Lajes Airport

LPLA / TER

Praia da Vitória, PT

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LPLA 041101Z 0412/0512 35018G30KT 6000 -RADZ SCT006 BKN022 TEMPO 0412/0418 36025G38KT PROB40 TEMPO 0412/0415 3000 RADZ BR BKN004 BKN012 BECMG 0414/0416 9999 NSW SCT025 BKN040 BECMG 0501/0503 01012KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
17:00Z
+-1h
Wed
18:00Z
+0h
Wed
19:00Z
+1h
Wed
20:00Z
+2h
Wed
21:00Z
+3h
Wed
22:00Z
+4h
Wed
23:00Z
+5h
Thu
00:00Z
+6h
Thu
01:00Z
+7h
Thu
02:00Z
+8h
Thu
03:00Z
+9h
Thu
04:00Z
+10h
Thu
05:00Z
+11h
Thu
06:00Z
+12h
Thu
07:00Z
+13h
Thu
08:00Z
+14h
Thu
09:00Z
+15h
Thu
10:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
Wind Speed
18 kt
G30 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
18 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
12 kt
G30 kt
Visibility
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
Weather
Light RADZ
-RADZ
Light RADZ
-RADZ
Light RADZ
-RADZ
Light RADZ
-RADZ
Light RADZ
-RADZ
Light RADZ
-RADZ
Light RADZ
-RADZ
Light RADZ
-RADZ
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT006
BKN022
SCT006
BKN022
SCT006
BKN022
SCT006
BKN022
SCT006
BKN022
SCT006
BKN022
SCT006
BKN022
SCT006
BKN022
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
2,200 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 17:35Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:35Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:35Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:22Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:22Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
☀️
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
MVFR
Wind
350° at 18 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light RADZ
Clouds
SCT006 BKN022
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (350°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light RADZ. Scattered clouds at 600 feet, Broken clouds at 2200 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
360° at 25 kt
Gusts: 38 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North (360°) at 25 kt. Gusts up to 38 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB40 TEMPO 12:00Z - 15:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
3 km
Weather
RADZ, Mist
Clouds
BKN004 BKN012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: RADZ, Mist. Broken clouds at 400 feet, Broken clouds at 1200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 14:00Z - 16:00Z
VFR
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT025 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 01:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
10° at 12 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (10°) 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.