18th FAI European Paragliding Championships - Weather Forecast 9th Aug 2026

 

Summary of the day

• Frontal activity will affect the Balkans, with cloud phenomena and precipitation that will take place to the east, >150Km, in Bulgaria and in Northern Greece  in the afternoon.
• In Krusevo and the Pelagonia Valley, conditions will be mixed.
• Initially we will have clouds early to the west and over the ridges, with cloud base above 2,500m, while the valley will be blue.
• Later the conditions will improve, and the cloud coverage will increase over the mountains, up to 60% in specific areas such as Lake Ohrid, in the Northwest of Krusevo and on Mount Voras southeast of Bitola.
• Cu over the valley may be visible after 13.00, but in general the cloud coverage will be less than yesterday, with cloud streets above high ground.
• Thermals will be better over the mountains, while the plain will work better on its eastern side-Prilep area.
• Convergence lines will form over the Krusevo ridge to the north and south, while we also expect a line from Prilep to Bitola from 14.30 onwards, at the altitude of the inversion at 1800 m.
• The air density is increased compared to yesterday, the inversions are stronger, which will initially delay the conditions to grow in the valley, and  thermal cycles will be longer to the west side of the valley.

More Details:

Barometric pressure: increase 1mb

Temperatures: 22-33 C  good contrast for thermal triggering

Dewpoint: 10-12 C

Humidity at low level: 25%-30% similar to yesterday 

Humidity Boundary layer: 80% to the East and 90% to the West - Expecting high clouds west of Krysevo

Cloud base: initially 2400 at 11.00, later increase to 2700m at 12.00 and 3000 at 14.00h 

Cloud tops: up to 4500-5000m higher to the west

Cloud types: Cu, Cu cong, spreadout after 15.00h to the west

Cloud Coverage: 60% to the west, valley prediction 10%

Inversion levels: 1650m later 1800m with wind shear and 2500m

Energy flow:  less than yesterday more to the east valley to Prilep

Average Thermal expected +3m/s  

Thermal tops: 2300 above the valley, and 2600 above mountains later at 2900m

Thermals at Altitude: +2,2m/s at 1000m, +3,6m/s at 1500m  +4m/s at 2000   

Ideal Thermal Zone:   1800-2500m at 15.00h with Convergence to the east 

WINDS at 15:00

Wind Gust at Surface: 25 kph valley -35 kph mountains

0m:  ENE 10 kph 

600m: ENE 10 kph

1200m:  ENE 10 kph 

1800m: ENE 10 kph

2400m NW 20kph  

3000m NNW 18 kph 

3600m: NW 20 kph 

Conditions start Organizing: 12.00  

Conditions decline after: 16:00  with cloud shaddow from the west

Conditions Best Period: 12:00-16:00h    

Conditions Peak time: at 15.00h 

Duration of Conditions:  4,5 h

Calculated XC Speed:  34 kph, slower than yesterday

Expected Task Distance  N/A

Convergence lines: Prilep to Bitola

Rain Forecast: N/S

Skew-T at 14.00h