Tampa International Airport

KTPA / TPA

Tampa, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KTPA 101456Z 1015/1118 12005KT P6SM FEW030 SCT180 BKN250 FM101600 23008KT P6SM SCT040 SCT100 BKN250 FM101900 26008KT P6SM VCTS SCT040CB BKN100 OVC250 FM110100 VRB05KT P6SM SCT040 BKN100 OVC250

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
16:00Z
+-1h
Wed
17:00Z
+0h
Wed
18:00Z
+1h
Wed
19:00Z
+2h
Wed
20:00Z
+3h
Wed
21:00Z
+4h
Wed
22:00Z
+5h
Wed
23:00Z
+6h
Thu
00:00Z
+7h
Thu
01:00Z
+8h
Thu
02:00Z
+9h
Thu
03:00Z
+10h
Thu
04:00Z
+11h
Thu
05:00Z
+12h
Thu
06:00Z
+13h
Thu
07:00Z
+14h
Thu
08:00Z
+15h
Thu
09:00Z
+16h
Thu
10:00Z
+17h
Thu
11:00Z
+18h
Thu
12:00Z
+19h
Thu
13:00Z
+20h
Thu
14:00Z
+21h
Thu
15:00Z
+22h
Thu
16:00Z
+23h
Wind Dir
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
260°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 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
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 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
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
Clouds
FEW030
SCT180
FEW030
SCT180
FEW030
SCT180
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040CB
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
SCT040
BKN100
FEW030
SCT180
FEW030
SCT180
FEW030
SCT180
FEW030
SCT180
FEW030
SCT180
FEW030
SCT180
FEW030
SCT180
FEW030
SCT180
FEW030
SCT180
FEW030
SCT180
Ceiling
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 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
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
25,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 18:55Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:55Z
☀️
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
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
VFR
Wind
120° at 5 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW030 SCT180 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 3000 feet, Scattered clouds at 18000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM101600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
230° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040 SCT100 BKN250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet, Scattered clouds at 10000 feet, Broken clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM101900 19:00Z - 01:00Z
MVFR
Wind
260° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT040CB BKN100 OVC250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

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.

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.

📚 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.