Princess Juliana International Airport

TNCM / SXM

Sint Maarten, SX

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TNCM 141647Z 1418/1518 11010KT 9999 FEW018 PROB40 TEMPO 1506/1516 5000 SHRA BKN015

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
18:00Z
+-1h
Sun
19:00Z
+0h
Sun
20:00Z
+1h
Sun
21:00Z
+2h
Sun
22:00Z
+3h
Sun
23:00Z
+4h
Mon
00:00Z
+5h
Mon
01:00Z
+6h
Mon
02:00Z
+7h
Mon
03:00Z
+8h
Mon
04:00Z
+9h
Mon
05:00Z
+10h
Mon
06:00Z
+11h
Mon
07:00Z
+12h
Mon
08:00Z
+13h
Mon
09:00Z
+14h
Mon
10:00Z
+15h
Mon
11:00Z
+16h
Mon
12:00Z
+17h
Mon
13:00Z
+18h
Mon
14:00Z
+19h
Mon
15:00Z
+20h
Mon
16:00Z
+21h
Wind Dir
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
110°
E
Wind Speed
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
10kt
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
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
5 km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ 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%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
Showers Rain
SHRA
40%
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW018
FEW018
FEW018
FEW018
FEW018
FEW018
FEW018
FEW018
FEW018
FEW018
FEW018
FEW018
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
FEW018
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
1500ft
AGL
1500ft
AGL
1500ft
AGL
1500ft
AGL
1500ft
AGL
1500ft
AGL
1500ft
AGL
1500ft
AGL
1500ft
AGL
1500ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 18:04
🌙
Night
🌇 18:04
🌙
Night
🌇 18:04
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:55
🌙
Night
🌅 05:55
🌙
Night
🌅 05:55
☀️
Day
🌅 05:55
☀️
Day
🌅 05:55
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:04
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
110° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East-Southeast (110°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 1800 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB40 TEMPO 2025-09-15 06:00:00 - 2025-09-15 16:00:00
MVFR
Visibility
5 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

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