The northern French Alps are situated under the northeast
corner of the Azores high pressure and have an excellent annual climate.
There is good snow in winter, summer is hot with light winds and there is no
excessive precipitation.
High Alpine regions create their own weather patterns
or micro-climates and weather blisters form over some areas sheltering
them from outside influences and only powerful weather systems will
infiltrate, causing complete but temporary changes. It's rare to
encounter poor weather for more than a few days at a time!
As
the majority of the flying is made in purely thermic conditions, where
thermals are created by the warm sunshine and reasonable lapse rates we
are not waiting for the wind conditions to be just right before flying.
In fact we are not concerned by the wind direction as all of our sites
are for thermic flying. However in some valleys afternoon dynamic or
ridge flying forms where the terrain allows.
Most of the year the meteo winds are light and the
valley winds formed from rising thermic air blow most afternoons. Strong
afternoon valley winds are only found in deep and narrow valleys when
conditions are unstable. Wide open areas encounter much lighter
afternoon valley wind conditions.
The mid winter flying window is around 2-3 hours
extending to 11 hours in the spring and summer. Some mid summer days
have strong thermic periods where pilots become grounded for a few
hours, otherwise the annual flying conditions are very good. It has to
be said that not all the days produce fantastic flying conditions but
it's not bad here and realistically we fly for about 65% of the year.
Below is a summary of the days flown each month from
December to October, our working months. As you can see the overall number
doesn't change dramatically each year: the chart speaks for itself.
| Date |
Dec |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Total |
| 1996 |
n/a |
20 |
15 |
23 |
25 |
16 |
22 |
20 |
21 |
26 |
20 |
208 |
| 1997 |
11 |
17 |
17 |
26 |
25 |
24 |
21 |
25 |
27 |
27 |
20 |
240 |
| 1998 |
n/a |
19 |
26 |
19 |
17 |
30 |
24 |
24 |
27 |
19 |
15 |
220 |
| 1999 |
17 |
13 |
11 |
18 |
19 |
23 |
23 |
29 |
22 |
24 |
17 |
216 |
| 2000 |
2 |
22 |
13 |
17 |
18 |
26 |
26 |
17 |
25 |
25 |
19 |
210 |
| 2001 |
19 |
14 |
14 |
10 |
17 |
28 |
20 |
25 |
25 |
19 |
28 |
219 |
| 2002 |
17 |
30 |
12 |
22 |
23 |
17 |
27 |
22 |
23 |
27 |
n/a |
220 |
| 2003 |
11 |
17 |
20 |
28 |
20 |
22 |
27 |
24 |
26 |
22 |
16 |
233 |
| 2004 |
15 |
6 |
21 |
16 |
22 |
22 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
19 |
226 |
| 2005 |
19 |
20 |
16 |
25 |
17 |
26 |
28 |
27 |
20 |
27 |
25 |
250 |
| 2006 |
4 |
24 |
17 |
12 |
19 |
23 |
30 |
30 |
19 |
23 |
20 |
221 |
| 2007 |
18 |
16 |
13 |
21 |
30 |
21 |
25 |
23 |
24 |
22 |
26 |
239 |
| 2008 |
20 |
16 |
24 |
12 |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Winter..
December and January our prime
skiing months are often stable, sunny, cloudless and cold.
During this period thermals still form and the best flying is
found between 13.00 - 1600hrs. The smooth thermals suit new
pilots looking for gentle conditions.
Mid winter launch conditions in the snowline can sometimes be a
little frustrating as the wind at launch can either be zero or
lightly katabatic. However, by early February the warmer lower
valley airflow help to create gentle face breezes giving better
launch conditions.
By mid February lapse rates are improving and cumulus cloud
starts to form over the high mountain peaks and cloud base can
be reasonably high: 2000 - 2500m asl. Thermal climb rates can be
1-2m/s on the averager. (Variometer averager set at 20secs).
The general valley temperatures are down to -15°c
at night and up to -4°c during the
day. (some nights are colder and some days are warmer especially
in the direct sunshine) Winds are mainly light apart from those
arriving with weather fronts. Valley winds are very light!
