Lajes Airport

LPLA / TER

Praia da Vitória, PT

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LPLA 221707Z 2218/2318 29020G32KT 9999 SCT015 BKN025 TEMPO 2218/2224 6000 SHRA SCT009 BKN018 SCT022CB BECMG 2301/2303 7000 -RA SCT012 BKN022 TEMPO 2301/2306 30025G38KT TEMPO 2302/2311 4000 RADZ BR SCT008 BKN016 FEW018TCU BECMG 2306/2308 30015KT TEMPO 2306/2318 31015G28KT BECMG 2310/2312 9999 NSW SCT015 BKN030 TEMPO 2311/2318 6000 SHRA SCT010 BKN018 SCT022TCU

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
23:00Z
+-1h
Thu
00:00Z
+0h
Thu
01:00Z
+1h
Thu
02:00Z
+2h
Thu
03:00Z
+3h
Thu
04:00Z
+4h
Thu
05:00Z
+5h
Thu
06:00Z
+6h
Thu
07:00Z
+7h
Thu
08:00Z
+8h
Thu
09:00Z
+9h
Thu
10:00Z
+10h
Thu
11:00Z
+11h
Thu
12:00Z
+12h
Thu
13:00Z
+13h
Thu
14:00Z
+14h
Thu
15:00Z
+15h
Thu
16:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
290°
W
290°
W
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
Wind Speed
20 kt
G32 kt
20 kt
G32 kt
25 kt
G38 kt
15 kt
G32 kt
15 kt
G32 kt
15 kt
G32 kt
15 kt
G32 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G28 kt
15 kt
G32 kt
15 kt
G32 kt
15 kt
G32 kt
15 kt
G32 kt
15 kt
G32 kt
15 kt
G32 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
4 km
4 km
4 km
4 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
RADZ, Mist
RADZ BR
RADZ, Mist
RADZ BR
RADZ, Mist
RADZ BR
RADZ, Mist
RADZ BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Showers Rain
SHRA
Clouds
SCT015
BKN025
SCT015
BKN025
☀️ CLR
SCT008
BKN016
SCT008
BKN016
SCT008
BKN016
SCT008
BKN016
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
SCT010
BKN018
SCT010
BKN018
SCT010
BKN018
SCT010
BKN018
SCT010
BKN018
SCT010
BKN018
Ceiling
2,500 ft
AGL
2,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
1,600 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
1,800 ft
AGL
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:21Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:21Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:21Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:21Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:21Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:38Z
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
MVFR
Wind
290° at 20 kt
Gusts: 32 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT015 BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 32 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT009 BKN018 SCT022CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 900 feet, Broken clouds at 1800 feet, Scattered clouds at 2200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 01:00Z - 03:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
7 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
SCT012 BKN022
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Visibility will be good at 7 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Scattered clouds at 1200 feet, Broken clouds at 2200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 01:00Z - 06:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 25 kt
Gusts: 38 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 25 kt. Gusts up to 38 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 02:00Z - 11:00Z
IFR
Visibility
4 km
Weather
RADZ, Mist
Clouds
SCT008 BKN016 FEW018TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 4 km. Weather conditions: RADZ, Mist. Scattered clouds at 800 feet, Broken clouds at 1600 feet, Few clouds at 1800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 06:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 15 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 15 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 06:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
310° at 15 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 10:00Z - 12:00Z
VFR
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT015 BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 11:00Z - 18:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT010 BKN018 SCT022TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1000 feet, Broken clouds at 1800 feet, Scattered clouds at 2200 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.