Weather
What should you check every day before you fly?
Our local sites extend from valleys influenced by coastal weather on the west to snowy mountains and interior areas characterized by desert-like climates in the east. As such, flying weather in our area can vary substantially from site to site on any given day and some sites maybe better than others for particular weather patterns. Further, valley influences often dictate winds more than synoptic patterns, giving great variability within a relatively small area.
A great variety of our sites are thermal flying sites. This means that in spring, summer and early fall, pilots can generally expect days to follow a pattern of light conditions early in the day, increasingly strong and turbulent conditions during peak heating during mid-day, and smoother conditions in the evening. Winds may sustain evening ridge soaring and glass-offs at several sites.
Flying Forecast
| XC Skies | SoarCast |
Global and Regional Observations
| Oregon Radar Reflections Rain, rain, go away! |
Water Vapor Satellite Images Low level clouds |
Infrared Satellite Images Thick and high cold clouds |
Regional Forecasts
| 7-Day Forecast | Jet Stream | Intellicast | Wind Forecast | MM5 Computer Model Small Scale Large Scale |
Coastal Tide Forecast |
Local Forecasts
| Oregon Forecast | Launchcode Winds Aloft Portland Surface Wind Forecast Loop: GFS | NAM 5000 Foot Wind Forecast Loop: GFS | NAM 10000 Foot Wind Forecast Loop: GFS | NAM |
Jet Stream Analysis [latest map] National Upper Air Map: 850 Mb | 600 Mb | 300 Mb |
Flying Site Forecasts
| The Dalles Mountain Ranch | Cape Kiwanda | Peterson Butte | Woodrat | Cliffside | Sollie/Kilchis | Pine Mountain | Bingen |
| Silverstar | Toutle River Valley |
Regional Maps
| MesoWest Weather Station Map | National Weather Service RAWS Map | Wunderground Interactive Map | Doppler Radar |
| XC Skies Interactive Current Surface Winds |
Weather Education
| National Weather Service Glossary | Excellent Weather Tutorial |