Right Site Weather Apr 28, 2024

Paragliding Weather Forecast for the Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton area, based on data available at 0700.

Low pressure pressure with strong valley winds and winds aloft and rain and chance of thunderstorm in mountain areas throughout. 

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft SW to 30 km/hr.  Valley winds gusting to 30 km/hr. Advanced Peak Lapse Rate at -3.1C/1000ft. 

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft SW to 50 km/hr. Valley winds SSW to 40 km/hr. Advanced Peak Lapse Rate at -2.7C/1000ft. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

Paragliding is not recommended today with rain, strong winds and possibility of thunderstorm in mountain areas of Chilliwack, Vancouver and Pemberton, Bellingham and Seattle .

Right Site Weather Apr 27, 2024

Paragliding Weather Forecast for the Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton area, based on data available at 0700.

Low pressure pressure with to with strong valley winds and winds aloft and rain throughout. 

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft SW to 25 km/hr becoming SE to 40 km/hr. Valley winds to gusting to 30 km/hr. light and variable.  Novice Peak Lapse Rate at -2.3C/1000ft. 

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft SW to 54 km/hr. Valley winds SSW to 20 km/hr. Intermediate Peak Lapse Rate at -2.4C/1000ft. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

Paragliding is not recommended today with rain and strong winds throughout in Chilliwack, Vancouver and Pemberton, Bellingham and Seattle 

Right Site Weather Apr 21, 2024

Paragliding Weather Forecast for the Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton area, based on data available at 0700.

Transitioning pressure to with high pressure partially wedging below low pressure.  Watch for progressively clouding of skies and increasing chance of precipitation in mountain areas, and gusty winds with advance lapse rate.  Possibility of over-development and risk of thunderstorm in Bellingham.

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft light and variable.  Winds aloft forecast is suspect. Vancouver Valley wind SSW gusting to 20 km/hr and to 40 km/hr in afternoon. Chilliwack Valley wind SW 20 gusting to 40 km/hr.  Advanced Peak Lapse Rate at -3.3C/1000ft. 

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft SW to 26 km/hr becoming light and variable. Valley winds SSW to 15 km/hr. Advanced Peak Lapse Rate at -3.5C/1000ft. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

Paragliding is not recommended today with 30-40% POP and gusty winds 40 to 50 km/hr in valleys in Chilliwack, Vancouver and Pemberton.  Seattle with instability and 40% POP, paragliding not recommended. Bellingham with added risk of Thunderstorm: do NOT paraglide in Bellingham area today. 

Right Site Weather Apr 20, 2024

Paragliding Weather Forecast for the Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton area, based on data available at 0700.

Transitioning pressure to low with progressively clouding of skies, increasing chance of precipitation in late afternoon in mountain areas, and possibility of front arrival with high gust winds, strong lapse rate and over-development. 

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft ESE to 37 km/hr becoming WSW to 26 km/hr.  Vancouver Valley wind E to 20 gusting to 40 km/hr becoming SW 40 gusting to 60 km/hr. Chilliwack Valley wind NW 20 gusting to 40 km/hr, becoming SW 30 gusting to 50 km/hr. XXX Peak Lapse Rate at -3.8C/1000ft. 

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft SSE to 33 km/hr becoming SE gusting to 46 km/hr.  Valley winds NNE gusting to 26 km/hr becoming WSW gusting to 40 km/hr. XXX Peak Lapse Rate at -3.5C/1000ft. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

Today's forecast looks un-safe for paragliding today with the proximity of jet stream, arrival of low early afternoon, XXX lapse rate, forecast for gusty winds exceeding 40 km/hr throughout and possibility of over-development:  PARAGLIDING PILOT'S ADVISORY: DO NOT FLY in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Pemberton, Bellingham and Seattle areas today. 

Book Now for 2024 Paragliding

(Article Update Feb 2024. We are already well underway with bookings for our 2024 season, commencing April 1, 2024. We run a quality school teaching in small group sizes and tend to sell out our season early. Booking at your earliest possibility to secure a spot is recommended. If you want to take your first steps towards becoming a paraglider pilot, please contact us here.)

Nearing the start of October, in our seasonal loop around the sun, solar delivery is shorter and brings with it a spectacular show of fall colours.  It also foreshadows the end of student paragliding season in Greater Vancouver, Pemberton, Chilliwack, and Seattle areas. 

Low pressure systems form off the coast and track inland, bringing a significant increase in rain October through March. 

Cold air on the mountains begins to dominate and sink down the mountain sides, creating Katabatic downhill winds.  The shorter days mean the land mass rarely gets a chance to heat up, and so the Land Breeze begins to dominate, creating Northeast, East and Southeast Outflow winds.   Katabatic and Outflow winds combine increasing the amplitude and blowing over the back of our predominately West facing paragliding launches, often creating unsafe, turbulent lee-side conditions. You can read a detailed article on how Outflow and Katabatic winds "Conspire" (here).

As the temperature drops, snowfall makes most of our paragliding 4X4 access roads become impassable at the higher elevations. 

We typically shut Student training courses down for the rainy-outflow season on or before the Thanksgiving weekend of October. 

But not all days are like this in the off-season.  Occasionally the sun comes out and West In-flow and Anabatic winds develop. On those magical days, determined Intermediate and Advanced pilots put on their crampons and/or snowshoes and are treated to beautiful treks into snowy peaks and serene flying.

For the majority of paragliding pilots it is an opportune time to cosy up indoors and review and make equipment adjustments and read up on weather and flying techniques to prepare for the spring and the new season, April through September.

For still others, that have never flown before, a great time to make plans and take action for renewal and taking to the sky in the spring.  

If you want to secure your opportunity to fly with us in 2024,  please contact us here.