Lajes Airport

LPLA / TER

Praia da Vitória, PT

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LPLA 041700Z 0418/0518 34018KT 9999 FEW025 SCT032 TEMPO 0418/0501 35020G30KT BECMG 0501/0503 02012KT BECMG 0509/0511 07008KT

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
340°
N
340°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
20°
N
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
Wind Speed
18 kt
18 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW025
SCT032
FEW025
SCT032
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:22Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:22Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
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
340° at 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW025 SCT032
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northwest (340°) at 18 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2500 feet, Scattered clouds at 3200 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
350° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North (350°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 01:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
20° at 12 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northeast (20°) at 12 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 09:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
70° at 8 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 8 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.