19th World Paragliding Championships Castelo Weather Forecast 12th Sep

Summary 

Barometer drops by 2mb, slightly weakening inversions at 1100m and 1600m.

Temperature range increases comparing to the previous day, meaning better thermal triggering close to the ground (19-31 C)

Humidity increases at all levels by 10%. 

The combination of the above, means smoother and more organised thermals at lower level, and more thermals to break the inversion and reach higher, comparing to yesterday.

Clouds will cover the area, with high cloud bases to the north reaching 2200m at 14.00, but lower cloud base to the south reaching 1600m and the southern the lower the cloud base will be. 

Coverage will be higher to the horizon mainly to the NE, N and NW, while to the south the clouds will cover 30-40% of the sky.

Cu, are expected, thinner to the south and some Congestus to the NE, that will evolve to showers after 12.00 to the NE of the take off.

Thermals are expected +0,5m/s comparing to yesterday, a little stronger especially close to the ground, and many of them will break the inversion of 1600 and reach cloud base comparing to yesterday.

Lower winds from the SE (12kph) with ground gusts expected at 30kph. Above the second inversion of 1600m, wind turns from the west direction and increases above 3000m.

Conditions start 30min later than yesterday at 11.39h with lift up to 1200m, later 1400, and stronger thermals up to the cloud base .

Later they will improve  up to 14.30h, with peak conditions at 14.00h.

After 15.00 conditions will drop, giving a 3h good window and a 2 hours task.

The average XC speed is expected +5kph and a task of 60-65 km seems logical for the day.

Rain is expected NE of the take off after 12.00.

Good luck,

Evangelos

More details

Barometer: 1015mb  

Temperature range :19-31 C - better triggering

Dew point: 15,5 C  

Low humidity: 30%

High Humidity: 68% 

Cloud base: Up to 2200m-2300, better to the North, to the south up to 1600m

Cloud tops :+400m, after 12.00 increase to +1500m from cloud base, especially to the North and NE. 

Cloud types :Cu, some overdevelopment to the NE 

Coverage :30-40%

Sun energy flow: 100-150W/m2 better to the North

Inversions :1100,1600m higher than yesterday, and a shear level at 3000m above which we have strong West wind of 35kph

Average thermal :2,6 m/s better.

Thermals/Altitude: 500m/2m/s... 1000m/3m/s 

Ideal Thermal Zone for XCSpeed : 600-1300 m similar to yesterday

Gusts 30 kph at 14.30h

0m: SW 12kph

600m: SW 12kph 

1200m: SW 14kph

1800m:  S<10 kph

2400m:  W 10 kph

3000m:  SW 15 kph

3600m:  SW 35 kph

Conditions Start to develop: 11.30h thermals up to1200m  later than the previous day

Conditions decline after:  15.00h thermals up to 1400m+

Peak period:  11.30h-14.30h

Peak time:  14.00h  

Duration of task: 2h 

Calculated XC Speed: 30 kph  increased expected xc speed

Potential task:   60-65 km

Convergence lines: N/A

Rain: to the NE, expected to appear between 12.00-15.00h