How are temporary fluctuations in forecasted meteorological conditions indicated on a TAF?

Temporary fluctuations in forecasted meteorological conditions on a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) are indicated by the term "tempo." This term is specifically used to convey that conditions may vary from the overall forecast but only for brief periods during the forecast period. For instance, if the TAF indicates that there might be temporary poor visibility or wind shifts expected over a short duration, "tempo" will precede those specific conditions in the report. This helps pilots and other users of TAFs to understand that while the main forecast shows one set of conditions, there may be transient changes to consider that could affect flight operations.

Understanding how "tempo" functions in TAF reports is critical in aviation meteorology, as it allows for better planning and real-time decision-making regarding safety and efficiency in flight operations. Other terms used in the context of TAFs serve different purposes: "PROB" indicates a probability of certain conditions occurring, while "FINAL" denotes the final issued forecast and is not related to fluctuations, and "EXTRA" is not a standard term in TAF syntax.