Juan Santamaría International Airport

MROC / SJO

San José (Alajuela), CR

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF MROC 030400Z 0304/0324 12005KT 9999 SCT005 TX27/0318Z TN19/0311Z TEMPO 0304/0306 23005KT 3000 RA BR OVC005 BECMG 0318/0320 25010KT TEMPO 0321/0324 5000 RA OVC010

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
06:00Z
+-1h
Mon
07:00Z
+0h
Mon
08:00Z
+1h
Mon
09:00Z
+2h
Mon
10:00Z
+3h
Mon
11:00Z
+4h
Mon
12:00Z
+5h
Mon
13:00Z
+6h
Mon
14:00Z
+7h
Mon
15:00Z
+8h
Mon
16:00Z
+9h
Mon
17:00Z
+10h
Mon
18:00Z
+11h
Mon
19:00Z
+12h
Mon
20:00Z
+13h
Mon
21:00Z
+14h
Mon
22:00Z
+15h
Wind Dir
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
Wind Speed
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
5kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
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
5 km
5 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Rain
RA
Rain
RA
Clouds
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
SCT005
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
OVC010
OVC010
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR
Day/Night
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:13
☀️
Day
🌅 06:13
☀️
Day
🌅 06:13
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:46
☀️
Day
🌇 17:46
☀️
Day
🌇 17:46
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:46
🌙
Night
🌇 17:46
🌙
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
120° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 5kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-12-03 04:00:00 - 2025-12-03 06:00:00
IFR
Wind
230° at 5 kt
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Rain, Mist
Clouds
OVC005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 5kt. Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Rain, Mist. Overcast skies at 500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 2025-11-03 18:00:00 - 2025-11-03 20:00:00
VFR
Wind
250° at 10 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 10kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-11-03 21:00:00 - 2025-11-04 00:00:00
IFR
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Rain
Clouds
OVC010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Rain. Overcast skies at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 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.