Santa Maria Airport

LPAZ / SMA

Vila do Porto, PT

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LPAZ 171100Z 1712/1818 32020KT 9999 FEW020 BKN030 PROB30 TEMPO 1712/1724 32020G32KT PROB30 TEMPO 1812/1818 4000 -RADZ BR SCT004 BKN008 BECMG 1816/1818 32013KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
17:00Z
+-1h
Sat
18:00Z
+0h
Sat
19:00Z
+1h
Sat
20:00Z
+2h
Sat
21:00Z
+3h
Sat
22:00Z
+4h
Sat
23:00Z
+5h
Sun
00:00Z
+6h
Sun
01:00Z
+7h
Sun
02:00Z
+8h
Sun
03:00Z
+9h
Sun
04:00Z
+10h
Sun
05:00Z
+11h
Sun
06:00Z
+12h
Sun
07:00Z
+13h
Sun
08:00Z
+14h
Sun
09:00Z
+15h
Sun
10:00Z
+16h
Sun
11:00Z
+17h
Sun
12:00Z
+18h
Sun
13:00Z
+19h
Sun
14:00Z
+20h
Sun
15:00Z
+21h
Sun
16:00Z
+22h
Wind Dir
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
320°
NW
Wind Speed
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
20kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
13kt
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
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light RADZ, Mist
-RADZ BR
30%
Light RADZ, Mist
-RADZ BR
30%
Light RADZ, Mist
-RADZ BR
30%
Light RADZ, Mist
-RADZ BR
30%
Light RADZ, Mist
-RADZ BR
30%
Clouds
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
FEW020
BKN030
SCT004
BKN008
SCT004
BKN008
SCT004
BKN008
SCT004
BKN008
SCT004
BKN008
Ceiling
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
3000ft
AGL
800ft
AGL
800ft
AGL
800ft
AGL
800ft
AGL
800ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
🌇
Dusk
🌇 16:55
🌙
Night
🌇 16:55
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 07:04
🌙
Night
🌅 07:04
🌅
Dawn
🌅 07:04
☀️
Day
🌅 07:04
☀️
Day
🌅 07:04
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 16:55
☀️
Day
🌇 16:55
☀️
Day
🌇 16:55
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
320° at 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW020 BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 20kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 2026-02-17 12:00:00 - 2026-01-18 00:00:00
VFR
Wind
320° at 20 kt
Gusts: 32 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 20kt. Gusts up to 32kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 2026-01-18 12:00:00 - 2026-01-18 18:00:00
IFR
Visibility
4 km
Weather
Light RADZ, Mist
Clouds
SCT004 BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: Light RADZ, Mist. Scattered clouds at 400 feet, Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 2026-01-18 16:00:00 - 2026-01-18 18:00:00
VFR
Wind
320° at 13 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 13kt. 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.