Right Site Weather Apr 15, 2023

Paragliding Weather Forecast for Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton areas, based on data available at 0800.

Low pressure with cloudy skies to rain.

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft SE to 30 km/hr. Valley wind ESE outflow 25 gusting to 35 km/hr.  iP3 intermediate peak lapse rate -2.5C/1000ft.

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft S to 35 km/hr.  Valley winds SW to 10 km/hr. iP2 intermediate peak lapse rate -2.4C/1000ft.  

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

Paragliding not recommended today in Chilliwack, Vancouver, Pemberton, Whistler, Bellingham or Seattle due to low cloud base, scattered showers to rain and S to SE 3000ft winds aloft to 35 km/hr.

Right Site Weather Apr 9, 2023

Paragliding Weather Forecast for Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton areas, based on data available at 0800.

Low pressure with cloudy skies to rain.

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft S to 76 km/hr becoming SW and easing later in afternoon to 44 km/hr. Valley wind ESE outflow 30 gusting to 50 km/hr.  iP2 Novice peak lapse rate -2.2C/1000ft.

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft S-SW to 85 km/hr.  Valley winds S and gusting to 55 km/hr.  iP2 Novice peak lapse rate -1.4C/1000ft.  

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

Paragliding not recommended today in Chilliwack, Vancouver, Pemberton, Whistler, Bellingham or Seattle due to low cloud base, scattered showers to rain and strong gusty SE to S 30-55 km/hr in valleys and S to SW 3000ft winds aloft to 85 km/hr.

Right Site Weather Apr 8, 2023

Paragliding Weather Forecast for Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton areas, based on data available at 0800.

Low pressure with cloudy skies to rain.

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft SE to 63 km/hr easing later afternoon to 35 km/hr. Valley wind SE outflow 30 gusting to 50 km/hr.  Advanced peak lapse rate -2.9C/1000ft.

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft SW 70 km/hr easing to 52 km/hr.  Valley winds S and gusting to 35 km/hr.  Novice peak lapse rate -1.9C/1000ft.  

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

Paragliding not recommended today in Chilliwack, Vancouver, Pemberton, Whistler, Bellingham or Seattle due to low cloud base, scattered showers to rain and strong gusty SE to SW 30-50 km/hr in valleys and SE to SW 3000ft winds alfot to 70 km/hr.

Book Now to Take Flight in 2023

[Article Update.

Paragliding Season has closed for 2023.  We are already well underway with bookings for our 2024season, 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.  

Right Site Weather Oct 15, 2022

Paragliding Weather Forecast for the Vancouver, Whistler, Pemberton, Chilliwack, Bellingham & Seattle area, based on data available at 0800.

High pressure with mostly sunny skies with some haze.  Smoke and PM2.5 air quality advisory for east Fraser valley including Chilliwack and Hope due to wild fires. 

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft E to 30 km/hr throughout the day.  Valley winds NW at water and E outflow winds in Chilliwack to 20 km/hr easing late afternoon.  Novice peak lapse rate -0.9C/1000ft.

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft SE to 54 km/hr.  Valley winds N to 10 km/hr. Novice peak lapse rate -1.6C/1000ft.

Paragliding not recommended today in Vancouver, Whistler, Pemberton, Chilliwack, Bellingham & Seattle area due to outflow winds in valley and strong E winds aloft placing most sites in lee-side.  Outflow winds also bringing inland smoke, with a health advisory issued for PM2.5 fine smoke particulate, that is also reducing thermalling possibilities in Chilliwack.