Malta International Airport

LMML / MLA

Valletta, MT

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LMML 150500Z 1506/1606 20015KT 9999 FEW018 TEMPO 1508/1518 7000 RA PROB40 TEMPO 1512/1518 VRB20G30KT 3000 TSRA BKN015CB BECMG 1515/1518 31012KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
10:00Z
+-1h
Sun
11:00Z
+0h
Sun
12:00Z
+1h
Sun
13:00Z
+2h
Sun
14:00Z
+3h
Sun
15:00Z
+4h
Sun
16:00Z
+5h
Sun
17:00Z
+6h
Sun
18:00Z
+7h
Sun
19:00Z
+8h
Sun
20:00Z
+9h
Sun
21:00Z
+10h
Sun
22:00Z
+11h
Sun
23:00Z
+12h
Mon
00:00Z
+13h
Mon
01:00Z
+14h
Mon
02:00Z
+15h
Mon
03:00Z
+16h
Mon
04:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
200°
S
200°
S
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
Wind Speed
15 kt
15 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
20 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 km
3 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
40%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
Thunderstorm Rain
TSRA
40%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW018
FEW018
BKN015CB
BKN015CB
BKN015CB
BKN015CB
BKN015CB
BKN015CB
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ 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
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:50Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:50Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:50Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:50Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:50Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:08Z
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
200° at 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southwest (200°) at 15 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 1800 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 08:00Z - 18:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
7 km
Weather
Rain
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 7 km. Weather conditions: Rain. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB40 TEMPO 12:00Z - 18:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN015CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 20 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 15:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 12 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 12 kt. 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.