Santa Maria Airport

SBSM / RIA

Santa Maria, BR

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF SBSM 120900Z 1212/1224 16006KT 8000 BKN008 TN23/1212Z TX28/1217Z BECMG 1214/1216 BKN015 BECMG 1220/1222 23006KT BKN020 FEW035TCU RMK PEN

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
16:00Z
+-1h
Thu
17:00Z
+0h
Thu
18:00Z
+1h
Thu
19:00Z
+2h
Thu
20:00Z
+3h
Thu
21:00Z
+4h
Thu
22:00Z
+5h
Wind Dir
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
230°
SW
230°
SW
230°
SW
Wind Speed
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
Visibility
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
8 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN008
BKN020
FEW035TCU
BKN020
FEW035TCU
BKN020
FEW035TCU
Ceiling
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules IFR IFR IFR IFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 18:11Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:11Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:11Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:11Z
🌙
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
IFR
Wind
160° at 6 kt
Visibility
8 km
Clouds
BKN008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Broken clouds at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 14:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Clouds
BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 20:00Z - 22:00Z
MVFR
Wind
230° at 6 kt
Clouds
BKN020 FEW035TCU
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (230°) at 6 kt. Broken clouds at 2000 feet, Few clouds at 3500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 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.