Cape Town International Airport

FACT / CPT

Cape Town, ZA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF FACT 141000Z 1412/1518 30008KT 9999 FEW035 TX20/1412Z TN10/1504Z FM142100 VRB03KT 9999 BKN020 PROB30 TEMPO 1503/1506 2000 BR BKN012 FM151200 18010KT CAVOK

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
15:00Z
+-1h
Thu
16:00Z
+0h
Thu
17:00Z
+1h
Thu
18:00Z
+2h
Thu
19:00Z
+3h
Thu
20:00Z
+4h
Thu
21:00Z
+5h
Thu
22:00Z
+6h
Thu
23:00Z
+7h
Fri
00:00Z
+8h
Fri
01:00Z
+9h
Fri
02:00Z
+10h
Fri
03:00Z
+11h
Fri
04:00Z
+12h
Fri
05:00Z
+13h
Fri
06:00Z
+14h
Fri
07:00Z
+15h
Fri
08:00Z
+16h
Fri
09:00Z
+17h
Fri
10:00Z
+18h
Fri
11:00Z
+19h
Fri
12:00Z
+20h
Fri
13:00Z
+21h
Fri
14:00Z
+22h
Fri
15:00Z
+23h
Fri
16:00Z
+24h
Wind Dir
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 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
2 km
2 km
2 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
Mist
BR
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN020
BKN012
BKN012
BKN012
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
FEW035
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ 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
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
1,200 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
🌇 17:07Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:07Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:07Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:07Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:53Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:53Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:53Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:53Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:53Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:07Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:07Z
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
300° at 8 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW035
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 3500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM142100 21:00Z - 03:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

PROB30 TEMPO 03:00Z - 06:00Z
IFR
Visibility
2 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
BKN012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 2 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Broken clouds at 1200 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM151200 12:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
180° at 10 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (180°) at 10 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. 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.