Damn weather forecasts!! What to do??

[Jeth 0]

Ok, Accuweather says Sat cloudy, hi 43, winds 18mph. Weather.com says cloudy, hi 50, winds 28mph. Weatherbug says cloudy, hi 45, winds 17mph. Then for Sunday the forecast's range from 49 - 53, with winds 11-17mph.

So its probably going to be pretty chilly, cloudy, and either sort of windy or very windy. Its not looking good for jumping. I have rented a car and booked a hotel so I can go to the DZ and stay for the weekend. That would really suck if I spent the $100+ on this and didn't get to jump. Maybe I should not go and take my chances on next weekend. But its been 2 weeks and I really wanna jump!!

So what should I do? Take my chances that the clouds will clear and the wind will die down? Or cancel the car and hotel and try again next weekend?

Aaaaarrrrg! I hate having to plan ahead like this!

"At 13,000 feet nothing else matters."
PFRX!!!!!
Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109
My Jump Site

[Nutz 0]

Weather sucks, doesn't it? In my experience, and people will say I don't know what I'm talking about, weathermen can't tell their ass from a hole in the ground. A good friend of mine says, "If you are not at the dz, you can't jump." I don't know what to tell you except that they can't predict the weather, it is only a guess at best.

That was absolutely no help, right?

"Don't! Get! Eliminated!"

[Lindsey 0]

I don't know about that, but I like your skydiving page. You look like you're having a lot of fun in your videos!!!

linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[Buried 0]

yeah I know what you mean. we went from great weekends to March weather . I'd suggest planning on next weekend

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[tigra 0]

Ordinarily I'd say f*ck the forecast, because its hardly ever right! (And I don't know if you've heard about Roger's weather mojo, but there have been plenty of weekends when the only blue skies in a 50 mile radius were directly over SDC- I swear!) But, the forecasts usually ARE right when it comes to wind- sorry! I doubt they'll put you up if the winds are 15 plus! I don't jump when the winds are 15 plus, that much I can tell you!

You can try to get there very early, like for the first or second load and hopefully that will be before the winds pick up, or stick around until late afternoon, because sometimes the winds die down.

And of course, you can practice packing and socialize! Have you taken the written AFP test yet? Maybe there's some videos to watch? Get a copy of the SIM and read up, study for your A test? Fly a kite?

[Jeth 0]

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I don't know about that, but I like your skydiving page. You look like you're having a lot of fun in your videos!!!

linz

Thanks! I am always having a blast!!

"At 13,000 feet nothing else matters."
PFRX!!!!!
Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109
My Jump Site

[Jeth 0]

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You can try to get there very early, like for the first or second load and hopefully that will be before the winds pick up, or stick around until late afternoon, because sometimes the winds die down.

And of course, you can practice packing and socialize! Have you taken the written AFP test yet? Maybe there's some videos to watch? Get a copy of the SIM and read up, study for your A test? Fly a kite?

Yep, I was thinking I could at least do the packing class. (If Betsy can do it.) Maybe I'll go on Sat, see if the forecast was right, and then decide if I'll be staying overnight or not.

Gee, it sure would be nice if the DZ was only 20 minutes away!

Well everyone keep your fingers crossed for that slice of blue sky over SDC!!

"At 13,000 feet nothing else matters."
PFRX!!!!!
Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109
My Jump Site

[eeneR 3]

This is the unfortunate thing about spring in Chicago.....You will have no clue what the weather is gonna do....

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[Buried 0]

how far is the dz it for you?

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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So what should I do? Take my chances that the clouds will clear and the wind will die down? Or cancel the car and hotel and try again next weekend?

Sucks that Mother Nature is getting in your way. If the forecast doesn't look all that good and if you're not up to hanging around the DZ when it's weathered out, then I would cancel the room and go another weekend. I have been in similar boats going up to the bridge in Twin Falls Idaho. If the weather is looking marginal, then I might not make that 10 hour drive from Colorado each way. There's always another day and another weekend.

