SOARING FORECAST, APRIL 20 to 23, 2012

WEEKEND SOARING FORECAST, APRIL 20 to 23, 2012

LAST WEEK: We had remarkably good soaring weather. Friday was a blowout with the wet weather but Saturday onwards were the best (non-wave) soaring days we've had so far in 2012. Sunday pilots were staying above 10,00 feet. Some made several circuits (Harry W. in 4U) of the San Gabriel Mtn. range from Hwy. I15 to I14 and back never pausing to circle. Nice! Monday was similar but not quite as "boomer" but Harry was up again and repeated parts of his season tune-up racetrack circuit along the mountains pausing to play in lift above 10,000 foot Mt Baldy. THIS WEEK: HOT, SUNNY ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD A gentle northerly flow will set up Friday. Saturday the wind will begin to clock around to the east and southeast but will remain gentle. Temps will be markedly above normal and into the 90's by Saturday cooking the ground and kicking off thermals. Lift conditions look GREAT throughout the period. Sunday and Monday the offshore conditions well be replace by our usual South and Westerly flow although temps will remain high. Thermal forecast looks very good for these days also. Height of useable lift forecast for the period is excellent. Great soaring weather! SATURDAY HEIGHT OF USEABLE LIFT FORECAST: (LOOKS TO BE UP TO 12,0000 FEET) The National Weather Service is predicting the following local surface conditions for Friday through Monday: FRIDAY: Sunny. Temperature: 68 degrees.Wind: Northeast 5 to 10 mph.SATURDAY: Sunny, Temperature: 90 degreesWind: Souteast 5 to 10 mph.SUNDAYSunny, Temperature: 87 degreesWind: Southwest 10 to 15 mph.MONDAY:Sunny, Temperature: 83 degreesWind: South 10 mph.email weather comments to robert.settle@gmail.com