Thursday (04/24/14) @ Woodstock

[wmelo]

THURSDAY
PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S. NORTHWEST WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH.

Thoughts? Observers? Pilots?

Walt

[dbodner]

That's going to be pretty damn light, especially with the Woodstock effect factored in. May be good for PGs; I don't know.

[thermalup]

Greetings, I am a visiting pilot and am looking at Thursday as well since Wednesday currently looks to be blown out (even in the evening). The forecast for Thursday is light NW but shows the direction becoming more W-WSW later in the afternoon. Can any of the Woodstock regulars offer their professional opinion on what may be expected for Thursday?
Thx Much! ...::Jim G.

[thermalup]

Thx David (I didn't see your post until after I posted my question).
...::JG

[dbodner]

It may well be launchable; Woodstock doesn't need a lot of wind to launch. And the thermals might be popping. But, I can't imagine much in the way of ridge lift. It's not enough to attract me from inside the beltway.

[wmelo]

I think that it is too early to call since it seems that the forecast has been changing...

THURSDAY
PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S. NORTHWEST WINDS
10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

walt

[thermalup]

Greetings,
I am keeping an eye on tomorrow (04.24).
Winds look light NW at launch level for a two hour window in the early afternoon but a bit NNW above 2500'.
Thermal lift is forecast in the 400 ft/min range. Anyone else thinking of Woodstock tomorrow?
...::JG (ps to Walt: I am non-local, have only flown Woodstock a couple of times and am not an observer)

[sailin]

Jim and Walt,

Woodstock could be very nice tomorrow depending on how quickly the front moves. It could also be extremely light and variable....or irritable.

I get off work at 7am tomorrow morning ( assuming i dont get held over ) and I am considering heading out there depending on how the night goes and the forecasts looks.

Even if I don't fly, if I can make it out there, then I can observe you Walt (assuming conditions are suitable).Let's talk on the phone tonight.

Jim, welcome back and I look forward to flying with you.


Jon

[wmelo]

Jon: Thank you VERY MUCH for offering your assistance!
Jim: I hope we will be able to fly together.

I was asked to attend a meeting in person tomorrow morning, so I will not be able to make it before 2:30pm.
I will text Jon by lunch time to see if we have a go or no-go.

I hope it will work.

walt

[thermalup]

Greetings,
Looks like an upper level low is spinning in some high clouds this morning but I am heading to WS shortly just to see what it is like in such light conditions. I will try to update with a report from launch once we arrive (probably a little after noon).
...::J

[thermalup]

WS Report for 04.24.2014.
Winds were light and variable at 1:00 pm and became even lighter and more variable for the rest of the afternoon. Even the Turkey Vultures were struggling. It was launchable about every 30 minutes but not soarable. Glider stayed in the bag on a pleasant spring day in Virginia. Thx Jon for the communication. Let's see what develops for WS on Saturday. ..::JG

[FlyingFelix]

Thanks for the report Jim, you should of pulled the wing out and take a healthy sledder, might of gotten a lucky thermal on the way down
Hope Saturday turns out good - with the foliage growing thick in the trees and the humidity and heat going up the days of strog thermals and dependable ridge lift are numbered at Woodstock...

[XCanytime]

with the foliage growing thick in the trees and the humidity and heat going up the days of strog thermals and dependable ridge lift are numbered at Woodstock...

Quite the contrary Felix. Leaves on the trees form more of a barrier to produce even more deflection of air upwards. I've been flying Woodstock since 1993 and there is dependable ridge lift all year long. More humid air is lighter than dryer air and will rise more readily. There are strong thermals at Woodstock just as much during the summertime when the conditions are right. The only thing that does happen is the number of frontal passages is reduced during the summertime due to Bermuda Highs that get locked into place and hang around until a nudge from a dip in the jet stream bumps them out of the way. Bacil

[Matthew]

Bacil is correct. There are plenty of good days to be had at Woodstock. Anytime a front rolls through, the next day is a Woodstock Day. And foliage allows you to see the thermals tracking up the mountain. Remember the summer of Chuck and Ed-- every other weekend all summer was Woodstock Day with hours of endless soaring.

Matthew