Weekend Weather

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, JUNE 28 through SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2019:
This weekend looks like typical early July conditions. There is a slight chance for thunderstorms Friday afternoon, mostly in Alamogordo. But mostly it'll be dry and hot (about 95 to 100 degrees F for the highs, or 35 to 38 C). Winds will be light, and mostly southeast. The exception is Alamogordo, where you will see light SW (5-10 mph) early in the day, and light ESE in the afternoon - though on Sunday, the forecast shows light SW all day. In El Paso on Friday evening there should be east winds at 10 mph, which may make soaring Anapra possible in PG's. Otherwise, throughout our region, expect ESE and SE winds, light. I'd say that towing at the Sod Farms should be good and consistent all weekend long. Otherwise, Dry Canyon may be our best bet for airtime on Friday, Saturday and especially Sunday. Torrey Paso might be worth a try as well, if the winds are strong enough. I would be interested in Sunday flying at Dry Canyon, if anyone wants to try it (and we find a driver). Take lots of water if you go, and watch out for turbulence. Be safe!
-Robin
575-541-5744

[wingspan33]

With a weather man like Robin who needs Nation Weather Service reports?

[Bob Kuczewski]

With a weather man like Robin who needs Nation Weather Service reports?

Robin Hastings, Bill Cummings, and the RGSA set a high bar for pilots and clubs.

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, JULY 5 through SUNDAY, JULY 7, 2019:
Thanks for the compliments, friends! And thanks to our many Armed Forces veterans in the sport, as we celebrate this day the USA's independence. Without people willing to serve EVERYONE, there wouldn't be a lot of freedom to fly (and do other things!) for ANYONE. With all of its mistakes and problems, we still live in an amazing country. And now, on to the weather...

We are now entering a period of the year when weather gets harder to predict, due to the absence of jetstream and the increasing abundance of moisture. In general, this weekend will be hot. Friday, the high temperatures will be near 100 F (38 C). This is still a little cooler than the usual year, when 105 to 110 is not uncommon in our high desert. Saturday and Sunday things cool down by a few degrees, especially if you get a thunderstorm nearby. And the T-storms are starting to get more likely. Winds: On Friday, they will mostly be light to moderate northwest to west. On Saturday, light south southwest in Alamogordo, light WSW in Las Cruces, EP and Deming. There's a slight chance of T-storm in Las Cruces and El Paso, stronger chance in Alamogordo, almost none in Deming. On Sunday, the winds are mostly SW across our area, but the chances for T-storms increase a bit. Here are my airtime recommendations: On Friday, La Luz NW launch will probably be good, though it's a little tough getting a PG inflated there. (Watch out for turbulence in these times! Two PG pilots killed in France recently by collapses in unusual heat, flying in midday conditions.) Agave Hill might be launchable if the wind is westerly enough. On Saturday, keep an eye out for T-storms, but that day we have Dry Canyon and La Luz as possibilities, Agave Hill and Nelson's Launch above El Paso, and in the late afternoon Magdalena Rim might work. The best foot-launched spot might be the Little Floridas by Deming. On Sunday, all the Saturday sites should work, but watch out for afternoon thunderstorms, especially in Alamogordo. In a PG, go early or stay late, to avoid the turbulence; for HG, be careful of what is going to happen in the LZ if a gust front develops. But really, it looks like a pleasant early July weekend, and the prospects for airtime look pretty good all around. Towing and PPG at the Sod Farms should be good throughout the weekend, too. Happy Independence Day, everyone! Is this a great country, or what?
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, JULY 12 through SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2019:
Is there such a thing as a dry monsoon? In terms of rain, we will see almost none this weekend, except for a small chance in Alamogordo. In terms of temperature, it's going to be hot, highs of 95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (36 to 39 Celsius). And in terms of wind - mostly light and variable. Pretty much calm, in much of our area. Friday, winds should be light southeast. Saturday, the same, except that early on we get light southwest in Alamogordo. Sunday, mostly light southeast or calm. In Las Cruces in the early afternoon it could be light south, then going to light northeast about 5:00 pm. My recommendations for airtime are to try Dry Canyon or La Luz early on Saturday, or possibly Anapra with a PG early on Saturday. On Sunday, a PG might try to soar Mag Rim, early in the day. Otherwise, nothing looks too encouraging to me. Maybe towing at the Sod Farms, though the light winds are likely to shift around. I'd say, endure the high temps and soak in a pool somewhere. Pray for rain, and look to better conditions in times to come. This weekend is not the one we yearn for...
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, JULY 19 through SUNDAY, JULY 21:
This weekend marks 50 years since humans walked on the moon the first time - and a little more, for the sport of hang gliding and paragliding. It may be tough to celebrate it with epic flights, however. We are getting into our rainy season now, except that the rains have been pretty sketchy. The winds reflect it, however. Mostly, this weekend, our winds will be light and variable. Sunday will see them a bit stronger, and easterly. It's going to stay hot through the weekend, too - about 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) for daily highs. Expect a few thunderstorms, especially on Sunday afternoon. Friday looks like light and variable winds, mostly south and southeast, and Saturday about the same. Sunday the winds get a little stronger and more easterly. If you can fly on Friday, Dry Canyon might be OK in the morning. On Saturday Magdalena Rim might work for PG's early (pretty light for a hang glider). On Sunday evening, a PG should be able to soar at Anapra, if there's no outflow from thunderstorms. Towing at the Sod Farms is probably feasible this weekend, but the winds will be a bit variable in direction. It is summer in the Southwest, everyone, and you have to get your airtime as you can - cautiously. Good luck! I would be up for a trip to Mag Rim on Saturday, if someone also feels like giving it a try.
-Robin
575-541-5744

