Learn Spanish (Latin America): Como la mañana está despejada, reprogramamos el viaje. - Since the morning is clear, we are rescheduling the trip.

In Spanish, when como is placed at the very beginning of a sentence to introduce a reason, it translates to 'since' or 'because.' It sets up the cause before telling you the result.

Could I just start the sentence with porque instead of como?

It is very uncommon to start a sentence with porque (because) in Spanish to explain a cause. If the reason comes first, use como. If you want to use porque, you should put the result first: Reprogramamos el viaje porque la mañana está despejada.

Why is it está despejada rather than es despejada?

We use the verb estar for temporary states and weather conditions. Since the morning being clear is a temporary condition, we use está. Also, notice that despejada ends in -a to match the feminine noun la mañana.

Doesn't reprogramamos also mean 'we rescheduled' in the past tense?

Yes, it does! For regular -ar verbs, the nosotros (we) form is identical in both the present and the past tenses. You have to rely on context to know which one it is. Since the morning is currently clear (está despejada), we know this rescheduling action is happening right now.