FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA)Weather and Weather ServicesMedium
A TAF for a pilot's destination contains the entry: 'TEMPO 1416 1SM TSRA OVC008CB'. How should the pilot interpret this forecast group?
- AA permanent change in conditions is expected starting at 1400Z and lasting through 1600Z
- BTemporary conditions of 1 statute mile visibility with thunderstorms and rain are expected intermittently between 1400Z and 1600Z, each lasting less than one hour
- CConditions will gradually improve from thunderstorms to clear skies between 1400Z and 1600Z
- DThere is a 40% probability that conditions will deteriorate to 1 statute mile visibility sometime between 1400Z and 1600Z
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Temporary conditions of 1 statute mile visibility with thunderstorms and rain are expected intermittently between 1400Z and 1600Z, each lasting less than one hour
TEMPO indicates temporary, fluctuating conditions expected to last less than one hour at a time, occurring intermittently during the specified time period (1400Z-1600Z in this case). It does not represent a permanent change (that would be FM) nor is it a probability statement (that would use PROB30/PROB40).
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A permanent change would use the FM (from) indicator, not TEMPO.
- C. TEMPO does not imply gradual improvement; it describes brief, recurring deteriorations.
- D. Probability language would use PROB30 or PROB40, not TEMPO.
TAF TEMPO Group
A temporary, fluctuating condition forecast to occur intermittently and last less than one hour at a time within a specified period.
- Indicates short-lived, intermittent conditions
- Different from FM (permanent change) and PROB (probability)
- Time range given represents the overall window the temporary conditions may occur
Memory trick: TEMPO means temporary—blink and it's different.