João Paulo II Airport

LPPD / PDL

Ponta Delgada, PT

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LPPD 170500Z 1706/1806 VRB05KT 9999 FEW020 BKN035 TEMPO 1706/1806 SCT025 BECMG 1706/1708 31012KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
11:00Z
+-1h
Sat
12:00Z
+0h
Sat
13:00Z
+1h
Sat
14:00Z
+2h
Sat
15:00Z
+3h
Sat
16:00Z
+4h
Sat
17:00Z
+5h
Sat
18:00Z
+6h
Sat
19:00Z
+7h
Sat
20:00Z
+8h
Sat
21:00Z
+9h
Sat
22:00Z
+10h
Sat
23:00Z
+11h
Sun
00:00Z
+12h
Sun
01:00Z
+13h
Sun
02:00Z
+14h
Sun
03:00Z
+15h
Sun
04:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
FEW020
BKN035
Ceiling
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
3500ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 16:53
☀️
Day
🌇 16:53
☀️
Day
🌇 16:53
🌇
Dusk
🌇 16:53
🌙
Night
🌇 16:53
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
VRB° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW020 BKN035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 5kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2026-02-17 06:00:00 - 2026-01-18 06:00:00
VFR
Clouds
SCT025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Scattered clouds at 2500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2026-02-17 06:00:00 - 2026-02-17 08:00:00
VFR
Wind
310° at 12 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northwest (310°) at 12kt. 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.