Ástor Piazzola International Airport

SAZM / MDQ

Mar del Plata, AR

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF SAZM 150500Z 1506/1606 VRB03KT 9999 FEW025 OVC045 TX23/1519Z TN18/1509Z BECMG 1506/1508 8000 -TSRA FEW045CB BKN050 TEMPO 1507/1515 1500 +TSRA SCT015 BKN020 FEW040CB OVC045 BECMG 1516/1519 14010KT 9999 NSW SCT030 BECMG 1523/1601 VRB03KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
11:00Z
+-1h
Sun
12:00Z
+0h
Sun
13:00Z
+1h
Sun
14:00Z
+2h
Sun
15:00Z
+3h
Sun
16:00Z
+4h
Sun
17:00Z
+5h
Sun
18:00Z
+6h
Sun
19:00Z
+7h
Sun
20:00Z
+8h
Sun
21:00Z
+9h
Sun
22:00Z
+10h
Sun
23:00Z
+11h
Mon
00:00Z
+12h
Mon
01:00Z
+13h
Mon
02:00Z
+14h
Mon
03:00Z
+15h
Mon
04:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
140°
SE
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 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
FEW025
OVC045
FEW025
OVC045
FEW025
OVC045
FEW025
OVC045
FEW025
OVC045
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
SCT030
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
4,500 ft
AGL
4,500 ft
AGL
4,500 ft
AGL
4,500 ft
AGL
4,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ 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
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:42Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:42Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:42Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:42Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:42Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:18Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:18Z
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
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW025 OVC045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 2500 feet, Overcast skies at 4500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 06:00Z - 08:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Light Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
FEW045CB BKN050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Few clouds at 4500 feet, Broken clouds at 5000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 07:00Z - 15:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
1.5 km
Weather
Heavy Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
SCT015 BKN020 FEW040CB OVC045
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 1.5 km. Weather conditions: Heavy Thunderstorm Rain. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Few clouds at 4000 feet, Overcast skies at 4500 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 16:00Z - 19:00Z
VFR
Wind
140° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT030
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southeast (140°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 3000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 23:00Z - 01:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. 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.