Weekend Weather

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 through SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2019:
This looks like a typical autumn weekend for the Southern New Mexico region. It'll be dry and sunny. Alternately cool and warm. Alternately calm and breezy. And it should be flyable, right when we want it. Today (Thursday) is going to get windy and cold, as a cold front comes in from the north. Volcanic Peak may be flyable today - until it gets blown out. Friday, though, is forecast to be virtually calm. Winds will be 5 mph or less, mostly from the southwest, except Deming, where they will be southeast. High temperatures about 60 degrees F. (Don't forget your sweater!) Saturday, though, shows high temps of 70 to 75, winds southwest across the region in the 5 to 10 mph range. Sunday gets warmer (highs around 80) and winds stronger, 10 to 15 mph out of the southwest. (15 to 20 in Deming.) What does this mean? Well, on Friday it should be flyable, if not soarable, at Dry Canyon, La Luz, Magdalena Rim, Agave Hill and Nelson's Launch. Pretty light for Kilbourne Hole. Nice for towing at the Sod Farms, though. Saturday, things look great. All the above-named sites should be soarable, plus the Little Floridas - at the base of which, our RGSA October meeting will be taking place, at the Adobe Deli at 11:15 am. An embarrassment of riches, as the French would say - good food and good flying, all in the same day. Choose your site - I think that Little Floridas or Mag Rim are both good bets for those who enjoy the brunch and the meeting that day. On Sunday, fly early. I see a potential blowout at the Little Floridas that day, as well as Dry Canyon - but those other sites may work pretty well. Have a great weekend, and fly safe. See you on Saturday!
-Robin
575-541-5744 home
575-386-8212 cell

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 through SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2019:
The forecast for this weekend is a little less than optimal, but you can still get some airtime if you work it right. Most of the country is going to be dry this weekend (and throughout the week). In our region, high temperatures should be in the 60 to 70 F range (15 to 20 C), and expect some cloudiness. The jetstream will be dipping down a bit and then moving eastward. We should catch the southern edge of it, but really, our winds are supposed to be pretty light for the Friday through Sunday time frame. Direction varies somewhat, though. On Friday, it looks like light west to southwest winds through most of the area (5 mph or so). On Saturday, the winds are light again, but east and southeast, about 5 mph. On Sunday, direction (SW) is good for most of our sites but quite light, about 4 or 5 mph. Recommendations: On Friday Dry Canyon or the Little Floridas might work, if you can brave the roads, and Nelson's Launch or Agave Hill might work for PG's. On Saturday a PG flight at Anapra looks like the likeliest option. Too light for HG there. And on Sunday, you could try Dry Canyon, Nelson's Launch/Agave Hill, Magdalena Rim and the Little Floridas. Dry Canyon and the Little Floridas, again, are probably the best bet for some soaring. I'm afraid I'll be out of the loop for flying this weekend, but let's see what the next one brings. Fly safe, everyone!
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8 through SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2019:
This week there was some welcome rain in our region. That moisture is now moving out, though there will be a good deal of cloudiness still in residence for the weekend. With the jetstream mostly to the north of us, our weekend looks to be dry, cool-to-warm, cloudy, and fairly calm. Expect light east to southeast winds over most of our area for Friday and Saturday, though in Alamogordo they will probably be light westerly. On Sunday everyone gets west winds, about 5 mph in Alamogordo and 8-10 elsewhere (one model shows stronger winds in Deming that day). Still cloudy most places. Accordingly, for Friday I recommend Dry Canyon and La Luz; it looks light and crossed for Anapra, even for paragliders. On Saturday, pretty much the same, though Anapra and Torrey Paso might be worth checking out with PG's. On Sunday I think that Dry Canyon, La Luz, Agave Hill, Nelson's Launch, and the Little Floridas will all be pretty good, with, in my estimation, the Little Floridas topping the list. I hope to head out there about 10:00 am on Sunday, with Bill Cummings the pilot and myself the designated driver. Give me a call if you want to take a try at it! Fly safe, everyone, and let us all know how it goes if you get some airtime this weekend.
