Right Site Paragliding Weather: April 10, 2021

Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Squamish, Whistler & Pemberton area paragliding weather forecast, based on data available at 05:00.

Transitioning pressure brings strong gusty west wind and 30-60% POP throughout. Jet Stream is proximate to being overhead, increasing instability. 

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft NW to 52 km/hr easing to 41 km/hr as day progresses. Valley winds W 33 km/hr gusting to 50 km/hr and easing late in the day. XXX peak lapse rate -3.2C/1000ft.  

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft NW to 13 km/hr and becoming N to 15 km/hr.  Valley winds WNW to 18 km/hr gusting to 30 km/hr. XXX peak lapse rate -3.3C/1000ft. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

Paragliding PILOTS ADVISORY: DO NOT FLY jet stream near overhead causing gusty winds 30-60% POP extreme lapse rate and possibility of OD in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Whistler, Pemberton, Bellingham and Seattle.  

Right Site Paragliding Weather: April 4, 2021

Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Squamish, Whistler & Pemberton area paragliding weather forecast, based on data available at 10:00.

Transitioning pressure brings wind, clearing skies in select areas including Vancouver and Abbotsford.

30-50% POP in Chilliwack, Whistler, Pemberton and Seattle.

Bellingham with progressively clearing skies.

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft NW to 24 km/hr easing to 15 km/hr as day progresses. Valley winds WNW 45 km/hr gusting to 58 km/hr and easing late in the day. Advanced peak lapse rate -2.9C/1000ft.  

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft N to 22 km/hr and easing to 17 km/hr.  Valley winds N to 16 km/hr. Advanced peak lapse rate -2.7C/1000ft. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

1. Paragliding Bellingham: -2.9C/1000ft: Advanced peak lapse rate. Watch out for possible N wind aloft and if problematic do not fly.  Blanchard for P4 pilots 1100-1700  Paragliding chances 60%.  

Paragliding is not recommended in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Whistler, Pemberton and Seattle due to mixed skies, up to 50% POP, gusty winds in the valley and North winds aloft exceeding 20 km/hr placing the majority of sites in lee-side conditions.

Register for 2021 Season Now

[Article update for April 2021. For some time now, we have been taking bookings for our 2021 season, commencing April 10, 2021.  We run a quality school teaching in small group sizes and tend to sell out our season early. As of April 1, 2021, we are already 70% booked our courses for this season.   Booking at your earliest possiblity to secure a spot is recommended. If you want to take your first steps towards becoming a paraglider pilot, please contact us here.]

Near the end 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 2021,  please contact us here.  

Right Site Paragliding Weather: Oct 12, 2020

Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Squamish, Whistler & Pemberton area paragliding weather forecast, based on data available at 1000.

Transitioning pressure brings mixed skies to Vancouver, Chilliwack, Whistler, and Pemberton.

Seattle and Bellingham with progressively clearing skies.

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft W to 33 km/hr easing to SW at 13 km/hr. Valley winds WSW gusting to 30 km/hr and easing as the day progresses. Intermediate peak lapse rate -2.4C/1000ft.  

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft light and variable becoming SSW to 10 km/hr. Valley winds SSW to 5 km/hr. Advanced peak lapse rate -2.7C/1000ft. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

1. Paragliding Bellingham: -2.5C/1000ft: Intermediate peak lapse rate. Blanchard for P2 pilots 1100-1500 and 1600-1800, with possible P3 conditions 1500-1600. Paragliding chances 80%.  

2. Paragliding Seattle: -2.7C/1000ft: Advanced peak lapse rate. Wait for early cloud to lift. Tiger for P2 pilots 1100-1400 with P3 to P4 advanced conditions 1400-1800.  70% chances for paragliding.

Paragliding is not recommended in Vancouver and Chilliwack, Whistler and Pemberton today due to mostly cloudy skies and strong W wind aloft and in the valley till late afternoon. 

Right Site Paragliding Weather: Sep 27, 2020

Paragliding weather forecast for Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Squamish, Whistler & Pemberton areas, based on data available at 0800.

Low Pressure brings mostly cloudy skies, low cloud base and showers in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Whistler and Pemberton. 

Seattle and Bellingham with progressively clearing skies.

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft SE to 9 km/hr easing to light and variable.  Valley E to 10 km/hr. Novice peak lapse rate -2.0C/1000ft.  

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft light and variable becoming N to 10 km/hr. Valley winds S to 5 km/hr. Novice peak lapse rate -1.8C/1000ft. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

1. Paragliding Seattle: -1.8C/1000ft: Novice peak lapse rate. Wait for early cloud to lift. Tiger for P2 pilots 1100 -1800.  70% chances for paragliding.

2. Paragliding Bellingham: -1.6C/1000ft: Novice peak lapse rate. Blanchard for P2 pilots 1000-1800. Paragliding chances 80%.  

Paragliding is not recommended in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Whistler, Pemberton, today due to mostly cloudy skies and showers.