Late Winter..
In March and early April the sun now warms the lower snow
free valleys allowing thermals to rise freely, and during the
afternoon they are marked by cumulus cloud often rising to 2500
- 3000m asl. The flying window is longer: 11.00 - 17.00hrs.
Thermal climb rates are better at 2-3 m/s.
The general valley temperatures are down to -8°c
at night and up to +23°c. Depending
upon the daily thermic conditions valley winds are becoming
stronger especially in deep and narrow valleys where care is
needed early to mid afternoon!
Spring..
During April, May and June we enter some of the best
thermic months. Cloud base reaches 3200 - 3500m asl, the
atmosphere is generally unstable and the crisp thermals have
good climb rates! Thermal climb rates average 4-5 m/s.
The flying window extends: 10.00 - 20.00hrs, though we
occasionally experience strong lunchtime periods that ground
most pilots but naturally coincide with the traditional French
lunch period of 2 - 3 hours...
During these months we occasionally experience late afternoon or
evening thunderstorms, though these are generally well
forecasted beforehand.
The general valley temperatures are down to +5°c
at night and up to +28°c in the
day. Meteo winds are normally light, but beware of strong
afternoon valley winds in deep and narrow valleys!
Summer..
In July and to mid August the atmosphere is a little more
humid and cloud base often only reaches 2500 - 3000m asl.
However the days are warm if not hot and the flying day is long:
10.00 - 21.00hrs. By August the strong lunchtime periods have
subsided allowing air sports all through the day and thermal
climbs rates still average 4-5 m/s but lessening as August
arrives.
In July evening thunderstorms are sometimes present, though
generally so well forecasted we know when to expect them!
General valley temperatures are down to +15°c
at night and up to +35°c in the
day. Those strong valley winds are still present!!
Late Summer - Autumn..
From mid August, September and throughout October the
flying conditions mellow allowing good flying throughout the
day. As Autumn approaches stable air returns and by September
gentle thermals and friendly cumulus rise only to 2500 - 2800m
asl.
October
flying in the mountains is special. The golden autumn colours
are glorious and the cool dry air has an incredible freshness
about it! Thermal climb rates are 2-3 m/s decreasing by mid
October when the best flying is found in the afternoon.
General valley temperatures are down to +7°c
at night and up to +25°c in the
day, though becoming cooler by late October. The valley winds
are gentle and short lived.
November still has reasonable flying but the weather is changing
and no longer reliable. The thermals have departed for warmer
climbs and the flying window is back to the 2 maybe 3 hours in
the afternoon.
General..
Yes we do get rain and snow! It's cold here in winter and hot in
summer and we have four beautiful and reliable seasons.
In winter and spring the cold fronts that pass usually only last
2-4 days and the snowline drops to 400m asl. By mid summer the
snowline rises to around 3000m asl: there is always snow above
this level as seen on the spectacular Mont Blanc (4810m) and
surrounding high peaks.
In summer warm or occluded fronts bring just a little rain.
These fronts rarely last for more than 2-3 days and any local
thunderstorms are generally short lived often diminishing into a
clear night.
As we live under high pressure our natural winds meteo winds
come from the north and are nearly always light. All valley
winds (anabatic winds) turn katabatic in the evening dropping
away to nothing at night' and when conditions allow we have
superb restitution (magic lift/valley release/glass-off) flying
in the evening.
So what does this all mean..
Beginners can join a course anytime from April to October. In
spring and summer strong thermic breezes can halt flying for a
few hours during the afternoon, though there is always extra
ground training or interesting class room work available during
these periods. Later in the year, mid August onwards it's
possible to train and fly throughout the day without being
challenged by the strong summer conditions.
Newly qualified pilots visiting the mountains will find smooth
conditions up to April then after early August. However the mid
summer days are long and missing 2 - 3 hours during the middle
of the day is of little consequence as there is plenty of flying
early and late in the day.
Aspiring thermal and cross country pilots should visit in the
spring and mid summer months when the conditions are at their
best!