A really nice saturday !
Saturday looks set to be the day not to miss this weekend. In the Valais, conditions appear capable of supporting flights of 100 km and beyond, but pilots will first have to deal with a well-established stable layer around 2,000 m.
Two strategies seem possible: launch high enough to stay above it, or wait until mid-afternoon, when thermals should finally be strong enough to break through it. A northerly wind is expected, but it should remain light and generally well suited for cross-country flying.
The Jura should also offer plenty of enjoyment, with some nice flights on the cards for pilots who stay precise in their route choices. Cloudbase is expected to remain relatively low, however, leaving little room for mistakes. The north-westerly wind should be slightly stronger than in the Valais and will require some attention when planning and managing transitions.
The Prealps, on the other hand, are likely to remain under the influence of an air mass that is too stable to offer any real cross-country potential.
As for me, I’ll probably head to Vercorin for a launch around 14:00 to take advantage of the best part of the day. The plan is to go and explore the Val d’Anniviers and see what the afternoon has to offer.
Sunday
Sunday looks significantly less promising for cross-country flying. A stronger westerly flow combined with increasing cloud cover should considerably reduce the available flying window and make it difficult to achieve meaningful distances.
Most mountain ranges are likely to be affected by weaker heating and lower cloudbases, with thermals struggling to fully develop at times. As a result, opportunities for long XC flights appear rather limited.
One possible exception could be the Salève area, where local effects may still allow for some enjoyable flights despite the less favorable synoptic situation. Pilots looking to salvage a few hours in the air may find the best chances there, provided the cloud cover remains manageable.
Overall, Sunday looks more like a day for local flying and making the most of what develops, rather than setting off on ambitious distance attempts. 🪂
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