Juan Santamaría International Airport

MROC / SJO

San José (Alajuela), CR

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF MROC 171740Z 1718/1818 09014KT 9999 FEW030 TX31/1719Z TN21/1811Z TEMPO 1718/1721 09015G25KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
23:00Z
+-1h
Sat
00:00Z
+0h
Sat
01:00Z
+1h
Sat
02:00Z
+2h
Sat
03:00Z
+3h
Sat
04:00Z
+4h
Sat
05:00Z
+5h
Sat
06:00Z
+6h
Sat
07:00Z
+7h
Sat
08:00Z
+8h
Sat
09:00Z
+9h
Sat
10:00Z
+10h
Sat
11:00Z
+11h
Sat
12:00Z
+12h
Sat
13:00Z
+13h
Sat
14:00Z
+14h
Sat
15:00Z
+15h
Sat
16:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
Wind Speed
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 kt
14 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
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
FEW030
Ceiling
🌤️ 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
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:41Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:18Z
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
90° at 14 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (90°) at 14 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 21:00Z
VFR
Wind
90° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the East (90°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 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.