Weekend Weather

by **RobinHastings** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 2:28 pm

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 to SUNDAY, AUGUST 9:
This could be a fine weekend to fly in our area. The precipitation will mostly be west and north of Las Cruces/El Paso/Alamogordo, though we might get some rain on Friday night. Winds should be fairly light. I expect them from the northwest in the morning and west/southwest in the afternoon, all three days. They'll probably be more westerly than is optimal for Magdalena Rim, but I expect them to be coming in at Dry Canyon, La Luz, Agave Hill and the Little Floridas pretty well. Any of those sites should work. I'd like to fly Saturday or Sunday (or maybe both!) if anyone wants to join me. A mentoring day for prospective pilots would be a good activity as well. Who's up for some soaring? Let me know at 575-541-5744.
-Robin

by **RobinHastings** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:08 am

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 to SUNDAY, AUGUST 16:
Not as good a weekend as last, at least in the forecast. It'll be hot. We may get some afternoon thunderstorms, ending the dry period we're having as I write this (Thursday). Winds can be summed up as light and variable, but trending from the east, Friday through Sunday. It's possible that Dry Canyon could work on Saturday and Sunday, as the Sacramentos tend to block the lighter east winds, but otherwise I'd say most of our foot-launched sites will be poor bets. Anapra has possibilities, especially for PG's and for hang glider training flights. And it might be a good weekend for training at the Sod Farms. For big XC miles and amazing soaring flights - the odds are not in our favor this time. Enjoy the weekend, and if you fly, be safe.
-Robin

by **RobinHastings** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 10:21 am

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 to SUNDAY, AUGUST 23:
This weekend looks a little hard to predict, just like last. We could get some thunderstorms late on Saturday and Sunday, mostly in the higher mountains. Winds will be light, as is typical for summer, and various directions. Friday looks like westerly winds all day, which would be good for La Luz, Dry Canyon, and the Little Floridas. Maybe Agave Hill, as well, and certainly not bad for training at the Sod Farms. Saturday, the winds start out westerly, then go to northwest as the day goes on. Dry Canyon should work if you launch before noon. After that, La Luz NW launch might be your only foot-launched option. On Sunday the winds are harder to predict, but it appears there is an easterly trend to them. PG's at Anapra might work, and perhaps some HG training there. We'll just have to keep an eye on it. I'd say that Friday is our best looking day for flying this weekend, but there's a site somewhere that will work, regardless of the day. Good luck! I'd sure like to fly this weekend, and maybe mentor some new potential pilots, too. Call me at 575-541-5744 if you want to try it.
-Robin

by **RobinHastings** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:28 am

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 to SUNDAY, AUGUST 30:
It's another unsettled weekend for weather in New Mexico. Let's be glad for the rain! We may get some around our region on Friday, with less chance for it on Saturday and Sunday. Winds look like they'll be typical for this time of year - that is, light and variable. On Friday, I expect that winds will be light, out of the north and northwest. If it isn't raining, then La Luz could work for foot launching, and the Sod Farms for PG training - it should be pretty consistent in direction. On Saturday, the winds may be easterly. This would make Anapra good for PG soaring, and some training. On Sunday, look to the possibility of winds from the west and southwest. Probably too westerly for Magdalena Rim, but Dry Canyon, La Luz, Little Floridas and Agave Hill should work OK as foot-launched sites. As usual, the thermals should be abundant, this time of year. Does anyone want to try Dry Canyon on Sunday? Or do some practice at Anapra on Saturday? I do. Give me a call! 575-541-5744. Good luck, and be safe if you go!
-Robin

