Finally we have some more stability in the upper levels.  Today it is unlikely that we will see cumulus.  There is an inversion around 2600m, and with the top temperatures today we are unlikely to make it above 3000m.

A NE flow, so we will be going towards Barco and the Valle de Jerte.  I will try to show you the terrain on google earth 3D in the briefing.  Essentially after 30km the table lands finish and you drop down into a valley with the floor at about 600m asl.  The Valley is a little challenging for landings for the first 15 km.

1500

1pm

Below we have a cross section of the track shown where we can see the winds and potential thermal climb heights between noon and 8pm.

Potential track down Jerte valley and winds at 1800m

cross section along the track above. temp , winds and thermal heights

What happened.

Wind a little bit stronger than anticipated.  Barco for many and beyond for Philipe this morning.  Most of the group made Barco on the evening flight.

Hopefully this will be the last day we must suffer bad weather.  Raining hard this morning at set to do so for much of the day.  The wind is in the right direction and not to strong to fly from the main site, Peña Negra if conditions allow at the end of the day.

Not a good day for any sort  of activity.  Maybe a trip to Avila if some are interested.  Though if the rain stays heavy then it does not seem too interesting.

Looking much more favourable tomorrow and for the rest of the week.

skew 1500

1 pm

Capped vertical development again so we should escape storms.  Plenty of upper level cloud so that might slow things down and allow us some dynamic soaring at Lastra.   Another poor day but  we may get something out of it this morning so we will leave a bit before 10am once again.

Winds are likely to  become a little fierce again.  Early on the sun should straighten it up at lastra, but for the evening it is likely to be strong and crossed again….and maybe rain!

1500

A SW wind around 15km/hr at take off level and  rising to around 35- 40km/hr at cloud base.  Wind bars on forecast seems stronger on the south side of the Gredos so I am not sure going to Pedro Bernardo is the best option, especially since I believe the wind will probably come onto Peña Negra later in the day.  I think our best option is probably an earlish trip to La Lastra and then Peña negra later in the day.

There is a nice inversion starting around 3100 m which should cap much of the vertical development in the clouds.

Yet again not an easy day, but at least we have the opportunity to try to fly today.

We will leave around 9.45 to 10 am for Lastra de Cano (about 20km away by road)

1pm

skew T

After the big storm of last night and rain this morning we finally got an evening fly down.  things are looking a little better for tomorrow.  Today Puri took some of the group to the Sierra de Francia for a walk.  I stayed home and managed to finish of a few caricatures.  Pete Douglas from the Avon club and Dave Allen from Derbyshire.

Dave Allen

Pete Douglas

The Cbs have been hammering all night and continue this morning.  Wind, somewhat irrelevant, but SW and moderate.  No chance today as I am sure you have realised.  The walking situation could be tricky too if this rain continues.  A jaunt to Avila for lunch and tourism comes to mind, or we wait to see if the rain eases.

1500

Below are the next 3 days point forecast for Piedrahita and Pedro Bernardo.  Better, but the wind is top end.

Pedro Bernardo

Piedrahita

There is a glitch in XC skies at the moment so I cannot get out the usual 3 day forecast.  However, looking at the maps the wind does seem at the moment that it will be too much on both days from where we are looking at it tonight.

saturday

Friday

As expected, but also with some nice strong wind thrown in from the SW.  Cyclogenesis and other biblical terms.  Wind over the back at main site, too scary to go to Lastra.  Electrical storms since early in the morning further north according to the news.  We shall have to find something else to do.  I will be around at 10.30 am to see what we can do.. visits, activities etc.

1 pm

skew T 1500

My Illustration for the X-Alper.  Out now in XC Magazine

The X Alper

1pm

3pm

The low pressure becomes more of a feature today so we must make an earlier move to try to get some safe flying done.  XC will be unlikely , unless it is getting stuck at altitude and running from the conditions.

At 8.30 the wind at take off a light SE.  If this persists when we arrive then we will go directly to Chia.  the later forecast shows SW, so once again also likely to come onto Peña Negra, but by then it may be too stormy.  We will try to get going and leave the house by 10 am.