Lajes Airport

LPLA / TER

Praia da Vitória, PT

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LPLA 171125Z 1712/1812 31015KT 9999 FEW022 BKN030 TEMPO 1712/1724 32015G25KT PROB40 TEMPO 1712/1718 32020G32KT BECMG 1808/1810 8000 -RA FEW007 SCT014 TEMPO 1809/1812 4000 RADZ SCT004 BKN007

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
14:00Z
+-1h
Sat
15:00Z
+0h
Sat
16:00Z
+1h
Sat
17:00Z
+2h
Sat
18:00Z
+3h
Sat
19:00Z
+4h
Sat
20:00Z
+5h
Sat
21:00Z
+6h
Sat
22:00Z
+7h
Sat
23:00Z
+8h
Sun
00:00Z
+9h
Sun
01:00Z
+10h
Sun
02:00Z
+11h
Sun
03:00Z
+12h
Sun
04:00Z
+13h
Sun
05:00Z
+14h
Sun
06:00Z
+15h
Sun
07:00Z
+16h
Sun
08:00Z
+17h
Sun
09:00Z
+18h
Sun
10:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
310°
NW
Wind Speed
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
15kt
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
8 km
4 km
4 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain
-RA
RADZ
RADZ
RADZ
RADZ
Clouds
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW022
BKN030
FEW007
SCT014
SCT004
BKN007
SCT004
BKN007
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
🌤️ Unlimited
700ft
AGL
700ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 16:52
☀️
Day
🌇 16:52
☀️
Day
🌇 16:52
🌇
Dusk
🌇 16:52
🌙
Night
🌇 16:52
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 07:06
🌙
Night
🌅 07:06
🌅
Dawn
🌅 07:06
☀️
Day
🌅 07:06
☀️
Day
🌅 07:06
☀️
Day
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
310° at 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW022 BKN030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 15kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2200 feet, Broken clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2026-02-17 12:00:00 - 2026-01-18 00:00:00
VFR
Wind
320° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the Northwest (320°) at 15kt. Gusts up to 25kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB40 TEMPO 2026-02-17 12:00:00 - 2026-01-17 18:00:00
VFR
Wind
320° at 20 kt
Gusts: 32 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% 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.

BECMG 2026-01-18 08:00:00 - 2026-01-18 10:00:00
MVFR
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
FEW007 SCT014
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Few clouds at 700 feet, Scattered clouds at 1400 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 2026-01-18 09:00:00 - 2026-01-18 12:00:00
IFR
Visibility
4 km
Weather
RADZ
Clouds
SCT004 BKN007
📖 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. Scattered clouds at 400 feet, Broken clouds at 700 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 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.