Weekend Weather

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 through SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12:
Friday is Veteran's Day, and we certainly have a few people in our flying community who have earned that title. It's also a national holiday, and so there may be some who would take advantage of it for some flying on Friday. The weather should be dry, which is good for that activity. The winds will not be as promising. For this weekend I can describe them as "light and variable, mostly east." Friday should be the lightest, about 3 to 4 mph on the ground, coming from the east. They may turn light southwest in Alamogordo on Saturday. And Sunday, possibly light northwest, out there. But for most of the forecast area, expect easterly to southeasterly winds for the next few days, and not very strong at all. I would recommend Anapra for PG's on Friday, and possibly the Portrillos and Torrey Paso (I know that Steve wants to fly the latter in his PG). Dry Canyon should be OK for both PG and HG on Saturday. On Sunday, if the winds are northwest, La Luz might be a good bet, though I'd like more wind into launch for my hang glider. It's not optimal, for us - but it's better than no flying at all. Let me know if you're up for flying in the next three days! I might be going with you.
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, NOV. 18 through SUNDAY, NOV. 20:
This is a pretty changeable weekend for weather. It'll be dry through the weekend, though there's a chance for rain on Monday. Thursday (today) is going to be pretty windy. Expect southwest winds on the ground of 20 to 25 mph. On Friday, after the low pressure systems have passed through, we'll probably have north and northwest winds, much lighter than Thursday - it's our usual pattern here. On Saturday and Sunday we should see east winds in El Paso and much of the rest of our region, fairly light. In Alamogordo, light southwest. In Las Cruces, light easterly winds. On Sunday, the winds get almost calm, but mostly easterly, except in Alamogordo where they're forecast for light southwest. So where do you go for some airtime this weekend? On Friday, I'd try for La Luz, with its northwest launch, or Anapra down in El Paso. On Saturday, try Dry Canyon, or, if you are in El Paso with a paraglider, have a look at Anapra. On Sunday look at Dry Canyon again; when winds are that light, the thermal cycles can still make it launchable. It's a hard weekend to predict; I might try for a flight at Dry Canyon if the winds look good, on Saturday or Sunday. Keep me in the loop if you feel like flying, too. Be safe, and have a happy Thanksgiving holiday next week, wherever you are.
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, NOV. 25 through SUNDAY, NOV. 27:
Sorry about that, folks. I got so busy with the feasting, I forgot about the flying! Thanksgiving was a pretty nice day, really. Lovely weather, with north winds, just a little bit chilly. Some years ago, I remember spending it at La Bajada, up north, getting a short flight in before joining in the dining at my sister's place in Santa Fe. Feasting AND flying. Anyway, here is the forecast for this holiday weekend. High temperatures will be about right for this season, high 50's to low 60's Fahrenheit. (That's 16 to 20 Celsius, for those of you in sync with the rest of the planet.) Today, Friday, will be a pretty nice one. Some cloudiness, but light to moderate winds from the southwest overhead. Ground winds will be east in Las Cruces, Deming and El Paso, but southwest in Alamogordo. On Saturday it will be cloudy over our area. Winds will moderate to strong, southwest in Alamogordo but southeast in Las Cruces and El Paso, and east in Deming. On Sunday the winds straighten out - it's going to be west/southwest all over our area. Unfortunately it will also be a blowout, with ground winds over 20 throughout the region. The jetstream will be right overhead that day. What are my recommendations for some soaring? Head for Alamogordo on Friday and Saturday and fly at Dry Canyon. Or if you're in El Paso with some time available, give Anapra a try; it might be soarable. I'd like to fly Dry Canyon on Saturday, and I think I have a driver lined up. Any other takers? On Sunday watch some football, work on your equipment, put new batteries in your radio, and make sure your roof doesn't blow away. (Mine almost did, one spring, but that's another story.) We could get some rain on Monday, and we're always thankful for that. In a world where personal flight is possible - we all have a lot to be grateful for! Be safe and have some fun, everyone.
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, DEC. 2 through SUNDAY, DEC. 4:
Last weekend we had a good day on Saturday, and a really bad one on Sunday. This weekend, the good day is Friday. The bad (well, rainy - and how can that be bad in the desert?) days are Saturday and Sunday. We can expect some rain those two days, and winds from the northeast and east. If it's not raining on Saturday and Sunday, then Anapra might be worth a try. It'll be a bit windy on Saturday (maybe good for HG), coming from the northeast, and calmer on Sunday (a better day for PG). On Friday we can fly almost all of our sites, with a high temperature around 60 Fahrenheit (about 15 Celsius) and winds light to moderate out of the south and southwest. Dry Canyon, La Luz, Matt's Mountain, Little Floridas, Kilbourne Hole should all work. (It might be a little too southerly for Agave Hill.) I'm thinking of going out to Matt's Mountain on Friday. For the rest of the weekend - lower temperatures, easterly winds and rain, all lead me to think about watching some football and staying indoors. And who'd have ever thought it could happen to US? Enjoy the weekend, folks, and if you fly, be safe.
