Detailed Predictions for: Big Sur
Launch Lat, Long, Altitude (f): 36.0, -121.47, 3200
LZ Altitude (f): 60
Sounding

Station:

 KOAK

Date/Time UTC:

 260912/1200

Temp/Wind data from:

NOAA Digital Forecast

Site Forecasts
Time
(Local)		 High
Temp
Puddle
Temp
Wind
 (mph)		 Wind
 Gust		 Thermal
Ceiling
(ft)		 Soaring
Ceiling
(ft)		 Above
Launch
(ft)		 Thermal
Type		 Thermal
Index
(F)
12 Midnight Sat 71 61 NNW 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
1 AM Sat 70 60 N 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
2 AM Sat 70 60 NNE 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
3 AM Sat 67 57 N 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
4 AM Sat 66 56 N 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 AM Sat 66 56 N 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 AM Sat 65 55 N 2 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 AM Sat 66 56 N 2 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 AM Sat 69 59 NNE 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 AM Sat 71 62 W 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 AM Sat 73 66 WSW 3 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
11 AM Sat 74 68 WSW 3 6 2627 3200 0 Blue 0
12 Noon Sat 75 71 W 4 8 3028 3200 0 Blue 0
1 PM Sat 74 70 W 5 9 2894 3200 0 Blue 0
2 PM Sat 74 70 WSW 5 9 2894 3200 0 Blue 0
3 PM Sat 74 69 WSW 6 10 2760 3200 0 Blue 0
4 PM Sat 73 66 WSW 6 11 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 PM Sat 72 64 WSW 5 11 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 PM Sat 71 61 WSW 5 10 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 PM Sat 68 58 WSW 5 10 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 PM Sat 65 55 NW 5 9 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 PM Sat 64 54 NNW 5 9 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 PM Sat 64 54 NNE 5 9 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
11 PM Sat 62 52 N 5 9 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
12 Midnight Sun 63 53 NNE 5 9 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
1 AM Sun 62 52 N 5 8 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
2 AM Sun 61 51 NNE 5 8 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
3 AM Sun 60 50 NNE 5 8 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
4 AM Sun 59 49 NE 5 8 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 AM Sun 58 48 NE 5 8 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 AM Sun 58 48 NE 5 8 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 AM Sun 57 47 NE 5 8 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 AM Sun 59 49 NNW 4 8 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 AM Sun 62 53 NNW 4 8 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 AM Sun 64 57 NNW 4 8 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
11 AM Sun 66 60 NW 5 11 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
12 Noon Sun 68 64 NW 5 11 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
1 PM Sun 69 65 NW 5 11 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
2 PM Sun 70 66 WNW 6 12 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
3 PM Sun 70 65 WNW 6 12 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
4 PM Sun 69 62 WNW 6 12 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 PM Sun 69 61 NW 6 13 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 PM Sun 68 58 NW 6 13 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 PM Sun 66 56 NW 6 13 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 PM Sun 62 52 NNW 5 10 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 PM Sun 61 51 NNW 5 10 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 PM Sun 60 50 NNW 5 10 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
11 PM Sun 60 50 N 3 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
12 Midnight Mon 60 50 N 3 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
1 AM Mon 60 50 N 3 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
2 AM Mon 59 49 N 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
3 AM Mon 59 49 N 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
4 AM Mon 58 48 N 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 AM Mon 58 48 N 3 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 AM Mon 58 48 N 3 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 AM Mon 59 49 N 3 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 AM Mon 61 51 N 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 AM Mon 64 55 N 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 AM Mon 67 60 N 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
11 AM Mon 70 65 NW 1 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
12 Noon Mon 72 68 NW 1 4 2627 3200 0 Blue 0
1 PM Mon 72 69 NW 1 4 2760 3200 0 Blue 0
2 PM Mon 73 69 WNW 3 6 2760 3200 0 Blue 0
3 PM Mon 73 68 WNW 3 6 2627 3200 0 Blue 0
4 PM Mon 73 66 WNW 3 6 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 PM Mon 72 64 NW 2 6 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 PM Mon 70 60 NW 2 6 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 PM Mon 68 58 NW 2 6 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 PM Mon 66 56 NNW 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 PM Mon 65 55 NNW 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 PM Mon 65 55 NNW 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
11 PM Mon 64 54 NNW 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
12 Midnight Tue 64 54 NNW 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
1 AM Tue 64 54 NNW 2 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
2 AM Tue 64 54 NNW 2 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
3 AM Tue 63 53 NNW 2 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
4 AM Tue 62 52 NNW 2 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 AM Tue 61 51 NNW 2 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 AM Tue 62 52 NNW 2 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 AM Tue 62 52 NNW 2 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 AM Tue 64 54 NNW 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 AM Tue 65 56 NNW 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 AM Tue 66 59 NNW 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
11 AM Tue 67 61 W 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
12 Noon Tue 67 62 W 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
1 PM Tue 67 63 W 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
2 PM Tue 67 63 W 3 6 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
3 PM Tue 67 62 W 3 6 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
4 PM Tue 66 59 W 3 6 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 PM Tue 66 57 WNW 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 PM Tue 64 54 WNW 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 PM Tue 62 52 WNW 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 PM Tue 60 50 N 0 2 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 PM Tue 59 49 N 0 2 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 PM Tue 59 49 N 0 2 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
11 PM Tue 59 49 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
12 Midnight Wed 59 49 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
1 AM Wed 58 48 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
2 AM Wed 58 48 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
3 AM Wed 58 48 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
4 AM Wed 57 47 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 AM Wed 57 47 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 AM Wed 57 47 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 AM Wed 57 47 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 AM Wed 58 48 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 AM Wed 59 50 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 AM Wed 61 53 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
11 AM Wed 63 57 SW 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
12 Noon Wed 64 59 SW 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
1 PM Wed 65 61 SW 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
2 PM Wed 65 60 WSW 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
3 PM Wed 65 59 WSW 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
4 PM Wed 64 57 WSW 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 PM Wed 63 54 S 0 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 PM Wed 62 52 S 0 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 PM Wed 60 50 S 0 4 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 PM Wed 59 49 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 PM Wed 59 49 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 PM Wed 60 50 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
11 PM Wed 60 50 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
12 Midnight Thu 60 50 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
1 AM Thu 60 50 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
2 AM Thu 60 50 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
3 AM Thu 59 49 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
4 AM Thu 59 49 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 AM Thu 59 49 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 AM Thu 60 50 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 AM Thu 61 51 N 0 1 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 AM Thu 63 53 N 0 2 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 AM Thu 65 56 N 0 2 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 AM Thu 67 60 N 0 2 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
11 AM Thu 68 62 W 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
12 Noon Thu 69 65 W 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
1 PM Thu 69 65 W 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
2 PM Thu 69 65 W 2 6 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
3 PM Thu 69 64 W 2 6 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
4 PM Thu 69 62 W 2 6 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
5 PM Thu 68 60 WNW 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
6 PM Thu 67 57 WNW 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
7 PM Thu 65 55 WNW 2 5 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
8 PM Thu 64 54 NW 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
9 PM Thu 64 54 NW 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0
10 PM Thu 64 54 NW 1 3 2526 3200 0 Blue 0

