Madeira International Airport Cristiano Ronaldo

LPMA / FNC

Funchal, PT

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF LPMA 141700Z 1418/1518 36013KT 9999 SCT015 TEMPO 1418/1518 01018G30KT PROB30 TEMPO 1418/1512 8000 SHRA BKN012 FEW018CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Thu
20:00Z
+-1h
Thu
21:00Z
+0h
Thu
22:00Z
+1h
Thu
23:00Z
+2h
Fri
00:00Z
+3h
Fri
01:00Z
+4h
Fri
02:00Z
+5h
Fri
03:00Z
+6h
Fri
04:00Z
+7h
Fri
05:00Z
+8h
Fri
06:00Z
+9h
Fri
07:00Z
+10h
Fri
08:00Z
+11h
Fri
09:00Z
+12h
Fri
10:00Z
+13h
Fri
11:00Z
+14h
Fri
12:00Z
+15h
Fri
13:00Z
+16h
Fri
14:00Z
+17h
Fri
15:00Z
+18h
Fri
16:00Z
+19h
Wind Dir
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
360°
N
Wind Speed
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 kt
13 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
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
SCT015
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
🌙
Night
🌇 18:50Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:08Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:08Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:08Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:08Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:08Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:51Z
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
360° at 13 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (360°) at 13 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1500 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 18:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
10° at 18 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North (10°) at 18 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 18:00Z - 12:00Z
IFR
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN012 FEW018CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1200 feet, Few clouds at 1800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

📚 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.