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, DEC. 9 to SUNDAY, DEC. 11:
It looks like a flyable weekend to me. Temperatures, which have been on the cooler side this week, should climb back up to what we're used to (55 to 60 degrees F for the highs). We'll see some clouds but no rain is forecast. Winds should be west and southwest for most of our area. They'll be pretty light on Friday, then get moderate to strong on Saturday and Sunday. In the El Paso area they might be easterly on Friday - PG's might soar at Anapra in the afternoon, or maybe the Portrillos. On Saturday and Sunday in Alamogordo, winds will be more southerly. My recommendations: On Friday, check out Anapra if you have a PG. On Saturday, you have quite a few choices, especially with a hang glider. Little Floridas, Dry Canyon, Matt's Mountain, Agave Hill, Kilbourne Hole should all work. (It might be too southerly for La Luz.) On Sunday the Little Floridas look like a blowout, and if you go to Matt's Mountain, be there early, as the winds will increase through the day. Otherwise, the sites just listed ought to work. Training at the Centennial HS site should be good both Saturday and Sunday, and possibly at Mesquite Dam as well, at least in the morning. It's not a bad weekend. I'll be out of town for most of it, but have some good times while I'm gone. Fly safe, everyone!
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16 through SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18:
This will be a tough weekend for aviation in our area. A loop of the jetstream will be right over us. Winds will be 20 to 30 mph on the ground from the west and southwest, Friday and Saturday. Temperatures will plummet, too, in its wake. Sunday should be calmer, with winds probably light out of the north. It doesn't look good until then. La Luz might work as a launch site on Sunday, but otherwise, I'd just keep your equipment stowed, and shelter in place. If you're travelling this weekend, be cautious on the road. Let me know if you do any flying, and good luck! "Some days, even the birds are walking."
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23 through SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25:
This is a potentially flyable weekend, but it's tricky. We are having rain right now in our area, but it should be pretty clear through the weekend. Friday looks like a good day. Winds should be moderate in strength, mostly out of the west and southwest. This would make Dry Canyon, La Luz, Little Floridas, Agave Hill and Kilbourne Hole pretty good bets for some airtime. (It's a little too westerly for Matt's Mountain.) The Sod Farms should be great for some towing. On Saturday the winds get stronger and more southerly. Dry Canyon might be good, if you go early, and possibly Kilbourne Hole. On Sunday, expect a blowout through most of the day (though not as bad as last Saturday!) but possibly some soaring as evening approaches. Temperatures will be much colder, though, with highs not even into the 50's. Again, winds mostly south and southwest. Next week, the winds get much more light, out of the west and southwest. High temperatures back up to 60 F. Typical winter conditions, then. In summary, if you're going to fly this weekend, it looks like Friday is the day. Give me a call if it looks like you want to go out that day. I'm planning on doing some mentoring of a new pilot on Saturday morning, probably at Mesquite Dam, before the winds get too strong; I'll save up some flying for the following week. Be safe and have fun, folks!
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 through SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017:
Another tough weekend for flying in our area. Friday should be dry, but expect some rain on Saturday and Sunday. (Not complaining, mind you! We always need the rain - are you listening, weather gods? But during the week instead wouldn't be bad...) Friday will also be a decent day for winds, light to moderate out of the southwest and west. Saturday and Sunday look like blowout days, along with the expected precipitation. Temperatures, at least, will be the usual for this time of year, with highs around 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. My recommendations? On Friday, you can fly Dry Canyon, La Luz, Agave Hill, Little Floridas, and maybe Matt's Mountain if you go earlier - the winds get more westerly as the day goes on. Kilbourne Hole might work well, too, and the Sod Farms should be fine all day for training. On Saturday and Sunday, I'd say it's good for some mentoring early in the day at Mesquite Dam or the Centennial site, if it isn't raining. After that, settle down and watch some football; next week looks like a better bet for flying. Happy New Year, everyone! Fly safe in 2017...
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2017 through SUNDAY, JANUARY 8:
This will be an up and down type of weekend. There's a small chance of precipitation around Alamogordo this Friday, but otherwise the conditions should be dry and cool. Windy from the west and northwest on Friday, as the cold front comes through, then light and variable on Saturday and Sunday. In El Paso Anapra might work for PG's on Saturday, with light winds from the east. Dry Canyon could be flyable on Saturday and Sunday, but it'll be pretty light - and probably pretty cold, as well. We get more typical warm, dry, southwest winds by Monday and Tuesday, though. Recommendations: Friday, La Luz might work if you launch there early. It's also possible that Volcanic Peak could see its first launches, if the winds are northerly enough. On Saturday and Sunday, Dry Canyon might be your best bet. I think it's too southerly for Matt's Mountain or the Little Floridas. The Sod Farm might be a little chancy, as the winds are probably going to shift a lot. It's an interesting winter so far this year. Let me know if you're going out flying somewhere! I don't have my U2 or my parachute right now (they went north with Ann Dunlap for maintenance) but I'm always interested to hear and help. Fly safe!
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13 through SUNDAY, JANUARY 15:
It looks like another tricky weekend for flight in our neighborhood. Friday will be cloudy and not bad, with winds mostly light out of the south/southwest. Dry Canyon and possibly La Luz should work pretty well. It'll be too southerly and easterly for Matt's Mountain, Agave Hill and the Little Floridas. Maybe Anapra or Torrey Paso will be working. Saturday is like Friday, but with rain added. Saturday night into Sunday morning could see a lot of rain. It is likely to stop raining by Sunday afternoon, but by then the winds will be howling, out of the west and southwest. 25 mph on the ground is forecast. Monday gets calmer, with winds westerly and southwest, about 10 mph on the ground. La Luz and Dry Canyon might be good bets then. Matt's Mountain won't be good if the winds are west. Bill and I might be working with our newest pilot Michael on Monday, out at some training hill. This will certainly be a weekend to treat with caution!
-Robin