SoaringCast help

How to use SoaringCast, the soaring weather site: maps, sounding, models, dashboard, task planning, airspace and NOTAMs.

How to use

• Getting started with SoaringCast
  Pick a map and a time, click a point, read the timeline: the essentials to get started with SoaringCast.
• Soaring weather maps: cloud base, thermals, convergence, wave
  Daily ★ rating, cloud base, total lift, significant weather, convergence, wave, wind, radar and satellite: what each map is for.
• Sounding (skew-T) and point values
  One click on the map: sounding, thermal top, cumulus base, ceiling, instability and the nearest station observation.
• Weather models and 10-day forecast
  AROME, ICON-D2, ICON-CH1, ARPEGE, ICON-EU, GFS, IFS: grid and range of each model, Auto mode and reading a forecast up to day 10.
• Dashboard: the flying day at a glance
  Ten days at the chosen point: usable height, cumulus, clouds, wind, ★ rating and model spread, and e-mail delivery if you wish.
• Planning a gliding task
  Draw a task, pick glider, pilot level and start time: simulated speed and timing, flight profile, final glide, SoaringSpot import.
• Airspace, NOTAMs and VAC charts
  Active airspace, AZBA, AIP supplements, NOTAMs and VAC charts on the weather map, in France and neighbouring countries.

Understanding

• The ★ rating: what raises it, what lowers it
  Duration, lift strength, ceiling, wind: what the soaring ★ rating responds to, what it does not see, and when to be wary of it.
• W★rlf: terrain lift, and how it joins thermals
  Slope heating, ridges, wind on terrain, valley floors: what makes up W★rlf and how it combines with W★ in W★tot.
• Task simulation: what gains or loses time
  Weather at the time you pass, wind, glider, pilot level, terrain: what the task simulation responds to, and how to use it.