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Rainbow Valley - West Patterson

AZ
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Showing Paragliding — switch wings up top ↑
Not flyable
Low confidence · 6 of 6 models agree · Run: HRRR
Rain likely — 6% chance, 0.12"/hr
NESW 6° N
Wind now: N (6°) Green = in the window · amber = cross/edge · red = wrong way
Wind
46
mph base
Gusts
49
mph
Direction
N
6°
Aloft
49
N @ridge
Thermals
Good
base ~8545ft
Temp
78°
F
Cloudbase
9,529
ft MSL
Elevation
984
ft MSL
Flyable Caution / slim window Not flyable
What we look for here
  • Wind directionNE (45°) → SE (135°)
  • Ideal speed3–12 mph
  • Upper limits≤ 15 mph base · gusts ≤ 18

Flatland WINCH/PAYOUT TOW site, not a ridge/mountain launch — part of the Rainbow Valley tow complex SW of Phoenix, run by Arizona Tow Group (~$40/day winch fee, year-round, unlimited tows). The "West Patterson" launch lane is oriented for NE/E/SE wind (paraglidingEarth octants, all rated 2), but the operation has four launch areas so they can tow into whatever wind direction is present, making direction far less constraining than a soaring site. Ideal is LIGHT, smooth wind (calm to ~12 mph) for safe towing and good thermal release; strong or gusty wind makes towing dangerous. Desert thermal site — best flying is mid-morning to early afternoon for thermals; midday can get strong/rough and dust devils are a hazard. Towing requires a tow rating/competency and supervised operation. Speed limits inferred from general payout-tow safety practice, not a published club number.

Next 7 days How calls are made

Today Flyable flyable 6am–2pm
6a
10g17
SSE
7a
17g24
SE
8a
19g25
SE
9a
14g15
SSE
10a
9g11
SSE
11a
9g10
SSE
12p
1g3
WSW
1p
4g6
N
2p
3g6
E
3p
6g8
SW
4p
12g14
WNW
5p
20g22
WSW
6p
46g49
N
Flyable 9am–11am — best around 10am: 9 mph SSE, gusts 11. 2 clean hrs, the rest borderline. Cross-ish wind SSE (151°) — edge of the window.
Tomorrow Slim window flyable 6am
6a
4g4
SE
7a
3g9
SSE
8a
1g7
W
9a
4g8
WNW
10a
7g9
WNW
11a
10g11
W
12p
12g13
W
1p
13g15
W
2p
14g16
W
3p
15g17
W
4p
14g17
W
5p
13g15
WNW
6p
12g14
WNW
Flyable 6am–7am — best around 6am: 4 mph SE, gusts 4. 1 clean hr, the rest borderline. Cross-ish wind SE (144°) — edge of the window.
Wednesday Slim window flyable 6am
6a
6g6
E
7a
4g15
SW
8a
8g11
WSW
9a
10g12
W
10a
10g11
WSW
11a
10g12
W
12p
11g21
WSW
1p
12g23
WSW
2p
13g24
WSW
3p
14g25
WSW
4p
15g26
WSW
5p
15g26
WSW
6p
14g24
WSW
Prime conditions 6am — best around 6am: 6 mph E, gusts 6.
Thursday Not flyable no window
6a
6g11
SSW
7a
8g14
SSW
8a
9g16
SSW
9a
8g16
SSW
10a
7g15
SSW
11a
6g15
SW
12p
7g16
SW
1p
9g18
SW
2p
10g20
SW
3p
11g20
SW
4p
11g20
WSW
5p
12g21
WSW
6p
12g21
SW
Wind's out of the SW most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.
Friday Flyable flyable 6am–11am
6a
4g7
E
7a
5g10
E
8a
5g13
E
9a
5g14
ESE
10a
6g14
SE
11a
6g13
SSE
12p
6g14
S
1p
7g14
SW
2p
9g14
SW
3p
11g16
SW
4p
13g17
SW
5p
14g19
SW
6p
13g19
SW
Prime conditions 6am–11am — best around 6am: 4 mph E, gusts 7. Smooth air — little thermal activity.
Saturday Not flyable flyable 8am
6a
3g16
S
7a
4g15
SSE
8a
4g14
SSE
9a
4g12
S
10a
4g10
S
11a
4g9
SSW
12p
5g12
SW
1p
6g15
SW
2p
7g18
WSW
3p
8g20
WSW
4p
8g21
WSW
5p
9g22
WSW
6p
8g23
WSW
Flyable 8am — best around 8am: 4 mph SSE, gusts 14. Cross-ish wind SSE (164°) — edge of the window.
Sunday Not flyable no window
6a
3g18
SSW
7a
2g17
SW
8a
2g15
SW
9a
3g13
WSW
10a
3g11
WSW
11a
4g10
WSW
12p
4g11
W
1p
4g13
W
2p
4g14
W
3p
5g14
W
4p
5g14
W
5p
6g14
W
6p
7g15
WSW
Wind's out of the W most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.
See the full 7-day & hourly forecast
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Conditions are an automated estimate from public forecast models, not a go/no-go call. Always check the sky, talk to locals, and fly within your rating. You are responsible for your own safety.