Tocumen International Airport

MPTO / PTY

Tocumen, PA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF MPTO 172300Z 1800/1906 35006KT 9999 FEW020 TEMPO 1801/1805 24005KT TEMPO 1806/1810 VRB02KT PROB30 1818/1822 18010KT 6000 SHRA SCT016TCU SCT090

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sat
01:00Z
+-1h
Sat
02:00Z
+0h
Sat
03:00Z
+1h
Sat
04:00Z
+2h
Sat
05:00Z
+3h
Sat
06:00Z
+4h
Sat
07:00Z
+5h
Sat
08:00Z
+6h
Sat
09:00Z
+7h
Sat
10:00Z
+8h
Sat
11:00Z
+9h
Sat
12:00Z
+10h
Sat
13:00Z
+11h
Sat
14:00Z
+12h
Sat
15:00Z
+13h
Sat
16:00Z
+14h
Sat
17:00Z
+15h
Sat
18:00Z
+16h
Sat
19:00Z
+17h
Sat
20:00Z
+18h
Sat
21:00Z
+19h
Sat
22:00Z
+20h
Sat
23:00Z
+21h
Sun
00:00Z
+22h
Sun
01:00Z
+23h
Sun
02:00Z
+24h
Sun
03:00Z
+25h
Sun
04:00Z
+26h
Wind Dir
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
2 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 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
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 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
Showers Rain
SHRA
30%
Showers Rain
SHRA
30%
Showers Rain
SHRA
30%
Showers Rain
SHRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
SCT016TCU
SCT090
SCT016TCU
SCT090
SCT016TCU
SCT090
SCT016TCU
SCT090
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
FEW020
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1,600 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
1,600 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
1,600 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
1,600 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
🌤️ 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 MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:42Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:42Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:42Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:42Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:42Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:17Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:17Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:17Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:17Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:17Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:43Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:43Z
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
350° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (350°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 01:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 5 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 5 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 06:00Z - 10:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 2 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds will be variable in direction at 2 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 18:00Z - 22:00Z
MVFR
Wind
180° at 10 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT016TCU SCT090
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Winds from the South (180°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1600 feet, Scattered clouds at 9000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.