DISCLAIMER: These estimates are intended to assist in daily site selection only.  No warranty is made concerning the accuracy of these estimates.  These estimates cannot be used to determine if conditions are safe for flying.  Conditions should be evaluated at the launch site by experienced pilots before launching.

Sounding: This is the site at which the weather balloon was released.  If the flying site predicted is far from the sounding site, the estimate is not valid.  Also, the sounding is done at 12Z (4AM PST).  If a front comes through, the sounding is no longer valid. The sounding becomes less valid later in the day.

Thermal Ceiling: the lower of the height at which the thermal stops rising and the cloud level.  We can't fly into the clouds, so it doesn't matter how much higher the thermal goes.  Remember that we can't get to the top of the thermal because of our sink rate.  Our upper limit will be lower than the reported ceiling.

Soaring Ceiling: We will stop going up when the thermal is rising just fast enough to offset our sink.  It is estimated that this happens when the temperature difference between the thermal and the surrounding air is about 2 degrees F. This number is an estimate of the maximum altitude we might reach if we start at launch height, and should be more reflective of our chances of soaring than the thermal top. Please let me know how this compares with actually flying, and I will adjust it as necessary.

Above Launch: The difference between how high we might get and how high we start. This estimate does not account for ridge lift.

High Temp: This estimate is taken from the National Weather Service or WeatherAPI.com website.  Puddle temperatures can exceed this temperature. 

Puddle Temp: This estimate is based on the High Temp and the National Weather Service or WeatherAPI.com estimate of cloudiness, and the angle of the sun.  When the sun is directly overhead on a sunny day, the puddle temp is esimated to be 25 degrees warmer than the high ambient temperature. This estimate now includes a rigorous calculation of the Sun Angle, and accounts for the seasonal differences in zenith and daylight hours.

Wind: This estimate is taken from the National Weather Service or WeatherAPI.com website.

Wind Gust: This estimate is taken from the National Weather Service or WeatherAPI.com website.

Thermal Type: Blue (no cloud formation) or White (Cloud formation)

Thermal Index: This is the maximum difference in temperature between the rising packet of air (the thermal) and the surrounding air.  The difference in temperature is responsible for the buoyancy of the thermal, and larger temperature differences mean faster rising thermals.  A value of about 10 F or greater often means that the conditions are soarable.  Values above 20 could indicate rowdy thermals.

Validity of estimate: Many factors (including strong wind, fronts, cloud shadows, incorrectly predicted temperatures, etc) can affect the validity of the estimates. 

Author: Tad Hurst

Supported By: Alan Crouse [email protected]