João Paulo II Airport

LPPD / PDL

Ponta Delgada, PT

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LPPD 041710Z 0418/0518 01025G38KT 3000 -RADZ BR SCT004 BECMG 0418/0420 36018KT 9999 NSW FEW015 SCT030 TEMPO 0420/0503 36020G32KT BECMG 0503/0505 03013KT BECMG 0512/0514 06010KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
19:00Z
+-1h
Wed
20:00Z
+0h
Wed
21:00Z
+1h
Wed
22:00Z
+2h
Wed
23:00Z
+3h
Thu
00:00Z
+4h
Thu
01:00Z
+5h
Thu
02:00Z
+6h
Thu
03:00Z
+7h
Thu
04:00Z
+8h
Thu
05:00Z
+9h
Thu
06:00Z
+10h
Thu
07:00Z
+11h
Thu
08:00Z
+12h
Thu
09:00Z
+13h
Thu
10:00Z
+14h
Thu
11:00Z
+15h
Thu
12:00Z
+16h
Thu
13:00Z
+17h
Thu
14:00Z
+18h
Thu
15:00Z
+19h
Thu
16:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
10°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
Wind Speed
25 kt
G38 kt
20 kt
G32 kt
20 kt
G32 kt
20 kt
G32 kt
20 kt
G32 kt
20 kt
G32 kt
20 kt
G32 kt
20 kt
G32 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
18 kt
G38 kt
Visibility
3 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
10+ km
Weather
Light RADZ, Mist
-RADZ BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT004
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
FEW015
SCT030
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 17:36Z
🌙
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
☀️
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
IFR
Wind
10° at 25 kt
Gusts: 38 kt
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Light RADZ, Mist
Clouds
SCT004
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (10°) at 25 kt. Gusts up to 38 kt are expected. Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Light RADZ, Mist. Scattered clouds at 400 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 18:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
360° at 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW015 SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (360°) at 18 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 1500 feet, Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 20:00Z - 03:00Z
VFR
Wind
360° at 20 kt
Gusts: 32 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North (360°) at 20 kt. Gusts up to 32 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 03:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
30° at 13 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 13 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 12:00Z - 14:00Z
VFR
Wind
60° at 10 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Northeast (60°) at 10 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.