[Bill Cummings]

Robin,
Your weather reports have totaled 91,272 views.

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, JULY 26 through SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019:
Overall the conditions this weekend look to be hot, mostly dry, and pretty calm. There's a slight chance of thunderstorms on Sunday. High temperatures will be much like last weekend, 95 to 100 F (38 C). And winds? Mostly light and variable, with an easterly trend. Alamogordo, though, could see light southwest winds on Friday and Saturday, making for possible flying at Dry Canyon on those days. In El Paso, on Sunday afternoon, there may be some light west winds, thus making PG flights at Agave Hill or Nelson's Launch possible. It could be a hot hike, though. Winds on Friday seem to be light SE except for Alamo, and same for Saturday. They turn light north for a while on Sunday, and east in Alamogordo. It looks like our best bet for airtime this weekend might be a trip to Dry Canyon on Saturday, after our breakfast meeting at the Cummings house in Las Cruces that morning. (1501 Aspen Avenue, near the Avenida de Mesilla exit from I-10. Breakfast at 8:00 am, meeting at 9:00.) I should be able to take people up to the launch that day, whoever is interested. Keep in touch, and keep hoping for some better conditions to come. If you fly, be safe! This is, after all, July...
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2 through SUNDAY, AUGUST 4:
Welcome back to August, folks. Rain is going to start coming our way, this weekend or next week, with afternoon thunderstorms and (maybe) some cooler weather at last. Unfortunately the high temperatures for Friday and Saturday will be 95 to 100 F (35 to 38 C) and Sunday may drop down to the 90 to 95 degree range, if we're lucky. It's about the hottest July I can remember out here - could all this global warming stuff be true? Stay tuned... As usual, expect very light winds this weekend, except around thunderstorms. Light southwest on Friday, then light ESE on Saturday and Sunday. (Monday could be light SW in Alamogordo, though.) I'd say your best chances for some airtime this weekend would be at Mag Rim, La Luz or Dry Canyon on Friday; the Little Floridas might work then, too. A PG might get a short flight at Anapra on Saturday or Sunday. Otherwise, we don't have real favorable winds. If you can brave the heat, the Sod Farms should be good for towing this weekend. Wherever you set up, wear a hat whenever you're not wearing a helmet, and expect thunderstorms in Alamogordo both Saturday and Sunday afternoon. I'd be up for some flying at Dry Canyon on Friday or Monday, if anyone has the urge for it. Watch out for turbulence in these turbid times, and be safe.
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9th through SUNDAY, AUGUST 11th, 2019:
Good news: this weekend looks a lot more promising than last. Still warm (highs of 100 F in Las Cruces and El Paso, about 90 F in Deming and Alamogordo) and there's a chance for rain in the evenings. But the winds are mostly light southwest this time. On Friday, light southwest in El Paso, Las Cruces, Alamogordo and Deming. On Saturday the same, though a little more westerly in Deming and the Little Floridas. On Sunday just about the same as Saturday. So, this opens up a lot of foot-launched possibilities. Friday it looks like Dry Canyon, La Luz, Magdalena Rim, the Little Floridas, Nelson's Launch and Agave Hill could all be possible for flying. Watch out for rain in the evening in Alamogordo. Saturday the same sites are viable, and the rain possibilities in Alamo look a little slighter. Sunday matches Saturday and Friday predictions - still good, if light. Sod Farm towing ought to be good all weekend, too, with the winds staying pretty consistently from the southwest. If you feel like flying, let me know! I'd be up for some airtime, after a long summer without it. Be safe, and watch out for thunderstorms - but this looks like the weekend to try something!
-Robin
575-541-5744