Summer is awesome with the warm winds and cool Lake Tahoe. This is top tourist season for flying and Lake Tahoe in general. By June summer has kicked in but July, August and September are the most popular times for Lake Tahoe. 

Fall is spectacular with calm winds and leaves turning and creating spectacular colors. October, November and December are quiet with most of the summer Lake Tahoe activities shut down but this is a great time for flying. The winds are calm and the thermals are dying out for their winter hibernation. Depending on the season, November and December can be clear and calm, or stormy and windy. 

Winter is nice because you can fly all day and take a break from skiing. January, February and March are prime winter skiing and you can fly all day in good weather. If course if there are winter storms we stop flying and go skiing. We do not argue with mother nature. But on calm winter days flying is nice and a great break from skiing.

Seasonal Weather at Lake Tahoe Temperature Rain and Snow

Listed below is the South Lake Tahoe Airport average temperatures, record temperatures along with rain and snow averages and extremes. Note this is at Lake level and the mountains at higher altitude will be colder, and have more snow/rain.

]]> http://hangglidingtahoe.com/best-lake-tahoe-weather/feed/ 0 http://hangglidingtahoe.com/lake-tahoe-flying-weather/ http://hangglidingtahoe.com/lake-tahoe-flying-weather/#comments Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:16:32 +0000 Paul http://hangglidingtahoe.com/?p=807 finish reading Lake Tahoe Flying Weather]]> Deciding the weather conditions for flying is an important task. There are typically three important factors used to determine the weather.

First is the horizontal winds.

These are the classical winds that most of us know and understand. Typically, the winds come up in the afternoon and make flying less enjoyable. Typically what happens is the upper winds are blowing all the time but come down to the ground where we notice them as the sun heats the air on the ground allowing the upper winds to reach the ground. Many times in the morning, it can be calm on the ground and blowing 30 MPH at 10,000 feet over the mountain peaks. It is possible to fly in these conditions but only early in the morning. For weather conditions such as this, you takeoff in calm air, climb through some bumps, and can reach some smooth air above the mountain peaks. This is not always the case, sometimes it continues to be bumpy above the mountain peaks. 

How do you tell what the winds are blowing up high if it is calm on the ground? Typically, for the news type weather report, the reported winds in the afternoon are the winds aloft that will reach the ground in the afternoon. The BEST winds aloft forecast is the aviation weather service graphic prediction of winds aloft. You choose the top left elevation of 9,000 feet and the time to the left, and you get a graphic prediction of the winds at altitude. Shown to the right is the US with the Lake Tahoe regional winds below 15 knots at 9,000 feet. Looks good for flying. You must select the time in UTC/Zulu time in England which is local time + 7 hours summer DST, and + 8  hours winter PST. Typically if the winds are below 15 knots it is pretty smooth, between 15 and 20 – bumpy (light blue), and between 20 and 30 (darker blue) pretty bumpy. Above 30 knots the flight is canceled because it is to bumpy to enjoy. Additionally, there are Slide Mountain/MtRose Ski area mountain top observations of what it has been blowing abd the trends of what it is doing over the day. I use this while flying to observe trends and actual changes over the day.

Second is the vertical winds

This is pretty simple. Besides the horizontal winds creating the vertival winds, the verticel winds are created from the sun heating terrain and the hot air rising. When the hot air rises, air falls around this to replace the rising air. This thermal activity can become bumpy after 9:00 AM in the mid summer and 11:00 AM in the mid winter. These times vary greatly depending on how fast the air cools with altitude. To the right shows a cumulus cloud forming which tells us the thermals are starting to form and the air is starting to get bumpy. The greatest vertical winds are on days where it colder significantly with altitude (more than 2 degrees C per 1000 feet). Days with significant cooling , plus enough moisture in the air are ”thunderstorms predicted”. The lowest vertical winds are on days when there is haze predicted. Generally, the earlier in the morning the less vertical winds. This is why we like to fly in the mornings because there is less vertical winds and more comfortable to fly. 

Third is visibility

Nothing wrong with clouds but to many clouds or fog can stop us from flying. Lake Tahoe is generally in a dry climate and typically low visibility is when storm fronts move through or thunderstorms develop. 

Shown above is South Lake Tahoe clear and sunny while North lake Tahoe is overcast and cloudy.

How can you tell what the different conditions and forecasts are around the lake? If you listen to the news or general forecasts, they provide general forecasts.

The best forecasts are from our tax paid National Weather service. Go to the source.

Here are links to some of the areas in Lake Tahoe. Note that you can click on a specific location on the map and will get a specific forecast for that area.

