João Paulo II Airport

LPPD / PDL

Ponta Delgada, PT

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LPPD 050500Z 0506/0606 03012KT 9999 FEW015 BKN040 PROB30 TEMPO 0506/0509 03015G25KT BECMG 0512/0514 06010KT BECMG 0520/0522 11010KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
07:00Z
+-1h
Thu
08:00Z
+0h
Thu
09:00Z
+1h
Thu
10:00Z
+2h
Thu
11:00Z
+3h
Thu
12:00Z
+4h
Thu
13:00Z
+5h
Thu
14:00Z
+6h
Thu
15:00Z
+7h
Thu
16:00Z
+8h
Thu
17:00Z
+9h
Thu
18:00Z
+10h
Thu
19:00Z
+11h
Thu
20:00Z
+12h
Thu
21:00Z
+13h
Thu
22:00Z
+14h
Thu
23:00Z
+15h
Fri
00:00Z
+16h
Fri
01:00Z
+17h
Fri
02:00Z
+18h
Fri
03:00Z
+19h
Fri
04:00Z
+20h
Wind Dir
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
30°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
60°
NE
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
Wind Speed
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 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
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW015
BKN040
FEW015
BKN040
FEW015
BKN040
FEW015
BKN040
FEW015
BKN040
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ 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 VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:22Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:37Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:37Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:37Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:21Z
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
30° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW015 BKN040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 06:00Z - 09:00Z
VFR
Wind
30° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds from the North-Northeast (30°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. 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.

BECMG 20:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
110° at 10 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) 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.