by **RobinHastings** » Thu Sep 03, 2015 9:49 am

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4 to SUNDAY, SEPT. 6:
This weekend looks pretty favorable to our cause (i.e., getting some airtime in Southern New Mexico). There may be afternoon thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday, with less chance on Sunday. Winds on Friday and Saturday appear to be mostly southwest at our launch heights, and not too strong. On Sunday they turn more westerly, at about the same kind of speed. On Friday, then, I'd recommend Dry Canyon, La Luz, Little Floridas, Magdalena Rim and Agave Hill. Should be good for training at the Sod Farms, too. It's probably too light for Kilbourne Hole, however. The same kind of forecast goes for Saturday. On Sunday, I'd say that Mag Rim is out of the picture, but the other sites should be OK. I'll have to see how my schedule works out for the weekend, with family obligations, but if I can get out to fly, I'd certainly like to. Be safe and have some fun - this looks like one of the good ones!
-Robin

by **RobinHastings** » Thu Sep 10, 2015 9:29 am

FRIDAY, SEPT. 11 to SUNDAY, SEPT. 13:
It looks like we're entering our autumn conditions now. Chances of thunderstorms are slight, and winds may get a little stronger. O expect east and southeast winds on Friday, light, then on Saturday light southeast continuing until they turn south late in the day. On Sunday they should be southwest all day, light to moderate in strength. Where to go? On Friday, I'd try Anapra, good for PG soaring and hang glider training flights. On Saturday, you might try Dry Canyon late in the afternoon. On Sunday, all of our sites should work OK - La Luz, Dry Canyon, Mag Rim, Little Floridas, Agave Hill. Even Kilbourne Hole, if you feel like making the drive. If I can fly I'd like to try Dry Canyon on Sunday afternoon (my daughter's birthday is that day, though). Keep in touch - the good times are coming!
-Robin

by **RobinHastings** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 7:48 am

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 to SUNDAY, SEPT. 20:
This weekend looks a little chancy. There's a good possibility of rain in our area on Saturday and maybe Sunday. Winds will be light, and variable in direction - north, east, sometimes southwest. Nothing consistent, as far as I can tell. "Wait and see," could be the phrase of the week. Our most consistent site, in these circumstances, is Dry Canyon, but La Luz has launches in three directions - west, southwest and northwest. Training at the Sod Farm is possible, but Hadley might have to keep changing directions for the winch. Let me know if you want to do some flying, and I'll try to estimate the best place to go. Good luck, and be safe! (Remember, 3 weekends from now, we'll be having our Columbus Day Gathering at Dry Canyon. All are welcome!)
-Robin

by **RobinHastings** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:05 am

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25 to SUNDAY, SEPT. 27:
Well, this weekend gets a little tricky to forecast. The weather models don't agree with each other as much as I'd like. I'm pretty sure it's going to be dry, though. This week's rain will be a fond memory soon - we're entering our more typical autumn conditions, now. Winds? The one day the models agree on is tomorrow, Friday; they all predict east and southeast winds, moderate in strength. It could be a great day to soar Anapra! On Saturday, it might be east/southeast, fairly light. Dry Canyon might work, but I wouldn't bet on our other foot-launched sites. Could be good at the Sod Farms, though, or towing out on Highway 9. On Sunday afternoon conditions get better for us; by then, I expect southwest winds, not very strong. On that day the Little Floridas, La Luz, Dry Canyon and Agave Hill would be OK. Maybe Magdalena Rim, too, if the wind speed is right. I'll be at a college function on Friday, or I'd be right in there for flying Anapra. On Saturday I'll be up at Sunspot, above Alamogordo, until early afternoon - does anyone want to try for a flight at Dry Canyon that day? Sunday looks like our best for this weekend, though. Call me if you'd like to get some airtime! 575-541-5744.
-Robin

by **RobinHastings** » Thu Oct 01, 2015 10:41 am

FRIDAY, OCT. 2 to SUNDAY, OCT. 4:
Not a bad weekend for flying, it looks like. Some chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday, but mostly clear. Winds will be from the southwest, Friday and Saturday, pretty strong in the afternoons. Sunday, they shift to the south/southeast, not as strong. So, the first two days all of our southwest sites should work, including Kilbourne Hole in the afternoon. On Sunday, I'd bet on Dry Canyon, but nothing else. I'm open for a flight at Mag Rim on Friday - any takers for that? And maybe Dry Canyon in the rest of the weekend. Keep in touch about it, and be safe!
-Robin