Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport

FAPE / PLZ

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), ZA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF FAPE 171000Z 1712/1812 23013KT 9999 SCT015 BKN020 TX24/1712Z TN18/1803Z PROB30 TEMPO 1712/1718 5000 -RA BKN008 BECMG 1719/1721 24022G33KT SCT030

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
14:00Z
+-1h
Sat
15:00Z
+0h
Sat
16:00Z
+1h
Sat
17:00Z
+2h
Sat
18:00Z
+3h
Sat
19:00Z
+4h
Sat
20:00Z
+5h
Sat
21:00Z
+6h
Sat
22:00Z
+7h
Sat
23:00Z
+8h
Sun
00:00Z
+9h
Sun
01:00Z
+10h
Sun
02:00Z
+11h
Sun
03:00Z
+12h
Sun
04:00Z
+13h
Sun
05:00Z
+14h
Sun
06:00Z
+15h
Sun
07:00Z
+16h
Sun
08:00Z
+17h
Sun
09:00Z
+18h
Sun
10:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
Wind Speed
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
22kt
G33kt
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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT015
BKN020
SCT015
BKN020
SCT015
BKN020
SCT015
BKN020
SCT015
BKN020
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
Ceiling
2000ft
AGL
2000ft
AGL
2000ft
AGL
2000ft
AGL
2000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
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
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
MVFR
Wind
230° at 13 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT015 BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 13kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 TEMPO 2026-02-17 12:00:00 - 2026-01-17 18:00:00
IFR
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 2026-01-17 19:00:00 - 2026-01-17 21:00:00
VFR
Wind
240° at 22 kt
Gusts: 33 kt
Clouds
SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 22kt. Gusts up to 33kt are expected. Scattered clouds at 3000 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.