O.R. Tambo International Airport

FAOR / JNB

Johannesburg, ZA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF FAOR 141600Z 1418/1524 VRB03KT CAVOK TX21/1512Z TN08/1504Z BECMG 1502/1504 35008KT PROB40 TEMPO 1502/1507 3000 BCFG BKN006 PROB30 TEMPO 1503/1506 0500 FG VV001 BECMG 1509/1511 28010KT BECMG 1516/1518 VRB03KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
23:00Z
+-1h
Fri
00:00Z
+0h
Fri
01:00Z
+1h
Fri
02:00Z
+2h
Fri
03:00Z
+3h
Fri
04:00Z
+4h
Fri
05:00Z
+5h
Fri
06:00Z
+6h
Fri
07:00Z
+7h
Fri
08:00Z
+8h
Fri
09:00Z
+9h
Fri
10:00Z
+10h
Fri
11:00Z
+11h
Fri
12:00Z
+12h
Fri
13:00Z
+13h
Fri
14:00Z
+14h
Fri
15:00Z
+15h
Fri
16:00Z
+16h
Fri
17:00Z
+17h
Fri
18:00Z
+18h
Fri
19:00Z
+19h
Fri
20:00Z
+20h
Fri
21:00Z
+21h
Fri
22:00Z
+22h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
350°
N
350°
N
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
280°
W
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
Wind Speed
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
8 kt
8 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
10 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
3 kt
Visibility
>10km
>10km
>10km
3 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
0.5 km
3 km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Patches Fog
BCFG
40%
Fog
FG
30%
Fog
FG
30%
Fog
FG
30%
Patches Fog
BCFG
40%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN006
VV001
VV001
VV001
BKN006
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
600 ft
AGL
100 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
100 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
100 ft 🌫️
Indefinite
600 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR IFR LIFR LIFR LIFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:41Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:41Z
☀️
Day
🌅 06:41Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:18Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:18Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:18Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
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
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 02:00Z - 04:00Z
VFR
Wind
350° at 8 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the North (350°) at 8 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB40 TEMPO 02:00Z - 07:00Z
IFR
Visibility
3 km
Weather
Patches Fog
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 40% probability of: Visibility will be moderate at 3 km. Weather conditions: Patches Fog. Broken clouds at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

PROB30 TEMPO 03:00Z - 06:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
0.5 km
Weather
Fog
Clouds
VV001
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be poor at 0.5 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Vertical visibility at 100 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 09:00Z - 11:00Z
VFR
Wind
280° at 10 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West (280°) at 10 kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 16:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 3 kt. 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.