Princess Juliana International Airport

TNCM / SXM

Sint Maarten, SX

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF TNCM 041010Z 0412/0512 09012G25KT 9999 SCT018 PROB40 TEMPO 0504/0512 5000 SHRA SCT015 BKN032

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
12:00Z
+-1h
Wed
13:00Z
+0h
Wed
14:00Z
+1h
Wed
15:00Z
+2h
Wed
16:00Z
+3h
Wed
17:00Z
+4h
Wed
18:00Z
+5h
Wed
19:00Z
+6h
Wed
20:00Z
+7h
Wed
21:00Z
+8h
Wed
22:00Z
+9h
Wed
23:00Z
+10h
Thu
00:00Z
+11h
Thu
01:00Z
+12h
Thu
02:00Z
+13h
Thu
03:00Z
+14h
Thu
04:00Z
+15h
Thu
05:00Z
+16h
Thu
06:00Z
+17h
Thu
07:00Z
+18h
Thu
08:00Z
+19h
Thu
09:00Z
+20h
Thu
10:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
90°
E
Wind Speed
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 kt
12 kt
G25 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
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Clouds
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT015
BKN032
SCT015
BKN032
SCT015
BKN032
SCT015
BKN032
SCT015
BKN032
SCT015
BKN032
SCT015
BKN032
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
3,200 ft
AGL
3,200 ft
AGL
3,200 ft
AGL
3,200 ft
AGL
3,200 ft
AGL
3,200 ft
AGL
3,200 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:48Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:48Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:48Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:48Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:48Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:11Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:11Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 06:11Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:11Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:11Z
☀️
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
90° at 12 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (90°) at 12 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1800 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB40 TEMPO 04:00Z - 12:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
SCT015 BKN032
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Visibility will be good at 5 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet, Broken clouds at 3200 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.