Santa Maria Airport

SBSM / RIA

Santa Maria, BR

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF SBSM 261500Z 2618/2706 23005KT 9999 SCT025 FEW035TCU TX20/2618Z TN16/2706Z TEMPO 2618/2621 3000 TSRA BKN025 FEW035CB BECMG 2700/2702 08005KT SCT040 RMK PEQ

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
19:00Z
+-1h
Sun
20:00Z
+0h
Sun
21:00Z
+1h
Sun
22:00Z
+2h
Sun
23:00Z
+3h
Mon
00:00Z
+4h
Mon
01:00Z
+5h
Mon
02:00Z
+6h
Mon
03:00Z
+7h
Mon
04:00Z
+8h
Wind Dir
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
Wind Speed
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
5 kt
Visibility
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
Clouds
SCT025
FEW035TCU
SCT025
FEW035TCU
SCT025
FEW035TCU
SCT025
FEW035TCU
SCT025
FEW035TCU
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
SCT040
Ceiling
3,500 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
3,500 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
3,500 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
3,500 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
3,500 ft ⛈️
TCU Base
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 17:10Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:49Z
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
MVFR
Wind
230° at 5 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT025 FEW035TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 5 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2500 feet, Few clouds at 3500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 21:00Z
IFR
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain
Clouds
BKN025 FEW035CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain. Broken clouds at 2500 feet, Few clouds at 3500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 00:00Z - 02:00Z
VFR
Wind
80° at 5 kt
Clouds
SCT040
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (80°) at 5 kt. Scattered clouds at 4000 feet. 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.