Pickle Butte

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Flyable

High confidence · 6 of 6 models agree · Run: HRRR

100

Wind now: N (355°) Green = in the window · amber = cross/edge · red = wrong way

Wind

mph base

Gusts

mph

Direction

355°

Aloft

N @ridge

Thermals

Calm

base ~12864ft

Temp

86°

Cloudbase

15,859

ft MSL

Elevation

2,995

ft MSL

Flyable Caution / slim window Not flyable

What we look for here

Wind directionNW (315°) → NE (45°)
Ideal speed6–15 mph
Upper limits≤ 18 mph base · gusts ≤ 22

Pickle Butte (Nampa, ID) is a prominent N-to-NW wind butte/ridge site with three launches. MAIN launch (Red Rock Rd) has hang + PG launches and a windsock and works with any wind from NW through N to NE (315-045). EAST/Kalbus launch favors N to NE. WEST launch (far west side) covers more westerly days, extending the usable arc toward W (250-315 marginal). Ridge-soarable in a steady up-slope breeze and thermic for XC. Best in morning/evening for smooth ridge lift; midday can get strong and thermic/gusty. Hazards: rocky LZ (rough touchdowns), and rotor/lee turbulence if wind backs to the S/SE behind the butte. Easy 2WD road to launch, flyable year-round including winter when mountain sites are snowed in. On private/county land - no littering, shooting, or abuse; mostly a local P2-friendly site but treat strong/thermic days as P3. Ideal/max speeds inferred from general PG safety standards (no explicit club numbers published).

Next 7 days How calls are made

Today Flyable flyable 7am–8pm

6g10

5g18

NNW

8g12

NNW

10a

7g9

NNW

11a

7g8

12p

6g7

5g6

7g8

NNW

7g10

NNW

8g13

9g12

11g15

8g12

Prime conditions 7am–8pm — best around 9am: 8 mph NNW, gusts 12. Smooth air — little thermal activity.

Tomorrow Flyable flyable 7am–3pm

7g10

6g13

9g17

10a

12g17

NNW

11a

9g13

NNW

12p

9g14

7g17

11g19

NNW

13g21

NNW

14g22

13g24

16g25

18g25

18g28

Prime conditions 7am–8pm — best around 7am: 7 mph N, gusts 10. 9 clean hrs, the rest borderline. Smooth air — little thermal activity.

Wednesday Flyable flyable 10am–12pm

11g20

13g26

NNW

16g22

NNW

10a

16g20

NNW

11a

15g18

NNW

12p

14g17

NNW

11g26

11g25

NNW

11g24

NNW

10g24

NNW

10g23

NNW

11g23

NNW

11g24

Prime conditions 7am–8pm — best around 11am: 15 mph NNW, gusts 18. 3 clean hrs, the rest borderline. Smooth air — little thermal activity.

Thursday Caution flyable 7am–8pm

6g13

WNW

6g14

7g15

10a

7g16

11a

6g16

NNW

12p

5g17

NNW

5g16

NNW

5g16

NNW

5g15

NNW

5g15

NNW

5g15

NNW

5g15

NNW

5g14

NNW

4g12

NNW

Flyable 7am–8pm — best around 9am: 7 mph NW, gusts 15. Gusty — +8 mph over base.

Friday Not flyable flyable 2pm

2g19

WNW

4g20

WNW

5g20

WNW

10a

3g18

11a

1g15

NNE

12p

2g13

3g15

6g17

9g20

10g21

WNW

10g21

WNW

9g22

8g22

WSW

8g23

Flyable 1pm–6pm — best around 2pm: 6 mph NW, gusts 17. 1 clean hr, the rest borderline. Gusty — +11 mph over base.

Saturday Not flyable workable 7am–10am

7g20

WNW

8g20

WNW

9g20

10a

10g21

WNW

11a

11g23

WNW

12p

12g24

WNW

12g24

WNW

12g24

WNW

13g24

13g25

13g27

13g28

13g29

Borderline only 7am–10am — best around 8pm: 13 mph NW, gusts 29. All borderline — fly it with a close eye. Gusty — +17 mph over base.

Sunday Caution flyable 7am–4pm

9g17

WNW

9g17

WNW

9g18

10a

8g19

11a

8g20

12p

8g22

9g22

9g21

8g21

7g21

Flyable 7am–8pm — best around 11am: 8 mph NW, gusts 20. 10 clean hrs, the rest borderline. Gusty — +12 mph over base.

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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.