Tampa International Airport

KTPA / TPA

Tampa, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KTPA 101720Z 1018/1124 26008KT P6SM VCTS SCT040CB BKN100 OVC250 TEMPO 1018/1022 VRB15G25KT 4SM TSRA BKN030CB FM110100 VRB05KT P6SM SCT040 BKN100 OVC250 FM111600 21007KT P6SM SCT030 BKN100 FM111900 28007KT P6SM VCTS SCT040CB BKN100

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
18:00Z
+-1h
Wed
19:00Z
+0h
Wed
20:00Z
+1h
Wed
21:00Z
+2h
Wed
22:00Z
+3h
Wed
23:00Z
+4h
Thu
00:00Z
+5h
Thu
01:00Z
+6h
Thu
02:00Z
+7h
Thu
03:00Z
+8h
Thu
04:00Z
+9h
Thu
05:00Z
+10h
Thu
06:00Z
+11h
Thu
07:00Z
+12h
Thu
08:00Z
+13h
Thu
09:00Z
+14h
Thu
10:00Z
+15h
Thu
11:00Z
+16h
Thu
12:00Z
+17h
Thu
13:00Z
+18h
Thu
14:00Z
+19h
Thu
15:00Z
+20h
Thu
16:00Z
+21h
Thu
17:00Z
+22h
Thu
18:00Z
+23h
Thu
19:00Z
+24h
Thu
20:00Z
+25h
Thu
21:00Z
+26h
Thu
22:00Z
+27h
Wind Dir
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
210°
SW
210°
SW
210°
SW
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
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
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT030
BKN100
SCT030
BKN100
SCT030
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
Ceiling
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 18:55Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:55Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:55Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:04Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:04Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:04Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:04Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:04Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:55Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:55Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:55Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:55Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:55Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
MVFR
Wind
260° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040CB BKN100 OVC250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West (260°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet, Overcast skies at 25000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 22:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN030CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

FM110100 01:00Z - 07:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 BKN100 OVC250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet, Overcast skies at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM111600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
210° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT030 BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South-Southwest (210°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM111900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Wind
280° at 7 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040CB BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West (280°) at 7 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Broken clouds at 10000 feet. 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.