Lubumbashi International Airport

FZQA / FBM

Lubumbashi, CD

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF FZQA 140500Z 1406/1512 VRB03KT 9999 FEW007 BECMG 1407/1409 09007KT SCT015 BECMG 1410/1412 18010KT BKN020 FEW028CB TEMPO 1413/1417 36014KT 7000 TSRA

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
11:00Z
+-1h
Sat
12:00Z
+0h
Sat
13:00Z
+1h
Sat
14:00Z
+2h
Sat
15:00Z
+3h
Sat
16:00Z
+4h
Sat
17:00Z
+5h
Sat
18:00Z
+6h
Sat
19:00Z
+7h
Sat
20:00Z
+8h
Sat
21:00Z
+9h
Sat
22:00Z
+10h
Sat
23:00Z
+11h
Sun
00:00Z
+12h
Sun
01:00Z
+13h
Sun
02:00Z
+14h
Sun
03:00Z
+15h
Sun
04:00Z
+16h
Sun
05:00Z
+17h
Sun
06:00Z
+18h
Sun
07:00Z
+19h
Sun
08:00Z
+20h
Sun
09:00Z
+21h
Sun
10:00Z
+22h
Wind Dir
VRB
180°
S
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
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
3 kt
10 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
7 km
7 km
7 km
7 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
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW007
BKN020
FEW028CB
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
BKN020
FEW028CB
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
2,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:14Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:14Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:14Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:14Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:14Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:46Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:46Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:46Z
☀️
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
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW007
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 700 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 07:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
90° at 7 kt
Clouds
SCT015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (90°) at 7 kt. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 10:00Z - 12:00Z
MVFR
Wind
180° at 10 kt
Clouds
BKN020 FEW028CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (180°) at 10 kt. Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Few clouds at 2800 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 13:00Z - 17:00Z
MVFR
Wind
360° at 14 kt
Visibility
7 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North (360°) at 14 kt. Visibility will be good at 7 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.