Niesen turnpoint soaring weather forecast 18th June 2025

 

Summary

The following forecast represents what is expected in the area around Niesen for today.

The barometer at 1018, with tendency to drop, and humidity at >50%. The temperature contrast for the area at 8 C. All these indicate a relatively stable mass. A strong inversion at 1650m will make life difficult as thermals will not climb over 2000 in the area while in the south east mountains it may reach 2200-2500m. 

A high cloud will cover the general area creating shade and 100% coverage, but the percentage will change during the day as the clouds will appear from the north east and move to the sout west, opening some windows of opportunity. The sun energy per square meter will be <300W/m2, meaning that more time will be needed for thermal cycles, and practically there will be long stable periods between lifting air parcels and less organized thermals with short duration will make thermalling life difficult.

Some Cu clouds will appear above the higher peaks, but with low energy, they will not work well close to the cloudbase, and will be very high and rare in the south East of Niesen while closing to the turnpoint the cloud base will drop maybe up to 2100m close to Interlaken area. 

Thermals are expected less than 2,5m/s below 1300m, around 3m/s between 1300-1700m which is the ideal thermal zone. Above 1800 the wind will be light from the east while below the inversion of 1700m the wind will be <10kph from the North.

wind gusts expected<20kph 

ground wind <10kph from North

600m <10 Kph N

1200m <10 Kph N

1800m 0 Kph 

2400m E 10 Kph

3000m ENE 15 Kph

3600m NE 12 Kph

Conditions will start organizing thermals at 11.00h later by half an hour comparing to yesterday and start declining after 17.00h

The peak conditions will be 12.00-17.00

XC Duration 5h

Expected Average XC Speed 10 Kph

Expected XC Potential 50-60 Km.

No Precipitation expected in the area