Cape Town International Airport

FACT / CPT

Cape Town, ZA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF FACT 032200Z 0400/0506 20010KT CAVOK TX26/0412Z TN15/0404Z FM040400 VRB03KT CAVOK BECMG 0409/0411 18013KT FM041700 18009KT 9999 SCT040 FM042200 VRB03KT 9999 BKN015 PROB30 TEMPO 0422/0505 3000 BR BKN006

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
02:00Z
+-1h
Wed
03:00Z
+0h
Wed
04:00Z
+1h
Wed
05:00Z
+2h
Wed
06:00Z
+3h
Wed
07:00Z
+4h
Wed
08:00Z
+5h
Wed
09:00Z
+6h
Wed
10:00Z
+7h
Wed
11:00Z
+8h
Wed
12:00Z
+9h
Wed
13:00Z
+10h
Wed
14:00Z
+11h
Wed
15:00Z
+12h
Wed
16:00Z
+13h
Wed
17:00Z
+14h
Wed
18:00Z
+15h
Wed
19:00Z
+16h
Wed
20:00Z
+17h
Wed
21:00Z
+18h
Wed
22:00Z
+19h
Wed
23:00Z
+20h
Thu
00:00Z
+21h
Thu
01:00Z
+22h
Thu
02:00Z
+23h
Thu
03:00Z
+24h
Thu
04:00Z
+25h
Wind Dir
200°
S
200°
S
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
Wind Speed
10 kt
10 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
Visibility
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Clouds
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
600 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:38Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:38Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:38Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:38Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:38Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:21Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:21Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:21Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:21Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:21Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:39Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:39Z
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now%: Probability of occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
200° at 10 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM040400 04:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 09:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 13 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (180°) at 13 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM041700 17:00Z - 23:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM042200 22:00Z - 04:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 TEMPO 22:00Z - 05:00Z
IFR
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.