Princess Juliana International Airport

TNCM / SXM

Sint Maarten, SX

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF TNCM 151025Z 1512/1612 10012KT 9999 SCT018 BKN032 PROB30 TEMPO 1512/1515 8000 SHRA BKN015 BECMG 1513/1515 SCT018

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
10:00Z
+-1h
Fri
11:00Z
+0h
Fri
12:00Z
+1h
Fri
13:00Z
+2h
Fri
14:00Z
+3h
Fri
15:00Z
+4h
Fri
16:00Z
+5h
Fri
17:00Z
+6h
Fri
18:00Z
+7h
Fri
19:00Z
+8h
Fri
20:00Z
+9h
Fri
21:00Z
+10h
Fri
22:00Z
+11h
Fri
23:00Z
+12h
Sat
00:00Z
+13h
Sat
01:00Z
+14h
Sat
02:00Z
+15h
Sat
03:00Z
+16h
Sat
04:00Z
+17h
Sat
05:00Z
+18h
Sat
06:00Z
+19h
Sat
07:00Z
+20h
Sat
08:00Z
+21h
Sat
09:00Z
+22h
Sat
10:00Z
+23h
Wind Dir
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
100°
E
Wind Speed
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
8 km
8 km
8 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
Showers Rain
SHRA
30%
Showers Rain
SHRA
30%
Showers Rain
SHRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT018
BKN032
SCT018
BKN032
BKN015
BKN015
BKN015
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
SCT018
Ceiling
3,200 ft
AGL
3,200 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
1,500 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:29Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:29Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:29Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:29Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:29Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:30Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:30Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:30Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:30Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:30Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
100° at 12 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT018 BKN032
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (100°) at 12 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1800 feet, Broken clouds at 3200 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 TEMPO 12:00Z - 15:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 1500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 13:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Clouds
SCT018
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Scattered clouds at 1800 feet. 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.