Juan Santamaría International Airport

MROC / SJO

San José (Alajuela), CR

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF MROC 031135Z 0312/0412 07005KT 9999 FEW035 TX27/0318Z TN19/0411Z BECMG 0318/0320 25008KT TEMPO 0321/0403 12005KT RA BKN010 BECMG 0403/0406 05005KT TEMPO 0407/0410 30005KT 3000 BR BKN005

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
15:00Z
+-1h
Mon
16:00Z
+0h
Mon
17:00Z
+1h
Mon
18:00Z
+2h
Mon
19:00Z
+3h
Mon
20:00Z
+4h
Mon
21:00Z
+5h
Mon
22:00Z
+6h
Mon
23:00Z
+7h
Tue
00:00Z
+8h
Tue
01:00Z
+9h
Tue
02:00Z
+10h
Tue
03:00Z
+11h
Tue
04:00Z
+12h
Tue
05:00Z
+13h
Tue
06:00Z
+14h
Tue
07:00Z
+15h
Tue
08:00Z
+16h
Tue
09:00Z
+17h
Tue
10:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
70°
E
70°
E
70°
E
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
50°
NE
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
50°
NE
Wind Speed
5kt
5kt
5kt
8kt
8kt
8kt
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
3 km
3 km
3 km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Rain
RA
Rain
RA
Rain
RA
Rain
RA
Rain
RA
Rain
RA
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN010
BKN010
BKN010
BKN010
BKN010
BKN010
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN005
BKN005
BKN005
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
1000ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
500ft
AGL
500ft
AGL
500ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 17:46
☀️
Day
🌇 17:46
☀️
Day
🌇 17:46
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:46
🌙
Night
🌇 17:46
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:14
🌙
Night
🌅 06:14
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:14
☀️
Day
🌅 06:14
☀️
Day
🌅 06:14
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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
70° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Northeast (70°) at 5kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-11-03 18:00:00 - 2025-11-03 20:00:00
VFR
Wind
250° at 8 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 8kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-11-03 21:00:00 - 2025-11-04 03:00:00
IFR
Wind
120° at 5 kt
Weather
Rain
Clouds
BKN010
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 5kt. Weather conditions: Rain. Broken clouds at 1000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 2025-11-04 03:00:00 - 2025-11-04 06:00:00
VFR
Wind
50° at 5 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Northeast (50°) at 5kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-11-04 07:00:00 - 2025-11-04 10:00:00
IFR
Wind
300° at 5 kt
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 5kt. Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 500 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.