Cork Airport EICK, Co. Cork: wind, crosswind, and low cloud

Cork Airport (EICK) is situated approximately 6.5 km south of Cork city centre, at an elevation of 153 metres (502 feet) above mean sea level. This elevated position, combined with its proximity to the coast, exposes the airport to wind from most directions, particularly those with a southerly or westerly component.

The terrain immediately surrounding the airport is generally undulating, with no major topographic features that would significantly channel or shelter the wind from prevailing directions. However, the elevation can contribute to lower cloud bases and reduced visibility, especially when moist air masses are lifted over the higher ground.

For aviation operations, precise wind information at runway level is critical, as even moderate winds can generate significant crosswind components depending on the runway in use. The Wind Agent provides observed and forecast wind data specifically tailored to runway operations, including crosswind and headwind components for each runway heading.

Cork Airport operates a single primary runway, designated 17/35. This means:

• Runway 17 is aligned to a magnetic heading of approximately 170° (i.e., pointing roughly South-South-East).
• Runway 35 is aligned to a magnetic heading of approximately 350° (i.e., pointing roughly North-North-West).

Crosswind is the component of the wind perpendicular to the runway centreline, while headwind is the component parallel to it. Both are critical for safe take-off and landing. A wind blowing directly across the runway (e.g., from 080° or 260° for runway 17/35) will generate maximum crosswind and zero headwind/tailwind. A wind blowing directly down the runway (e.g., from 170° for runway 17, or 350° for runway 35) will generate maximum headwind and zero crosswind.

Aircraft have specified maximum demonstrated crosswind components, which vary by aircraft type and operator policy. Typical manufacturer limits for light aircraft are often in the range of 15–20 knots, while larger commercial aircraft may have higher limits, commonly cited up to 25–35 knots. Your aircraft's flight manual and your operator's procedures govern your specific limits.

The Wind Agent's crosswind metric calculates these components for both runway headings, allowing pilots to assess the suitability of each runway based on current and forecast wind conditions.

Gusts are transient increases in wind speed, typically reported as the maximum speed observed over a 3-second period within the last 10 minutes. At Cork Airport, gusts can be a significant factor, especially with strong frontal systems passing over the region.

Low-level wind shear (LLWS) is a sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance, typically within the first 2,000 feet (600 metres) above ground level. While not always directly forecast by standard models, conditions conducive to LLWS include:

• Strong temperature inversions: often occurring at night or in stable air masses, where warmer air sits above cooler air.
• Frontal passages: particularly strong cold fronts.
• Terrain effects: although less pronounced at EICK than at mountainous airports, local topography can still contribute.

LLWS can significantly affect aircraft performance during take-off and landing, requiring pilots to maintain vigilance and adjust power settings rapidly. While the Wind Agent does not explicitly forecast LLWS, the Shear Glass instrument can indicate significant changes in wind speed and direction with height, which can be an indicator of potential shear conditions.

Commonly cited thresholds for gust limits for landing operations range from 20 to 30 knots, depending on aircraft type and operator policy. Always refer to your aircraft's flight manual and company standard operating procedures.

Cork Airport provides regular meteorological observations (METARs) every 30 minutes, or more frequently if significant weather changes occur. These reports include surface wind direction and speed (averaged over 10 minutes), gust speeds, visibility, cloud cover, temperature, dew point, and atmospheric pressure (QNH).

Wind direction in a METAR is reported in degrees magnetic, while forecasts typically use true north. Pilots must convert between these as necessary. The Wind Agent displays wind direction in degrees true (meteorological FROM), consistent with standard meteorological practice.

METARs are crucial for real-time assessment of conditions. However, they represent a snapshot in time and a point measurement. Forecasts, such as the Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) and those provided by The Wind Agent, offer a projection of future conditions, which is essential for flight planning. The Agreement Spine feature allows for comparison between various model forecasts and observations, highlighting areas of divergence or consensus.

The meteogram below presents a detailed, hour-by-hour forecast for Cork Airport over the coming days. It displays key meteorological parameters relevant to aviation, including wind speed, gusts, direction, and precipitation.

Pilots should pay particular attention to:

• Wind speed and gust trends: Look for increasing or decreasing trends, and the magnitude of gusts relative to the mean wind.
• Direction changes: Significant shifts in wind direction can quickly alter crosswind components for the active runway.
• Precipitation: Rain, drizzle, or showers can reduce visibility and runway braking action, further complicating crosswind landings.

The Wind Agent's Exceedance Fan allows you to set your specific crosswind or gust limits for runway 17 or 35 and see the probability of exceeding those limits based on ensemble forecasts. This provides a probabilistic view of risk, complementing deterministic forecasts.

The prevailing wind at Cork Airport, consistent with much of Ireland, is from the westerly and south-westerly sectors. This is due to the frequent passage of Atlantic depressions across or to the north of the island. These directions often bring moist air, which, when lifted over the elevated airport, can lead to low cloud and reduced visibility.

While less frequent, strong easterly winds can occur, particularly during anticyclonic conditions or specific weather patterns. These can present different challenges, as they may be less common for pilots accustomed to prevailing westerlies.

Understanding the climatological wind rose helps in long-term planning and provides context for daily forecasts. For instance, if a forecast indicates an unusual wind direction, the climatology can highlight how rare or common such an event is for the time of year.

The climate band chart illustrates the typical range of wind speeds experienced at Cork Airport throughout the year, derived from historical reanalysis data. This allows users to assess whether current or forecast conditions are typical for the season or represent an unusual event.