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, NOV. 15 through SUNDAY, NOV. 17, 2019:
This looks like a pleasant weekend for the Southwest. Temperatures in the 60 to 70 range (15-18 C) with mostly light winds. Great golfing weather, I imagine, but a little hard to forecast for us pilot types. On Friday we should see light winds all over - west in Alamogordo, east in El Paso and Deming, south in Las Cruces. Saturday, still light but maybe a bit stronger, in the 5-8 mph range, and mostly westerly and southwest. On Sunday, a bit of the jetstream should be overhead, but its effects seem minimal in the models. Light east in Deming and El Paso, light west in Alamogordo. In the Las Cruces area, it gets interesting: the winds may be light to moderate north and northeast in the morning, then light west in the afternoon. So, my site recommendations: Dry Canyon and La Luz should be flyable all weekend. In the El Paso area, Saturday may be the day for PG flights at Nelson's Launch and Agave Hill. Seems light for soaring Anapra on Friday and Sunday, but maybe Torrey Paso will work those days. The Little Floridas should be soarable on Saturday, and Magdalena Rim looks good for PG's that day as well. On Sunday, Volcanic Peak just might work in the morning. Anapra and Torrey Paso might work in the El Paso area, and as noted, Dry Canyon and La Luz should both be flyable. I don't expect epic soaring this weekend, but if you want to fly, I think you'll enjoy the day. Have fun and be safe!
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, NOV. 22 through SUNDAY, NOV. 24:
Looks like another flyable weekend in the great Southwest again. Just be picky about where. It should be dry, mostly clear, and reasonably warm for November. (Highs 55 to 60 F.) The jetstream should not trouble us this weekend. On Friday winds are light and westerly, though a little stronger in Deming (10 to 12 mph there). Dry Canyon, La Luz, Little Floridas, Nelson's Launch and Agave Hill should be good to fly at. A little too westerly to make Magdalena Rim attractive. On Saturday we get light north winds most places, NW in Alamogordo, and ENE in Deming. La Luz might be worth a visit, and in the morning, Volcanic Peak (if the winds get strong enough). On Sunday, light NW in Alamogordo, light west in Las Cruces and El Paso, light WSW in Deming. La Luz and possibly the Little Floridas that day, though the sled ride potential looks pretty high. It might be too light for the El Paso sites. All in all, it should be a pleasant weekend. Enjoy it if you can with some nice little flights! And be safe...
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6 through SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019:
This looks a good deal better than last weekend's forecast. The jetstream will be overhead by Sunday, but Friday and Saturday are a good deal calmer. Temperatures should be quite comfortable, in the 60 to 65 degree range (15-18 C). No rain is likely until Monday, and not much then. Friday look for winds to be very light, and variable - possibly SW in Alamogordo, very light easterly elsewhere. I'd say your best bet for airtime will be at Dry Canyon or La Luz, but it might be a sledder even there. On Saturday we get light WSW in Alamogordo and possibly Las Cruces, light west in El Paso and Deming. Looks good for Dry Canyon, La Luz, Magdalena Rim, Agave Hill, Nelson's Launch, and the Little Floridas. On Sunday it's pretty much a blowout everywhere, from the west, though you might beat it out by going real early to the sites just mentioned. If you want to go out on Saturday, give me a call!
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 to SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019:
Well, Friday the 13th could be your lucky day. It looks like the most flyable of the upcoming weekend. This weekend will be dry, warm, and windy, but Friday is the pre-frontal day. The jetstream will be overhead all weekend, but mildly, on Friday. On Friday, expect light northwest winds in Alamogordo, WSW in El Paso, 8-10 mph, SW in Las Cruces, 8-10, and west in Deming, 10-12. La Luz NW Launch, Mag Rim, Little Floridas, Agave Hill and Nelson's Launch should all be good bets for airtime that day. Saturday the winds are SW in Alamogordo, 10-15, so both Dry Canyon and La Luz will work, but go early before it gets too strong. El Paso, WSW 10-15, Las Cruces the same, and Deming is west, 15-20. Agave Hill and Nelson's Launch might work that day, but go early. It might be a good day for Kilbourne Hole as well. Towing at the Sod Farms could be good, until it gets too strong and gusty. On Sunday, every site looks like a blowout, with winds of 20+ mph out of the southwest. I wouldn't bother with airtime - looks like a good day to look after your equipment, and do some Christmas cards. Monday just might be a good day to explore Volcanic Peak, if the long range forecast holds, but that's another story... If you go for some airtime this weekend, keep us all posted! And let's be careful out there.