South Lake Tahoe (lake level)

South Lake Tahoe (top of Heavenly Valley Ski area 9000 feet)

Truckee

Incline Village (lake level)

Spooner Pass Summit Route 50 (7100 feet)

Carson City

Reno

Once you’ve booked your Hang Gliding Tahoe flight, TripAdvisor.com is a great place for unbiased reviews, articles, recommendations and opinions on Carson City and things to do in Carson City.

Some of our favorite things to do in Carson is eat. There are several fun and fine restaurants you just don’t want to miss.

We’ve always had great meals and service at these personal favorites:

• Starbucks for Coffee and Snacks.
• Cracker Box Restaurant for good Breakfast Food. I’m partial to the Spinach Omelette and home fries.
• Z Bistro for fabulous French Bistro fare.
• Adele’s Restaurant and Lounge for fine American, Delicatessen, and Seafood.
• Red’s Old 395 Grill for fun and great food. The ribs are the best!

When you are in Carson City, a short drive to a most interesting attraction is Virginia City, where mining was big during the gold rush. You’ve gotta visit the Bucket of Blood, for a rip roaring good time and take an underground tour of the Ponderosa Mine from the back of the Ponderosa Saloon. The kids will love it and it’s facinating for the big kids (adults).

If you’ve got a favorite thing to do around Carson City, please share it with us.

Q. How safe is powered hang gliding?
A. We have a 100% safety record and the Apollo Trike has been tested for 6 G-forces positive and 3 G’s negative, that’s higher than most conventional airplanes. This is a FAA approved special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA) tested to strict industry standards. It is maintained and inspected by FAA certified mechanics. We also only fly in fair weather with a backup ballistic parachute system making this safer than other aircraft.

Q. Is there an age or weight limit?
A. People from age 6 to 87 have experienced this uplifting adventure. The weight limit is 250 pounds. This is one of the limitations developed by the manfacturer and is therefore the legal limit by the FAA. Therefore, if you weigh more than 250 pounds, we can not take you up.

Q. What about the weather? How often do you cancel due to weather?
A. With aviation, weather is always a consideration. We utilize all NOA and FAA flight service information available. With this in mind, it is best to book your reservations in advance at the beginning of your vacation, so if we do have a bad weather day we can reschedule you while you are here. We will contact you on your mobile phone as soon as possible, usually the night before or in the morning if there are any changes due to inclement weather. It is usually the winds aloft (high altitude winds) over the mountain passes that make flying less comfortable because of the bumps that we want to avoid.

Q. How should I dress?
A. Because of the altitudes we will be flying at, it is recommended that you bring shoes and sox with no open toed shoes. Long pants and a light jacket or sweatshirt are advised if you get cold easily. We provide a flight suit which fits over your normal clothing. Generally, if you come dressed and comfortable for the temperature outside or driving over the mountain pass, the flight suit will keep you warm with the wind and altitude gain. We have heated gloves for the colder days. It is like riding a motorcycle high in the mountains.

Q. What happens if the engine quits?
A. The Apollo Trike is a powered hang glider designed for safely gliding to a landing area with or without power whether the engine quits or is shut down on purpose.

Q. Is the engine very loud?
A. The engine has a four blade prop turning slowly, an intake silencer and an exhaust silencer all designed for noise reduction. In addition to the aircraft noise reduction features, you will also be wearing an intercom noise canceling headset which reduces the sound of the engine and allows clear communication during your flight with the instructor.

Q. My wife and I want to go at the same time, can we?
A. One of the good things about this experience is also why the answer to this question is “no”. This is a unique one-on-one instructional flight experience and the aircraft is designed for only one student and one instructor. Each of you will have an individual experience, but will be able to share in each other’s joy after each flight. There are few places in the world where Powered Hang Gliding is available and it is a one on one experience. Each person goes up with FAA flight instructor Paul individually.

Q. How does this compare to a Balloon ride?
A. A balloon ride is floating not flying. You are suspended in one place. It is like sitting on a park bench in one place that goes up and down, rather than going somewhere and seeing more areas which you can do in the powered hang glider. In a balloon ride you are packed in with a number of people and go up and down. In the powered hang glider you have your personal pilot/instructor and go where you want and as high as you want. You are in control with the powered hang glider, you can do the flying if you want. Although we generally fly early in the morning same as balloons, we fly much later in the day so you do not have to get up quite so early. We can fly all day in the higher winds but we attempt to be finished by 11:00 AM in the summer to provide a smoother and more enjoyable experience before the air “bumps” get uncomfortable.

