Eloy Alfaro International Airport

SEMT / MEC

Manta, EC

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF SEMT 041650Z 0418/0518 29010KT 9999 SCT020 SCT090 BECMG 0500/0502 15004KT OVC020 BECMG 0515/0517 27008KT SCT020 SCT100 TX30/0420Z TN25/0510Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
21:00Z
+-1h
Wed
22:00Z
+0h
Wed
23:00Z
+1h
Thu
00:00Z
+2h
Thu
01:00Z
+3h
Thu
02:00Z
+4h
Thu
03:00Z
+5h
Thu
04:00Z
+6h
Thu
05:00Z
+7h
Thu
06:00Z
+8h
Thu
07:00Z
+9h
Thu
08:00Z
+10h
Thu
09:00Z
+11h
Thu
10:00Z
+12h
Thu
11:00Z
+13h
Thu
12:00Z
+14h
Thu
13:00Z
+15h
Thu
14:00Z
+16h
Thu
15:00Z
+17h
Thu
16:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
290°
W
290°
W
290°
W
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
150°
SE
270°
W
270°
W
Wind Speed
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
8 kt
8 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
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT020
SCT090
SCT020
SCT090
SCT020
SCT090
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
OVC020
SCT020
SCT100
SCT020
SCT100
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:59Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:59Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:59Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:59Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:59Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:00Z
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
290° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT020 SCT090
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (290°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Scattered clouds at 9000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 00:00Z - 02:00Z
MVFR
Wind
150° at 4 kt
Clouds
OVC020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South-Southeast (150°) at 4 kt. Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 15:00Z - 17:00Z
VFR
Wind
270° at 8 kt
Clouds
SCT020 SCT100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (270°) at 8 kt. Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Scattered clouds at 10000 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.