Windy.com introduces soaring forecast
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I really appreciate the thermal forecast. It seems to be fairly accurate and lets me know when I should skip a day of work and go soaring.
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@rolle247 Hi, we value your feedback. We will try to improve thermals overall.
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This layer is extremely over-optimistic. It predicts heights for 1000 m or more higher than they are predicted by other methods (and then they really are). Take a look at the screenshot: The Thermals layer predicts 3200 m (which is extremely rare in Czechia) whereas it will actually be around 1890 m (as predicted by another method).
The method used by my plugin has its “proof” in the diagram:
I have no idea how the number coming from the Thermals layer is computed but it's most certainly wrong.
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Hi,Korina,
Excellent addition.
I post an image and some analysis to check and compare
If I understand correctly, the clouds to the upper left, indicate dense cumulus clouds in the area
Then all the area surrounding it, indicates overcast conditions (striped ) as well as upper right corner
All the grey area is no thermals (water)
And the area in the center with varying degrees of white-yellowish colour, indicates thermals with no cumulus, with 800 mts top of thermal in the selected point
However when I look at the Sounding, my interpretation of the sounding is of a somewhat dense stratocumulus clouds layer, with lower cloud base that those 800 mts (by the way, I moved the ticker just in the same spot of the sounding after loading the image and it still shows 800 mts)
Would like to see if there are differences in the way we interpret the soundings, or just something that can be improved in the Thermals Layer
I could not upload a higher resolution picture, but I keep it in case you need it and can be sent via mail or other -
Thanks for adding the thermal forecast, Im sure it will be appreciated by all pilots.
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Can this new product be used to predict turbulent areas for VFR Flying?
In other words: I need to climb "higher" than the thermal tops to have a smooth ride. OR Avoid the area all together if I need to stay at a specific altitude to keep the ride smooth.
I'm assuming that this data is based on daytime heating and convective rising of air?
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Termals height over day would be fine too. And with termal strength :-)
This could be an meteogram addition. -
Excellent feature well done. To make it more usable for me I improved the resolution by choosing a more differentiated color scheme. The image includes wind information but not clear at which altitude. I assume ground level ?
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@dziubdzius Try plugin sounding:
https://www.windy.com/plugins -
@prepond yes please!!
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@korina AROME will be much more accurate for W Europe... altitude fields are available in many places, is there a way to improve in that way?
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@guy_bottlaender
Windy uses the 1.3km version of AROME and this version does not provide altitude parameters, only the 2.5km version offers such parameters. -
Понятно, спасибо
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Thanks for this upgrade - really looking forward to test it now in the middle of the gliding season. Would also be nice if in the future a prognosis of thermal strength is indicated.
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@ingebjorn @bcrosby @Avolar1 @EduardoSG @DiscoverPG Hi, with the new update, Thermals are now also available for NAM model.
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Hello Filip.
I'd like to ask You if it's possibble to add Cu clouds icons in black?
It will be better to analyse than the white ones.
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@eduardosg Hello, Thermals and Sounding use the same data, however the result is calculated differently, that is the reason you are getting a slightly different outcome.
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Useful addition for glider pilots to summarise the ifo from other layers, airgram and meteogram. Thermal strength is important, as is cloudbase, perhaps these could be combined on one layer with colours for strength and contours for cloudbase?
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Good day
I have been using Windy for couple of years in sailing.
One of my main routes for sailing is Bass Strait, between Melbourne/Queenscliff and Tasmania, well known as the toughest passage. For those people who does not know much about it, the race Sydney to Hobart is passing just there.
As many sailors, ordinary people are quite often there, sailing, I have an idea of collecting data from these people as the most accurate collection of position, wind speed, direction and temperature. As communication have improved over the last decade, now is much easier to participate. Collection from the local stations, - from local islands will as well be a good source to accomplish the real picture of the weather.
Main reason for this idea is one of my last trip from Stanley, Tasmania to Melbourne. Windy prediction was 26kn, actually it has been most of the trip over 36kn. It was tough cruise.Regards from Melbourne
Boba -
@bobailik Hi, real-time data can be shared via weather station, you can register it here stations.windy.com.
