Weekend Weather

[RobinHastings]

DEC. 5-7, 2014
This weekend is not optimal, but I think it's flyable. We might get rain on Sunday, but I don't think the chances are good; it should be dry in Southern New Mexico for the next week. Winds this weekend: Friday, light to moderate north winds. Saturday, light to moderate southeast. On Sunday, light east. So, on Friday I would propose La Luz for a foot launched site. On Saturday, Dry Canyon should work OK. On Sunday, try Anapra, especially if you're flying a PG. Towing at the Sod Farm should work all weekend, but that's Hadley's call. I would like to fly Dry Canyon on Saturday. Anyone want to join me? Whatever you do, be safe, and stay warm!
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

DECEMBER 19-21. 2014
As we come to the Winter Solstice, I see plenty of flying possibilities - mostly for La Luz. We could get some precipitation on Thursday night, then dry weather in our area. Winds, though, will be northwest through most of the weekend, Friday to Sunday. This makes the northwest launch at La Luz a good bet, all three days. Agave Hill might work as well, and Dry Canyon on Saturday afternoon might provide some launch possibilities. Winds won't be real strong, at least. But I wouldn't make the trip for Lee's Lookout, Little Floridas, Mag Rim or Anapra. Towing with Hadley at the Sod Farms should be good all weekend. I might do some mentoring if schedules permit, or come to fly at La Luz. Keep in touch if you want some airtime!
-Robin
541-5744

[RobinHastings]

DEC. 26-28, 2014
This has been a turbulent year in world events; it looks like it'll finish with a turbulent weekend in local events. Or at least local weather. The models are hard to reconcile this time. We might get some precipitation on Friday, but otherwise it looks pretty dry. It'll probably be cold, too. A big front is expected to blast through Southern New Mexico on late Thursday (Christmas - oops, that's today!) and all day Friday, so I wouldn't expect any flying on those days. On Saturday, the winds might be moderate southwest. That would make Dry Canyon, La Luz, Mag Rim, Little Floridas and Lee's Lookout good bets for foot-launched flying. Or it could be moderate east. That leaves Anapra as the only player. On Sunday, it might be southwest (see above). Or it might be northwest, leaving the La Luz northwest launch as your major option. I don't know what Hadley's plans are for training at the Sod Farms, but the weather seems pretty unsettled for PG's. I'll be out of town for a bit, but anxious to get some airtime when the New Year arrives. If you fly this weekend, be really cautious. And in all things, have a Happy Christmas!
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

JANUARY 2-4, 2015:
What's in store for aviation this weekend? The first one of the New Year? I can summarize it by saying that flying will be possible. It just won't be comfortable. We may get some precipitation on Friday - possibly snow, if it shows up at all. On that day the winds will be south and southwest, moderate in strength. Sounds good? Yes, but think of that snow. Our temperatures are going to be the sort that most Americans associate with "winter", with high's in the 40's, and most of the time a good deal colder. Getting up to higher altitude and adding 20 mph of wind is not going to make it feel any better. But Dry Canyon, La Luz, Mag Rim and the Little Floridas all might work. On Saturday and Sunday the chance of rain or snow is gone, and it'll most likely be dry, cold, and windy from the west/northwest. I could be wrong - we might get a beautiful, balmy day. But if it comes in as the forecasts predict, then La Luz northwest launch may be your only good site for foot launched flight this weekend. I might be interested in some flying on Sunday afternoon, if it gets warm enough, but right now (New Year's Day) a seat in a warm house looks pretty attractive. Be safe, everyone, and keep in touch! A new year of flying is opening up before us.
-Robin

[Bob Kuczewski]

... flying will be possible. It just won't be comfortable.

Wishing a Safe and Happy New Year to all members of the Rio Grande Soaring Association!!!!

