Weekend Weather

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, JULY 1 to SUNDAY, JULY 3:
OK, here's the deal. We may get thunderstorms on Friday. But if we don't, it's flyable all over, with south to southwest winds, moderate in strength. That means that La Luz, Dry Canyon, Little Floridas, Matt's Mountain, Agave Hill and Kilbourne Hole should all be doing pretty well. The Sod Farm might be good early on, but probably too turbulent for PG's later in the day. On Saturday the chances for rain are slight, and ditto for Sunday. Saturday winds will probably be light westerly, which makes all the sites except Matt's Mountain a pretty good bet. On Sunday the winds get north and northwesterly, fairly light, so I wouldn't expect much except La Luz to be easily launchable. Thermal activity, this time of year, should be just fine, but expect some shifty winds when you come in to land. Good luck if you fly this weekend, and be careful with the conditions!
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, JULY 8 to SUNDAY, JULY 10:
Looks like a hot week ahead for the Southwest! Dry, too, except for a slight possibility of rain on Friday. Winds should be light west and southwest on Friday, light northwest on Saturday, and moderate to strong from the southwest on Sunday. I'd look to fly La Luz, Dry Canyon, Agave Hill (PG's, early and late) and maybe the Little Floridas on Friday. On Saturday, La Luz may be all that works, and that won't be a great bet, with winds light. Sunday should be good for most of our sites. If you train at the Sod Farm, go early, before the heat and turbulence start up. Stay cool if you can (i.e., get up high and stay there!) and fly safe.
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

Robin is busy so I'll try to figure out the weekend weather for Friday - Sunday July 15 th through the 17.
But first a look back to yesterday's history. All across the southern portion of New Mexico it was 100º or slightly above.
Here is a copy/paste of an email from Hadley that he posted on July 14, 2016:

The weather forecast has changed. The whole weekend looks good – AM & PM. PPG at the sod farms. PG elsewhere.
Saturday PM looks like Agave will work, in particular. High tows are also an option. Just got 2,000’ more line = almost 10,000’.
Let me know,
Had

At Alamogordo (Dry Canyon) Launch Code is predicting temperatures just under 100º for highs Friday through Sunday.
All three days there will be a good chance of rain in the mountains at some point during the afternoon. (1pm to 6pm.)
The winds are favorable but on the East side of the mountains (The Artesia side.) winds are stronger from the SSE to SE direction. This may tend to dump most of the rain on our side of the mountain. (Expect gust fronts each day.)
At Mag Rim (Matt's Mt.) The wind direction isn't going to be good.
Little Florida Mountains Early Saturday morning may work for PG just below the tower north of the saddle. Or north of the HG ramp location that is currently missing. (Wind launched the ramp and destroyed it.)

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, JULY 22 through SUNDAY, JULY 24:
This looks like a possibly flyable weekend in Southern New Mexico and West Texas. I don't expect much thunderstorm activity after today (Thursday) until Monday. Winds will be light, as usual for this time of year. In Las Cruces they will be mostly easterly, but in Alamogordo it looks like south to southeast winds will prevail. This may make Dry Canyon a good bet, at least for Friday and Saturday; on Sunday they get more easterly, so the chances are a little poorer. Upper level winds, though, are likely to be from the north and northeast, so there could be some shear up there, and if you try to go cross country, the winds might not be in your favor. The thermals should be pretty good, though. Good luck if you go! And be safe - it's a squirrely time of the year in our area.
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

Robin is busy so I'll put up Friday and Saturday. Later I'll look at the updated Sunday.
Mid 90's today Thursday in Alamogordo, New Mexico (USA).
Wind was calm to light west to northwest.
Las Cruces was a little above 95º most of the day.
Wind mostly east light building to over 10 mph with gusts 12 to 16 mph.

Deming was also a little above 95º light winds and building to above 10 mph by afternoon.

For Friday and Saturday the air looks dry low chance of rain for Alamogordo. Temp will be
mid 90's Friday and lower 90's Saturday.

Dry Canyon looks light southerly 8 mph Friday and Saturday.

We still have a SE wind at 12 mph on the east side of the mountains (Artesia) Friday turning more SSE Saturday.

Las Cruces will be ESE Friday, 8 mph and SE 8 mph Saturday.