Q. How does this compare with a sailplane ride or soaring?
A. The biggest difference is that in a sailplane, you are inside. In the powered hang glider you are outside. It is like the difference of being inside a car or outside like on a motorcycle. The visibility is much better in the powered hand glider because you can look down rather than just out the side of the sailplane. The sail plane is generally a “ride” rather than a lesson where you get to fly the powered hang glider if you want and have a FAA certified flight instructor at your side. Typically the sailplane flies in the smooth air where you tow up and glide right down, or in the bumpy air where you circle around in one place to gain altitude. In a sailplane you need to stay near the airport and high so you can safely glide back where a powered hang glider you can explore where ever you want, get low, skin the ground and climb back up. The sailplane is quieter with now engine, but the powered hang glider has high tech noise canceling headsets so it is more quiet than you would expect. For those who want the complete silence of the sailplane or the unpowered hang glider, the engine can be shut off in flight and restarted no problem.

Q. How does this compare with parasailing?
A. Parasailing is getting dragged behind a boat like water skiing, except you go a couple hundred feet into the air. Very little control. Parasailing can be done at almost any popular lake similar to water skiing where powered hang gliding can be done at few places in the world.

Q. How does it compare to a helicopter tour?
A. A helicopter tour is where you are inside like being inside a car or a tour bus. A powered hang glider you are outside like being on a motorcycle. The visibility in a powered hang glider is much better since you can see out both sides. Sometimes in a helicopter, you can be in the middle and not see very well out either side, or at least not be able to see out one side or the other. Another big difference is that in a helicopter, you cannot fly it yourself you want to. Helicopters are very difficult and tricky to fly so you can not try to control it yourself. The powered Hang Glider is easy to fly so you can fly it yourself if you want. It is the simplest and easiest aircraft to learn to fly and many people start flying it right after takeoff until final approach for landing.

Q. How does this compare with Skydiving?
A. Skydiving is very quick. You are packed into the airplane for the long climb, typically not able to see out, than you jump out, freefall, open the chute and glide back to the landing area. Skydiving is one of the most adrenalin pumping, thrilling and extreme sports there is. However, you do not see much and it is over quickly. Typically you are more focused on the falling and the anticipation of the parachute opening rather than looking around and enjoying the area.

If you have browsed through our web site and don’t see your question mentioned here, call us at 775.772.8232 or email us at Paul@HangGlidingTahoe.com

Once you’ve booked your Hang Gliding Tahoe flight, TripAdvisor.com is a great place for unbiased reviews, articles, recommendations and opinions on Lake Tahoe Adventures and Lake Tahoe.

Some of our favorite things to do are hike the Tahoe Rim Trail, mountain bike the Flume Trail, kayak the shoreline of Lake Tahoe, or tube the Truckee River.

Although nothing compares with the uniqueness and thrill of powered Hang gliding, Lake Tahoe offers skydiving, hot air ballooning, parasailing, paragliding, soaring/sail planes, boat lake cruises, river rafting, helicopter tours and many other adventure activities.

When you are in Carson City a short drive to a most most interesting visit is Virginia City where mining was big during the gold rush. Take a tour of an underground mine. Very interesting.

If you’ve got a favorite thing to do around Tahoe, please share it with us.

The comments on this web site are moderated, which means that before any comments are posted, they are reviewed by me.

Look forward to your comments!
Paul Hamilton, CFI

Comment Posting Guidelines

This web site is intended to be a place to answer your questions, educate and entertain you, as you explore the basics of ultralight flying.

This web sites is not intended to be a direct line of communication with Paul Hamilton on things not related to hangglidingtahoe.com. This is a heads up that all comments will be moderated and won’t be posted if they don’t meet the following guidelines.

• Please stay on-topic.
• No offensive language.
• No self-serving or flagrant promotion of goods, sites or services. We may remove any URL for any reason.
• No personal attacks (hostile, derogatory or deliberately insulting comments toward a specific individual or group).
• No flaming (posting comments intended to induce an angry response).
• Original material only.
• You must be over the age of 13.
• If you have customer service issues, business propositions, partnership pitches, or employment issues please go to the contact us page.
• We reserve the right to not post or remove any comments at any time for any reason.
• Please note: if a portion of a comment is not allowable, the entire comment will not be posted.

How to Make A Comment On Our Web Site

Below every post is a Comments or No Comment link. Click on that Link, then at the bottom of the page, below “Leave A Comment”, enter your comment and data, then click the Submit Comment button and you’re done!