Too many times before I get into a glider with some one and get a puzzled expression when I ask “what are the winds doing aloft?”. This is understandable from a new student who still relies on the GIB (Guy/Gal In Back). But when the pilot is close to solo or beyond, the instructor expects the pilot to at least have “the big picture”.
Sure, you can estimate the wind once aloft by observing the drift of the glider, cloud shadows on the ground, rising smoke, and the like. But, if you don’t know the forecast winds at altitude before you get into the glider, chances are that you don’t know where the fronts are either, or if any adverse weather is forecast. This is not good. Getting basic weather information is pretty simple – either by television, by telephone, or by computer.
Weather by television
For getting the non aviation “big picture”, it’s hard to beat the weather channel .
Weather by computer
You’ve just gotta love the world wide web. There are an amazing number of websites out there that offer aviation weather.
Official weather briefing and much more is available at https://1800wxbrief.com. You'll need to sign up for a free account (you'll need a student certificate or higher).
Also excellent (and government funded) are NOAA’s Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS).
If you’re an AOPA member, you’ll have access to their weather services at http://www.aopa.org/members/wx/.
Glider pilots need more than the traditional basic weather services – we need to know if it will be soarable. The first and easiest step is right on the club website home page BRIEFING pull down, then lick on RASP to get current and forecast soaring conditions (see more below). Less useful but still valuable are the Thermal Index Forecasts – Today in Sterling . The TI is also a convenient way to get forecast winds aloft information as well as general soaring conditions. Learn more about interpreting the TI HERE.
For getting current and forecast winds aloft it's hard to beat windy.com
Dr Jack Glendening, a retired weather researcher and glider pilot, has created a most amazing website that reports data on the earth’s boundary layer (where all the good stuff happens). He calls these “BLIPMAPS - short for Boundary Layer Information Prediction MAPS. Some of the web site content is free. See http://www.drjack.info/BLIP.
RASP (Regional Atmospheric Soaring Prediction) - as the name implies predicts thermal and wind information and is available (for our region only) on the web site HERE. Eric Foertsch has developed SoaringForecast, a mobile app, based on the web site RASP, and is available for both Android and IOS and provides the RASP data plus much more functionality. A tutorial can be found on the club YouTube channel.
You also will want the Surface Analysis to know where the weather fronts are.
Skew-t/Log-p These are important!
These graphs depict current and forecast temperature and humidity at all altitudes. With this information, you'll be able to tell if and when conditions will be soarable and how good it will be (or won't be).
Windy.com (subscription available but not required)
zoom to your area of interest, right click on desired location, click on sounding, then, optionally, your desired forecast model and skew-t type at lower right of graph. See diagram below
Skysight.io
You'll need a paid account (a 7 day free trial period can be used)
Zoom in on your area of interest, then click on Point skewT in the upper left, then click on the desired location.
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How to Use The Skysight Cursor
See this skew-t tutorial on how to read them, aimed at glider pilots.
See also these video tutorials
How To Read A SkewT Chart For Soaring Pilots
SKEW T for Glider Pilots
The Skew-t Log-p Diagram
Skew_t log-p for GA Pilots
The Amazing SkewT/LogP
Weather by telephone
Around the country are hundreds of Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) – computers that continually monitor the local weather and broadcast the information using a computer generated voice, often via both telephone and air band radio. The nearest ASOS facility to Sterling is at the Fitchburg airport. Listen to it by dialing 978-343-9121 or in the air on 135.175 MHz (it’s on your sectional chart).
The traditional, but now outdated, method of getting a weather briefing is by calling one of the many Flight Service Stations (FSS) in the country. One phone number 1-800-WXBRIEF (1-800-992-7433) will connect you to the nearest facility (The closest FSS to Sterling is in Bridgeport CT). You’ll be connected with a human briefer who can provide an official weather briefing and answer any questions you might have. The FSS can also advise you of any Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in your area.
Several club members (Fred Looft and Michael Newman) maintain some excellent weather related sites:
https://fjlooft.weebly.com/soaring-weather.html
https://www.dragonnorth.com/weather/