or your State's AIS.
Frequently asked questions
What is in a v1prep flight briefing? For a departure time and two airports: the key points first; for each airport its elevation and runways, the latest METAR, the TAF worked out for the time you are there, the runway most likely in use with headwind and crosswind, and the highest terrain sampled within 10 and 25 NM; along the great-circle route, the SIGMETs in force (in the US also AIRMETs, G-AIRMETs and pilot reports), the airports reporting low cloud, poor visibility or significant weather, and the highest terrain sampled. NOTAMs are added once the official sources are connected.
How much does it cost? €4.99 a month on its own, cancel anytime, with a full refund within 14 days of the first payment. It is included with v1prep PRO, Lifetime and the Interview Pass at no extra cost.
Where does the data come from? The weather (METAR, TAF, SIGMET, AIRMET, pilot reports) and the airport and runway data come from the Aviation Weather Center of the US National Weather Service, which publishes the official reports of aerodromes and meteorological offices worldwide. Terrain heights come from a global elevation model (Mapzen terrain tiles, through OpenTopoData). NOTAMs will come only from official sources: the FAA NOTAM service and EUROCONTROL's European AIS Database.
How is the runway in use worked out? From the wind for the time you are there (the METAR within the hour, the TAF after that) and the true direction of each runway: the runway with the most headwind is the likely one. Noise rules, preferential runway systems, works and ATC can put another runway in use, so the briefing says to check the ATIS.
Can I use it for flight planning? No. It is for learning and a quick look. Plan every flight with an official briefing source, your operator's dispatch or flight planning, the AIP and NOTAMs, and the current ATIS.
Is the METAR and TAF decoder included? The METAR and TAF decoder is a separate page and is free: 3 uses without an account, then with a free v1prep account.
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