Juan Santamaría International Airport

MROC / SJO

San José (Alajuela), CR

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF MROC 032333Z 0400/0424 08016KT 9999 FEW040 TX30/0419Z TN20/0410Z TEMPO 0400/0405 09017G28KT TEMPO 0414/0418 08016G26KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
02:00Z
+-1h
Wed
03:00Z
+0h
Wed
04:00Z
+1h
Wed
05:00Z
+2h
Wed
06:00Z
+3h
Wed
07:00Z
+4h
Wed
08:00Z
+5h
Wed
09:00Z
+6h
Wed
10:00Z
+7h
Wed
11:00Z
+8h
Wed
12:00Z
+9h
Wed
13:00Z
+10h
Wed
14:00Z
+11h
Wed
15:00Z
+12h
Wed
16:00Z
+13h
Wed
17:00Z
+14h
Wed
18:00Z
+15h
Wed
19:00Z
+16h
Wed
20:00Z
+17h
Wed
21:00Z
+18h
Wed
22:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
Wind Speed
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
G26 kt
16 kt
G26 kt
16 kt
G26 kt
16 kt
G26 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 kt
16 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
FEW040
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:06Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:06Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:06Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:06Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:06Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:53Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:53Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:53Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:53Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:53Z
🌙
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
80° at 16 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (80°) at 16 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 4000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 00:00Z - 05:00Z
VFR
Wind
90° at 17 kt
Gusts: 28 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the East (90°) at 17 kt. Gusts up to 28 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 14:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
80° at 16 kt
Gusts: 26 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the East (80°) at 16 kt. Gusts up to 26 kt are expected. 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.