Lajes Airport

LPLA / TER

Praia da Vitória, PT

Last Updated
Apr 24, 09:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 35 min ago
09:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
16°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
12 kt
200° G22 kt
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LPLA 240900Z 20012G22KT 9999 FEW012 SCT035 16/12 Q1010

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 180 ft
FEW 1,200 ft AGL
SCT 3,500 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,380 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,680 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Lajes Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 3,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots with gusts to 22 knots. Runway 15/33 is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 9-knot crosswind component (gusting to 17 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 1,200 ft, scattered at 3,500 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 16°C (61°F) with a dewpoint of 12°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Light Rain, RADZ, Mist, Light Drizzle, Mist. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 5 to 18 knots. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with RADZ, Mist between 11:00Z and 22:00Z. There is a 30% probability of LIFR conditions with Light Drizzle, Mist between 00:00Z and 06:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LPLA 240504Z 2406/2506 20006KT 9999 FEW025 BECMG 2409/2411 20015KT 7000 -RA SCT015 BKN022 TEMPO 2411/2422 21018G30KT 3000 RADZ BR SCT008 BKN012 FEW022CB BECMG 2422/2424 20005KT 9999 NSW SCT006 PROB30 2500/2506 2000 -DZ BR BKN004
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
09:35Z BASE
+0h
VFR 200° 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
11:00Z TEMPO
+2h
IFR 210° 18 kt
Visibility: 3 km
Ceiling: 1,200 ft
RADZ, Mist

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
PLA
15 ✈️
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
10,870 ft 197 ft ASP 140°
7.7 kt 9.2 kt
50° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LPLA

5,569 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
66.4%
MVFR
26.9%
IFR
6.2%
LIFR
0.5%

Lajes Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 66.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 13.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 154 knots. Temperatures typically range between 7°C and 27°C with an average of 16.4°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, November, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 13.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 154 kt
Calm Winds: 1.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.1%
N
13.8%
S
12.4%
W
14.9%
NE
1.4%
NW
24.4%
SE
7.4%
SW
17.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 16.4°C
Range: 7°C to 27°C
7°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

October November September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.1 kt

Statistics computed from 5,569 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lajes Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LPLA
IATA Code: TER
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 180 ft MSL

Location

City: Praia da Vitória
Country: PT
Latitude: 38.761799°
Longitude: -27.090799°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+2

Runway Information

Runway 15/33
Length: 10,870 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Lajes Airport

Overview

Lajes Airport serves Praia da Vitória on Terceira Island in the Azores, Portugal. Located at an elevation of 180 ft MSL with coordinates 38.761799, -27.090799, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure in the mid-Atlantic region. The airport features a single asphalt runway 15/33 measuring 10,870 feet in length.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Lajes Airport are predominantly favorable for flying, with 70.8% of observations reporting VFR conditions. Northwest winds dominate at 315°, averaging 12.7 knots with occasional gusts up to 42 knots. Temperature ranges from 9°C to 27°C, with an average of 17.6°C, creating generally stable atmospheric conditions for aviation.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical position in the Azores presents unique maritime meteorological characteristics. Runway 15/33 experiences favorable wind conditions 100% of the time, with an average crosswind of only 6.2 knots. The airport's elevation and Atlantic island location contribute to relatively consistent visibility, averaging 10 statute miles with minimal fog occurrence.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions during October, November, and September. The extensive 10,870-foot runway provides substantial landing and takeoff flexibility. With calm wind conditions occurring only 2.5% of the time, most approaches will benefit from the predictable northwest wind pattern and generally excellent visibility.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.