Weather and Go No Go

Weather and Go/No-Go Thinking

Weather is both the engine of soaring and a primary risk source. Forecast tools support decisions; they do not make them.

Build the picture in layers

1. Big picture: fronts, pressure, air mass, stability, moisture.
2. Regional hazards: convection, wind, turbulence, precipitation, ceilings/visibility.
3. Local reality: observations, terrain effects, runway alignment, gusts, field condition.
4. Trend: improving, stable, or deteriorating—and confidence in that assessment.
5. Operational fit: crew, aircraft, pilot/student capability, task, daylight, alternatives.

Soaring-specific questions

• Where is lift likely to begin, peak, and decay?
• What cloud growth could shift from helpful to hazardous?
• How will wind affect tow, pattern, drift, outlanding options, and ground handling?
• What are the stop triggers before launching?

Useful sources

• 1800WXBrief
• Aviation Weather Center
• Dr. Jack
• XCSkies
• Lightning Maps

Always use current official information appropriate to the flight.