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 through SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2019:
We've been cold this week! (At least by Southwest standards - Minnesotans would probably be walking around in T-shirts.) But the days to come will be warmer, with highs in the 50 F range (10-12 C), dry, and mostly calm. Thursday (tomorrow) actually could be a good day for Magdalena Rim, with south to southwest winds in the afternoon about 8 to 10 mph. Friday, look for light northerly winds, about 8 to 10 near Las Cruces and Alamogordo, a little lighter elsewhere. Saturday, even lighter, and shifting to WNW in Alamogordo, westerly in Las Cruces and El Paso, light SSE in Deming. Sunday the sunshine gives way to clouds. We should see light SW winds in Alamogordo, light SE everywhere else. So. I'd say that on Thursday, go to Mag Rim for an afternoon flight, especially with a PG. Friday should work OK for both La Luz and Volcanic Peak. On Saturday La Luz might still work, but light winds will probably make it a sled ride. Agave Hill and Nelson's Launch might work for PG's, but it doesn't look like an epic day to me. And maybe, on Sunday, Torrey Paso will be worth a visit, but again, it looks awfully light. Dry Canyon and possibly the La Luz SW launch can produce some airtime that day, but with the clouds I wouldn't count on many thermals. I think I'm ready for some flying on Thursday and Friday, at least. Give me a call if you are, too!
-Robin
575-541-5744 home
575-386-8212 cell

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27 through SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29:
This is probably not the Christmas gift we were hoping for. Wet, cool weather is coming, plus a lot of wind on Saturday. On Friday, there's a good chance for rain in Alamogordo, and a fair chance of it elsewhere in the region (except El Paso). Winds should be strong SW in Alamogordo, moderate WSW elsewhere. On Saturday it looks like a blowout all over the area. On Sunday the temperature gets even cooler (highs in the low 40's most of the area, close to freezing by the Sacramento Mountains) with winds light NW in Alamogordo, light to moderate west and WNW other places. Flying might be good on Friday (i.e., tomorrow!) at the Little Floridas, Agave Hill and Nelson's Launch. On Saturday, forget it. Do those thank-you notes for all the Christmas gifts. On Sunday, La Luz, Agave Hill, Nelson's Launch and the Little Floridas might just work - but dress real warm! Things will stay pretty cold throughout the week to come, gradually warming by next weekend. Well, it could be worse - a lot of the country's going to get snow on their flying sites! Stay warm, and be safe if you fly.
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3 through SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2020:
A new year, a new decade? But forecasts that are a little chancy for the year's first weekend. It should be dry for the foreseeable future, and trending to warmer. Jetstream will be overhead for most of the weekend, from the west, but the winds will be surprisingly light despite that. On Friday the winds will be light and northerly - ENE in Alamogordo, NE in El Paso and Deming, light NW in the Las Cruces area. Mostly NW and very light for our area on Saturday. Sunday we get WNW in most of the area, but might see light SSW around Las Cruces in the afternoon. By Monday, we could see some fairly strong NE winds. My recommendations for where to fly: On Friday I don't see any good options - the winds look too light and from the wrong directions for each area. On Saturday La Luz might work, and possibly Magdalena Rim for PG's. On Sunday, La Luz is a possibility, with good WNW winds there, and maybe Agave Hill. Mag Rim might be good for PG's in the afternoon. On Monday it looks like Volcanic Peak is worth a try if the forecasts hold. It's not the best weekend conditions I've seen, but it's a new year full of hope - take a try at it! I should be available for flying or driving, so give me a call and we'll see what's possible.
-Robin
575-541-5744 home
575-386-8212 cell