Cape Town International Airport

FACT / CPT

Cape Town, ZA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF FACT 171000Z 1712/1818 24013KT 9999 SCT040 TX25/1712Z TN15/1803Z FM171800 19010KT 9999 BKN030 FM181000 17018KT 9999 SCT035

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
12:00Z
+-1h
Sat
13:00Z
+0h
Sat
14:00Z
+1h
Sat
15:00Z
+2h
Sat
16:00Z
+3h
Sat
17:00Z
+4h
Sat
18:00Z
+5h
Sat
19:00Z
+6h
Sat
20:00Z
+7h
Sat
21:00Z
+8h
Sat
22:00Z
+9h
Sat
23:00Z
+10h
Sun
00:00Z
+11h
Sun
01:00Z
+12h
Sun
02:00Z
+13h
Sun
03:00Z
+14h
Sun
04:00Z
+15h
Sun
05:00Z
+16h
Sun
06:00Z
+17h
Sun
07:00Z
+18h
Sun
08:00Z
+19h
Sun
09:00Z
+20h
Sun
10:00Z
+21h
Sun
11:00Z
+22h
Sun
12:00Z
+23h
Sun
13:00Z
+24h
Sun
14:00Z
+25h
Sun
15:00Z
+26h
Sun
16:00Z
+27h
Wind Dir
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
190°
S
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
240°
SW
Wind Speed
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
18kt
18kt
18kt
18kt
18kt
18kt
13kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
BKN030
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT035
SCT040
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 19:00
☀️
Day
🌇 19:00
☀️
Day
🌇 19:00
🌙
Night
🌇 19:00
🌙
Night
🌇 19:00
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:00
🌙
Night
🌅 05:00
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:00
☀️
Day
🌅 05:00
☀️
Day
🌅 05:00
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:59
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
240° at 13 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 13kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM171800 2026-01-17 18:00:00 - 2026-01-18 00:00:00
VFR
Wind
190° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (190°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM181000 2026-01-18 10:00:00 - 2026-01-18 16:00:00
VFR
Wind
170° at 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 18kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

📚 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.