[RobinHastings]

JANUARY 9-11, 2015:
Thanks for the good wishes, Bob. The new year's flying has already begun with Jan Zschenderlein getting a PG flight at Dry Canyon on Tuesday. This weekend looks like a flyable one, too. It starts out cold, though. The high temperatures for the day, Friday and Saturday, will be in the 40's. On Sunday it gets into the 50's. There might be a little precipitation on Friday, but otherwise it should stay pretty dry, though cloudy. Winds: On Friday, east and southeast. Dry Canyon just might work, and maybe Anapra. Winds might a little light for hang gliders at Anapra, but PG's should work, if it comes in straight enough. Saturday looks flyable for most of our local sites: Dry Canyon, La Luz, Magdalena Rim, Agave Hill, the Little Floridas. Winds will be southwest, fairly light in strength. It'll be kind of cool, though. Sunday looks warmer, but the winds will be more westerly, and stronger. That makes Dry Canyon, La Luz and the Little Floridas a better bet. The Sod Farms are probably going to be good for towing throughout the weekend. In conclusion: Dress warm, and be safe!
-Robin
PS - Don't forget our RGSA Club meeting, next Saturday, January 17th. 6:00 pm, International Delights restaurant in Las Cruces. See you there!

[Bob Kuczewski]

PS - Don't forget our RGSA Club meeting, next Saturday, January 17th. 6:00 pm, International Delights restaurant in Las Cruces. See you there!

I've got what I hope will be my final court appearance on January 16th, so I'll have to skip this year's meeting.

Have a good time!!!

[RobinHastings]

JANUARY 16-18, 2015:
This weekend looks like a flyable one - as long as you go to La Luz. We'll have dry weather for a while, and the temperatures should get a little warmer through the weekend. On Friday the winds look gentle out of the east and northeast. On Saturday, it looks mostly north and northwest, moderate in strength, and about the same as that on Sunday. The Sod Farm should be flyable through the weekend. On Friday I'd recommend trying Anapra in a PG. On Saturday and Sunday, the La Luz NW launch might be your best site. I'll hope to see you all at our club meeting on Saturday, at International Delights restaurant in Las Cruces, 6:00 pm. Be safe - in the air and at the meeting!
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

JANUARY 23-25, 2015:
You want it? You got it! Moisture, that is. Today (Thursday, Jan. 22) we have snow in the RGSA listening area. Yes, I said snow - which happens about once a decade. Several inches came down this morning. Keighley and I made a snowman, in the front yard where all the neighbors could admire it. Of course, it's now surrounded by grass, as the snow, so typically, continues to melt. But what the heck - it's wet! We'll take it... Now, as to flying possibilities, those are actually not ridiculous. Dress warm, though. On Friday expect east winds, moderate in strength, but cold. Same thing on Saturday, maybe a little bit warmer. This makes soaring Anapra, down by Sunland Park, a good possibility, especially with a paraglider. By Sunday we should be closer to our normal winter conditions with temperatures about 55 to 60 degrees fahrenheit and winds from the west, moderate to strong. La Luz might work for both PG and HG, the Little Floridas, maybe Agave Hill. But don't go up Dry Canyon, please. I expect that this much snow is going to leave a lot of it on the road, and it will be slick, probably muddy, and vulnerable to traffic. The road's in really nice shape right now, so let's leave it alone when it's wet like this, and avoid cratering the place. We'll have other chances to fly. In summary (not "summery" - we'll have to wait for that) it looks like Anapra on Friday and Saturday, and maybe La Luz on Sunday, are your best chances for a flight this weekend. Dress warm, fly safe, and be sure to post here or let me know if you get some airtime.
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

JANUARY 30 TO FEBRUARY 1, 2015:
Forecast: Wet! Well, not the whole weekend - Sunday should be clear. However, if you needed to take care of your harness, inspect your wing, or charge up your radio, this may be the weekend to do it. Starting tonight (Thursday evening) Southern New Mexico should see a good two days of rain, and snow up higher. Winds on Friday will be strong, out of the south. They get lighter and more southwesterly by Saturday, which is ironic as that's when the rain might be heaviest. By Sunday the precipitation should be gone, but winds will likely be out of the north and northeast by that time. I might use the training site in Las Cruces then, before watching the Super Bowl, but otherwise I don't know of anything flyable then. Get your life in order and check your equipment, folks! There might not be much else that you can do, this weekend. Keep in touch!
-Robin