Cape Town International Airport

FACT / CPT

Cape Town, ZA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF FACT 180400Z 1806/1912 05008KT 9999 BKN040 TX17/1812Z TN12/1903Z PROB30 TEMPO 1806/1812 4500 -SHRA BECMG 1808/1810 34015KT PROB40 TEMPO 1820/1903 4500 -RA BKN015 PROB40 TEMPO 1908/1912 3000 RA BKN012 PROB30 TEMPO 1909/1912 33025G35KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
07:00Z
+-1h
Sat
08:00Z
+0h
Sat
09:00Z
+1h
Sat
10:00Z
+2h
Sat
11:00Z
+3h
Sat
12:00Z
+4h
Sat
13:00Z
+5h
Sat
14:00Z
+6h
Sat
15:00Z
+7h
Sat
16:00Z
+8h
Sat
17:00Z
+9h
Sat
18:00Z
+10h
Sat
19:00Z
+11h
Sat
20:00Z
+12h
Sat
21:00Z
+13h
Sat
22:00Z
+14h
Sat
23:00Z
+15h
Sun
00:00Z
+16h
Sun
01:00Z
+17h
Sun
02:00Z
+18h
Sun
03:00Z
+19h
Sun
04:00Z
+20h
Sun
05:00Z
+21h
Sun
06:00Z
+22h
Sun
07:00Z
+23h
Sun
08:00Z
+24h
Sun
09:00Z
+25h
Sun
10:00Z
+26h
Wind Dir
50°
NE
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
340°
N
330°
NW
330°
NW
Wind Speed
8 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
25 kt
G35 kt
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
4.5 km
4.5 km
4.5 km
4.5 km
4.5 km
4.5 km
4.5 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
3 km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain
-RA
40%
Light Rain
-RA
40%
Light Rain
-RA
40%
Light Rain
-RA
40%
Light Rain
-RA
40%
Light Rain
-RA
40%
Light Rain
-RA
40%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Rain
RA
40%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN040
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN012
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
4,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,200 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 06:29Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:29Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:31Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:31Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:31Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:31Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:31Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:30Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:30Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:30Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:30Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:30Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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
50° at 8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 06:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4.5 km
Weather
Light Showers Rain
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 4.5 km. Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 08:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
340° at 15 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 15 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB40 TEMPO 20:00Z - 03:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4.5 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 4.5 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

PROB40 TEMPO 08:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Rain
Clouds
BKN012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Rain. Broken clouds at 1200 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

PROB30 TEMPO 09:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 25 kt
Gusts: 35 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 25 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt are expected. 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.