Anapra will be crossing from the right 6- 10 mph Friday and more cross Saturday, 5-8 mph.

Dry looks the best bet to me Friday and Saturday but maybe light.
If Robin gets caught up he may tweak the forecast.

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5 to SUNDAY, AUGUST 7:
This looks like a fairly typical weekend for southern New Mexico in the monsoon season. There is a possibility of afternoon thunderstorms every day, but it's not a real good possibility; I wouldn't let it deter you from going out to fly. Winds should be light to moderate, mostly from the south and southwest. Most of our foot-launched sites should be flyable this weekend; think about La Luz, Dry Canyon, Matt's Mountain, and maybe the Little Floridas (the launch there faces a little more westerly, though). Agave Hill might or might not work as well - it faces west, mostly. We should get more rain during the week, starting on Monday, but this weekend looks fine. Let me know if you want to fly - I'm up for it!
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, AUG. 12 through SUNDAY, AUG. 14:
The rainy season is here - though so far it's not all that wet, I'm afraid. This weekend could see some thunderstorms, especially on Saturday, but the chances for decent rains are not very good. Hurricane Javier might push a little moisture up our way from Mexico. However, I expect Friday to be mostly dry. Winds that day will be mostly light to moderate north and northwest. This would make La Luz a viable option for that day. I can't think of any other sites that will work well. Well, maybe some towing and PPG flights at the Sod Farms. On Saturday and Sunday, expect moderate to strong east winds throughout most of our region. Again, Saturday might have some rain - or might not - while Sunday is likely to be drier. I would say, though, that this makes Anapra a definite possibility for everyone. The winds should be light enough for PG's early on, there, and then strong enough for hang gliders around noon. If you'd like to fly there, Saturday or Sunday, let me know!
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19th through SUNDAY, AUGUST 21st:
We've had some cloudless days this week in Southern New Mexico. But that will change this weekend, as we get more of our expected rainy season moisture coming in. Friday should be a great day for flying most of our sites, though. We should have dry conditions with winds light to moderate out of the west and southwest. Matt's Mountain should work early in the day, before the winds turn west, as well as La Luz, Dry Canyon, Agave Hill, the Little Floridas, and Kilbourne Hole. I expect it to be good for both PG and HG. On Saturday the winds will shift, and the moisture will increase. We may get some thunderstorms in the afternoon, and the winds will be light north and northeast. La Luz NW launch might work, early in the day, but I wouldn't count on any of our other sites. By Sunday expect a good chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon, and winds from the east. Anapra might be a soarable site for PG's early in the day. Look for thunderstorms after that. And we can expect some rain in our area throughout the week to come. Autumn is coming, folks, but let's hope for lots of water in the rainy season we still have. I am interested in flying on Friday at Dry Canyon, if anyone is interested in it. Fly safe!
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26 through SUNDAY, AUGUST 28:
This weekend is one where you need to be in the right place at the right time. We should have reasonably clear skies on Friday and Saturday, then a strong chance for afternoon thunderstorms starting on Sunday afternoon. (We'll probably have rain on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as well.) On Friday I expect winds to be light and variable, mostly from south and southwest. Saturday the winds should be south and southwest as well, especially in Alamogordo. On Sunday they might be shifting more to the south and southeast. In El Paso, the winds should be southeast and east throughout the weekend, so Anapra might be flyable. I would say that your best bet for foot-launched flight this weekend will be the Alamogordo sites, La Luz and Dry Canyon. I would like to fly Dry on Saturday, if anyone wants to try it with me - I could be in the LZ there by 9:30 or 10:00. Let me know!
-Robin
575-541-5744

[RobinHastings]

FRIDAY, SEPT. 2 through SUNDAY, SEPT. 4:
Good news for flying! The winds are light south/southwest all weekend. Bad news for flying: Friday looks like it's going to be wet. Saturday and Sunday look fine, though. If you have time for some hang gliding or paragliding this weekend, try Dry Canyon, Matt's Mountain, Agave Hill and maybe La Luz (if it's not too southerly). Saturday and Sunday look like the best days for it. Let me know if you want to go - I plan to do some bowhunting in the Sacramentos, but I could have my glider along for something during the day.
-Robin
575-541-5744