McGee (Owens Valley)

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Flyable

Medium confidence · 4 of 6 models agree · Run: HRRR

Wind now: ESE (104°) Green = in the window · amber = cross/edge · red = wrong way

Wind

mph base

Gusts

mph

Direction

ESE

104°

Aloft

ESE @ridge

Thermals

Calm

base ~10068ft

Temp

71°

Cloudbase

19,208

ft MSL

Elevation

9,140

ft MSL

Flyable Caution / slim window Not flyable

What we look for here

Wind directionNNE (20°) → E (90°)
Ideal speed3–12 mph
Upper limits≤ 15 mph base · gusts ≤ 18

High-altitude (9140 ft MSL) advanced/expert-only "Big Air" Owens Valley launch on the Sierra east escarpment. Faces the valley with a N/NE/E aspect; works best in light upslope/easterly flow or near-calm. Per club/forum reports McGee tolerates strong N and S winds better than other Owens Valley launches, but the dominant hazard is W wind "over the back" producing severe lee-side rotor ("don't get bit by the Wolf") - prevailing west flow spills over the Sierra crest and any westerly component is a hard no-go. Technical site: requires a crosswind flat-slope launch at high altitude and has a long glide out, so light/manageable wind is essential. Best flown morning (anabatic/early thermal) before the valley breeze and west flow strengthen midday; summer gives the strongest lift (climbs toward 18,000 ft, cold/hypoxia risk - O2 advised). Access is a rugged, narrow, rocky 4x4 road; not for beginners. Strong rotor forms behind spines and in canyons throughout the valley.

Next 7 days How calls are made

Today Flyable flyable 10am–7pm

8g9

8g10

WNW

7g9

WNW

5g9

10a

5g9

11a

5g13

12p

8g12

8g10

10g11

8g11

9g13

9g12

ESE

4g8

ESE

Prime conditions 10am–7pm — best around 1pm: 8 mph E, gusts 10. Smooth air — little thermal activity.

Tomorrow Flyable flyable 10am–4pm

5g5

WSW

1g3

SSE

5g5

4g7

NNW

10a

4g9

11a

7g9

ENE

12p

7g10

11g11

9g9

ESE

6g9

9g10

10g12

10g11

9g11

WSW

Prime conditions 10am–4pm — best around 11am: 7 mph ENE, gusts 9. Smooth air — little thermal activity.

Wednesday Slim window flyable 11am

5g6

5g7

5g8

WNW

7g8

NNW

10a

8g9

NNW

11a

6g9

12p

6g19

ENE

7g22

ENE

7g24

ENE

6g22

4g19

NNE

5g17

NNW

5g19

NNW

5g22

NNW

Flyable 11am–3pm — best around 11am: 6 mph N, gusts 9. 1 clean hr, the rest borderline. Cross-ish wind N (2°) — edge of the window.

Thursday Flyable flyable 8am–11am

1g6

NNW

1g7

2g8

NNE

3g11

10a

4g14

ENE

11a

5g18

ENE

12p

7g22

8g26

ESE

9g28

ESE

7g24

ESE

5g17

2g12

ENE

1g9

NNE

2g9

Flyable 7am–12pm — best around 10am: 4 mph ENE, gusts 14. 3 clean hrs, the rest borderline. Gusty — +10 mph over base.

Friday Not flyable no window

0g9

0g10

1g12

SSE

10a

3g16

SSE

11a

4g18

SSE

12p

5g20

6g20

SSW

7g21

SSW

8g24

8g28

8g31

7g33

6g33

Wind's out of the SW most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.

Saturday Not flyable workable 8am–1pm

1g15

NNW

1g15

2g15

NNE

2g14

10a

2g14

ENE

11a

1g14

12p

1g15

ENE

1g15

1g16

NNE

2g16

3g16

WNW

4g16

Borderline only 8am–1pm — best around 8am: 2 mph NNE, gusts 15. All borderline — fly it with a close eye. Light at 2 mph — may be a sledder, not soarable.

Sunday Not flyable flyable 10am

0g11

1g12

2g13

3g15

10a

5g17

ENE

11a

6g19

ENE

12p

7g19

ENE

6g19

ENE

6g19

ENE

6g20

ENE

6g22

ENE

5g23

ENE

5g23

ENE

4g22

ENE

Flyable 8am–6pm — best around 10am: 5 mph ENE, gusts 17. 1 clean hr, 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.