11am
1400
1700
1pm trough across the Penisnsula
winds at 2400m
conditions along track
Today we have a trough lying across us with the corresponding risk of overdevelopment. Winds start light and generally south and move around more to the west strengthening and then dropping off by early afternoon at ground level.
This maybe an OK day to fly, but we may have to go to Lastra early on and must be vigilant of the developing clouds.
Still protected by the Azores anticyclone we still felt the effect of a trough passing through the N of Spain yesterday. Also today a cold front passes to the NE of the Peninsula. The skew T temp trace is similar to yesterday and shows cloud forming with temps in the mid 30s which will allow some congestus clouds, probably significantly deep enough to form rain (snow of high levels of course like yesterday) and possibly storms in the late afternoon.
The winds are higher today and the marked convergence lines we have been getting are absent. Ground level winds upto 20km/hr plus once thermal activity kicks in.
Trigger temp at 12 am is 30ºC with no real inversion below 3000m so the climbs will be good when it gets going, but that maybe late again, though you may need to take of earlier today due to the likely hood of strong winds and turbulence at launch.
Probably a flyable day and some will go far, but not such an enjoyable day as those we have been having.
1pm
1500
track
conditions along track
surface winds. nb green is 2okm hr. blue around 5-12
An epic day with fantastic thermic conditions taking us over 4000m along the classic SW convergence line. Marco made the best with 165km. Behind him was Freddie 127km, Alan 111km, Rob 84km and Dave 80km. Martin, Jess and John were in Avila and the rest of the group between the Pass and Avila. All in all an epic day. 200km for some of the competitors in the Iberian Open I imagine.
postions
We continue within the Azores high, although low pressure is slowly moving in from the west increasing a little the instability. Today has an enormous potential for Open XC. a little more wind than previous days and a higher base with possible clouds forming at 5200m later in the afternoon. A 200km day for sure, though it will be difficult in the NOTAM area with the height restriction.
1pm
track and winds at 2400m
conditions along track
12
1500
surface winds
Rob made his PB on distance, duration and height gain. Likewise Jeff, and also the first 100km O& return for Alan and Marco I think. An great day with climbs to 4300m, light winds and convergence.
Rob Simpson
Once again quite a high trigger temp, c 32ºC, but more wind from the SW which means we can continue with greater ease after Avila. Convergence throughout most of the route to Segovia and beyond. A classic Piedrahita open XC day. Take off time probably similar to yesterday.
1pm
1500
track, winds at 2400m
conditions over time along track
early afternoon
surface winds late afternoon.
The Azores anticyclone in place and a heat low forming over the Peninsula. Classic normal conditions for very good XC conditions here in central Spain.
The upper level flow in the boundary layer is from the SW, however, winds are light so the vally breezes will dominate and convergence will be important for us today. If you look at the surface winds airflow for 2pm you can see in the lightest blue the convergence running SW NE. Ground winds do swing more to the N and NE beyond Avila, which is typical and makes going a long long way difficult. We can try to get to Segovia or we can do an out and return to Avila…….or some such thing in between, depending upon luck and stamina I suppose.
I will be at the house for briefing between 10.30 and 11am. Good soaring conditions are unlikely before 1.30 2pm, so we do not need to rush.
1pm
12
15
track and winds at 2400m
track and conditions over time
ground winds
Looks like just maybe the beginning of the end of the Race to day at the X Alps.
Here are a few quick colour sketches looking for the exaggeration in in the faces of of some of the competitors. Doodles while checking the daily reports and the first stage before spending more time and ensuring the likeness for a full painting.
I have been asked to do a Crigel cartoon by the end of the week for the next edition of XC Magazine about the Cola scandal, so will be concentrating on that one
Good luck to Steve Nash and Richard Bungay with Team GBR today.
caricature sketches x alps
Richard Bungay
Steve Nash
This should be a simple day for easy XC and good for a closed circuit competion task.
Theremal trigger temp around 30ºC with an inversion early on at 2600 which moves above 3000m. We should get good quality thermal climbs to around 3200m later in the day. Winds generally light with the valley breezes dominating lower down and a W or SW at the top of the boundary layer. The light winds will make the and come in from Avila so we can expect the usual convergences: in line with the mountains by displaced into the Ambles valley, also the large area in the Ambles valley near Muñogalindo due to the penetration of N wind from Avila.
This should be a good day with a possibility of Avila and return for economy of turn points, or any other weave of turn points in either the Piedrahita or Avila valley.
At last a simple classic day!
surface winds 2pm
surface winds Avila
1pm
12
15
conditions along track over time to Avila
A rather brisk SW wind going more W as the day goes on. Potentially an acceptable open XC day but potentially on the strong side for us. Winds are likely to come onto PN, but once again problematic from that site till later in the thermal day.
Inversion around 2100m at midday, rising to 2600 by 1500 hrs capped further up at 3800m.
If the winds are as predicted then we will have nearly 30km/hr at take of level so must wait till the end of the day when the winds are forecast to drop and move more to the NW. However, the wind forecast was way off yesterday, so we will need to have a look earlier on.
1pm
12
1500
1800
wind at 2400
conditions along track over time