Madeira International Airport Cristiano Ronaldo

LPMA / FNC

Funchal, PT

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LPMA 041100Z 0412/0512 36015KT 9999 SCT015 TEMPO 0412/0418 36018G30KT 8000 SHRA BKN013 FEW018CB BECMG 0418/0420 33012KT PROB40 TEMPO 0500/0508 VRB05KT BECMG 0508/0510 01015KT TEMPO 0510/0512 01020G32KT 6000 -RA BKN013

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
13:00Z
+-1h
Wed
14:00Z
+0h
Wed
15:00Z
+1h
Wed
16:00Z
+2h
Wed
17:00Z
+3h
Wed
18:00Z
+4h
Wed
19:00Z
+5h
Wed
20:00Z
+6h
Wed
21:00Z
+7h
Wed
22:00Z
+8h
Wed
23:00Z
+9h
Thu
00:00Z
+10h
Thu
01:00Z
+11h
Thu
02:00Z
+12h
Thu
03:00Z
+13h
Thu
04:00Z
+14h
Thu
05:00Z
+15h
Thu
06:00Z
+16h
Thu
07:00Z
+17h
Thu
08:00Z
+18h
Thu
09:00Z
+19h
Thu
10:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
330°
NW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
10°
N
10°
N
10°
N
Wind Speed
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
15 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
15 kt
15 kt
20 kt
G32 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
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
6 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Rain
-RA
Clouds
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN013
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,300 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:39Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:19Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:19Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:19Z
☀️
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
VFR
Wind
360° at 15 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (360°) at 15 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 12:00Z - 18:00Z
IFR
Wind
360° at 18 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN013 FEW018CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North (360°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1300 feet, Few clouds at 1800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 18:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 12 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 12 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB40 TEMPO 00:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 5 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Winds will be variable in direction at 5 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 08:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
10° at 15 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (10°) at 15 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 10:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Wind
10° at 20 kt
Gusts: 32 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
BKN013
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North (10°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 32 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Broken clouds at 1300 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.