Weather Archive for Sunday, 3/20/05

Wind and clouds were both a factor, but manageable.  Variable high clouds throughout the day moderated the heating.  Cumulus buildups with lower bases through early afternoon, then thinning and lifting bases as the day cooled.  Bases started out near 4K, but lowered into the low 3s.

The wind was from the WNW.  The velocity wasn't too bad, but west wind often doesn't block well in the mountains.  Blowing hard up at big altitude, but the velocity was stratified and the ocean was calm until later in the morning.  5 to 15 mph on the ridge line and likely 20ish up in free air.

The wind swept down the coast.  Pilots did well at Wilcox early, and Bates came on slow and gradual.  La Conchita was light through mid afternoon, and Ventura was typical 25ish.  It appeared that the wind finally swept through Carpinteria later in the afternoon.

The Skyport was in the lee of the R&R.  It was wrapping around both sides.  Blowing down quite a bit until 10:30.  The heating was moderated by clouds, but it finally switched to consistently up from the SW a little before 11.

Lot of pilots on lunch at the Skyport and Liminator, but many didn't fly due to the wind hazards.  Another big crowd at Bates.  Bob Hurlbett had his first jump across the freeway to La Conchita.  Hammer reached La Conchita from the Liminator on a HG, but it was too light to stay up when he got there.  Diablo took the day on his ATOS VX (HG) with a flight from the Liminator to Ventura.  He got to cloudbase over the power lines in front of the Factory.  Connected to 4,800 out front over the golf course behind Summerland along a NW / W convergence line running out from Ramero Saddle.  Arrived at Rincon Mountain with 2K.  Around the corner from Taylor Ranch with 2K to land at the Ventura Marina.