Cuesta Grade

CA
35.3471°, -120.6450° Directions ↗

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Showing Paragliding — switch wings up top ↑
Not flyable
Medium confidence · · Run: HRRR
The sun has set — no daylight left to fly
NESW 219° SW
Current conditions
Flyability score
10
/100 · paragliding
Wind
6
mph base
Gusts
9
mph
Direction
SW
219°
Aloft
8
NW @ridge
Thermals
Calm
base ~6273ft
Temp
71°
F
Cloudbase
8,327
ft MSL
Elevation
2,054
ft MSL
Sunrise
6:10 AM
local
Sunset
8:07 PM
local
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Where it is

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Flyable Caution / slim window Not flyable
What we look for at Cuesta Grade

Wind direction

WSW (240°) → W (280°)

The wind must blow from within this arc. Direction is the same for both wings.

Ideal speed

8–12 mph

Ceiling · Paragliding

≤ 19 mph base · gusts ≤ 23

Top of the range for paragliding (any rating) — switch wings up top to compare. Hang gliders hold roughly 10 mph more than paragliders.

Thermal ridge on Cuesta Ridge west of Hwy 101, run by SLOSA with an explicit guide. Working wind is W to WNW (240-290), ideal around 10 mph for PG (HG up to 25). Primarily thermic - cycles usually start around noon but the wind often gets too strong for PG by mid-afternoon; climbs over 5000 ft are possible though an inversion near 3500 ft often caps it. Watch for rotor behind ridges and at gully transitions, and rapidly building afternoon wind that can push you back into it. P3/H3 minimum with USHPA + SLOSA membership, reserve, and a 7:1 glide.

Window data compiled from slosoar.org — public site guides and club resources.

Next 7 days How calls are made

Thursday Flyable flyable 12pm–6pm
6a
11g16
NE
7a
10g15
NE
8a
10g13
NE
9a
10g13
NE
10a
9g12
NE
11a
6g7
NE
12p
2g4
NNE
1p
5g5
W
2p
9g10
W
3p
9g10
WSW
4p
11g14
W
5p
12g16
W
6p
9g13
W
7p
5g10
WSW
8p
6g9
SW
Flyable 12pm–7pm — best around 2pm: 9 mph W, gusts 10. 7 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
🌅 Wonder windGlass-off possible 6pm–7pm — smooth, light W ~9 mph, clear evening sky, weak daytime heating.
✓ Light, smooth wind✓ Straight in the window– Wind dying off into evening✓ Clear skies (radiative cooling)– Day built a thermal layer
Friday Slim window flyable 4pm
6a
7g12
NE
7a
7g13
NNE
8a
8g13
NNE
9a
10g12
NE
10a
11g12
NE
11a
10g11
NE
12p
9g9
NE
1p
6g7
NNE
2p
5g7
NNW
3p
9g10
NW
4p
10g12
WNW
5p
10g13
WNW
6p
8g14
W
7p
6g14
WSW
8p
5g11
S
Flyable 6pm–7pm — best around 4pm: 10 mph WNW, gusts 12. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
Saturday Flyable flyable 3pm–5pm
6a
8g15
NE
7a
7g15
NE
8a
11g18
NNE
9a
12g16
NNE
10a
12g15
NE
11a
12g14
NE
12p
11g13
NNE
1p
9g10
NNE
2p
5g7
N
3p
6g7
W
4p
8g9
WNW
5p
9g10
W
6p
6g18
WNW
7p
4g15
WNW
8p
2g13
WNW
Flyable 3pm–5pm — best around 5pm: 9 mph W, gusts 10.
Sunday Caution workable 6am–10am
6a
1g7
NW
7a
1g6
W
8a
1g6
SW
9a
2g8
SW
10a
2g10
SW
11a
3g12
WSW
12p
4g14
WSW
1p
4g16
W
2p
5g17
W
3p
5g17
W
4p
5g17
WNW
5p
4g16
WNW
6p
4g15
WNW
7p
4g13
WNW
8p
3g12
WNW
Borderline only 6am–10am — best around 6am: 1 mph NW, gusts 7. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
Monday Not flyable no window
6a
2g8
SSE
7a
2g9
SSE
8a
2g10
S
9a
3g11
S
10a
3g13
SSW
11a
4g14
SSW
12p
4g15
SW
1p
4g16
SW
2p
4g17
WSW
3p
4g18
WSW
4p
4g19
WSW
5p
4g19
W
6p
3g20
W
7p
3g20
WNW
8p
3g20
WNW
Wind's out of the WSW most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.
Tuesday Caution workable 6am–7am
6a
1g8
W
7a
1g9
WSW
8a
1g10
WSW
9a
2g11
SW
10a
3g13
SW
11a
4g14
SW
12p
4g15
SW
1p
5g15
WSW
2p
5g16
WSW
3p
5g17
WSW
4p
5g17
WSW
5p
4g17
WSW
6p
4g18
W
7p
4g18
WNW
8p
4g17
WNW
Borderline only 6am–7am — best around 6am: 1 mph W, gusts 8. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
Wednesday Caution workable 6am–7am
6a
0g7
SW
7a
1g9
S
8a
1g10
S
9a
2g11
SSW
10a
3g12
SW
11a
4g13
SW
12p
4g14
SW
1p
4g15
WSW
2p
4g16
WSW
3p
5g16
WSW
4p
4g17
WSW
5p
4g17
WSW
6p
4g17
W
7p
3g17
W
8p
3g16
W
Borderline only 6am–7am — best around 6am: 0 mph SW, gusts 7. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
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.