You could always move to another part of the country where Mother Nature doesn't interrupt the jumping as much. This may not be an option for you, but I hate when people complain that they can't get in the air because they live in a part of the world with less than ideal WX conditions. But once again, moving may not be an option for you. But it's always out there if you want to jump more.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Jeth 0]

Whats the feeling on jumping when its 43 degrees on the ground? Thats gotta be in the 30's at altitude. Walking to work this morning felt pretty darn cold and that was 45! I'm thinking I'm gonna need a scarf, gloves and sweats under my jumpsuit. I hope my face doesn't freeze!

"At 13,000 feet nothing else matters."
PFRX!!!!!
Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109
My Jump Site

[Jeth 0]

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how far is the dz it for you?

About an hour and a half depending on traffic. I know its not as bad a drive as some ppl have, but I have to rent a car to get there, so its more of an expense for me.

"At 13,000 feet nothing else matters."
PFRX!!!!!
Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109
My Jump Site

[tigra 0]

Yep- spring here is very unpredictable! We've already had more jumpable weekends this spring than I remember from the past 3 years!

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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Whats the feeling on jumping when its 43 degrees on the ground? Thats gotta be in the 30's at altitude. Walking to work this morning felt pretty darn cold and that was 45! I'm thinking I'm gonna need a scarf, gloves and sweats under my jumpsuit. I hope my face doesn't freeze!

I rarely get cold in freefall, only under canopy and usually only my hands are the ones which are the coldest. I think you have to deal with much more humidity than I do, but 43 on the ground isn't that bad. I've jumped in colder conditions. But it's your $$$ and your enjoyment which counts. So you need to do whatever you need to do to satisfy yourself. Have fun if you do jump and if you don't jump, know that skydiving will be there for you on another day.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[tigra 0]

How old are you? When the temp on the ground is lower than my age, I don't jump! Ask a lot of people who have been in the sport for a while and they'll say the same thing! Kallend doesn't count. He's pretty old but would still jump all winter if he could!

[Jeth 0]

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How old are you? When the temp on the ground is lower than my age, I don't jump! Ask a lot of people who have been in the sport for a while and they'll say the same thing! Kallend doesn't count. He's pretty old but would still jump all winter if he could!

I definitely wouldn't jump when the temp was in the 20's! But I have heard several ppl say that 30's is still damn cold under canopy. I remember a day when it was 50 on the ground and I was cold under canopy.

But if the sun is out and I bundle up, I might give it a shot. At least then I'll know how I feel about it.

"At 13,000 feet nothing else matters."
PFRX!!!!!
Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109
My Jump Site

[tigra 0]

Like Canuck said, the worst part is your hands under canopy!

I'm NOT 50, but unless its a special jump, 50 and full sun is my criteria these days!

43 isn't so bad as long as its sunny!

I've jumped when it was in the 20s but I was a newbie then and really horny for jumps!

[sunshine 2]

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43 isn't so bad as long as its sunny!

I'm not sure if i'm gonna be there yet though. hehe, i amuse myself.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[tsisson 0]

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Yep- spring here is very unpredictable! We've already had more jumpable weekends this spring than I remember from the past 3 years!

You know, when I was there...I can remember wanting to shoot myself in the head every spring because of the weather. Too windy, overcast, raining, cold and drizzly. Then, after a total shutout for the weekend...I'd wake up to go to work on Monday to see blue skies and perfect conditions on my way out the door to the office.

Memorial Day weekend takes the cake though...I looked at my log and saw that we had 3 straight years from 1995 - 1998 where we were shutout for the holiday weekend...all three days!

As far as cold weather jumping...the hot ticket are silk liners under your gloves, a fullface helmet, and neck gaitor. If I keep my hands, face and neck warm...it could be 20 on the ground and it's "jumpable".

[Casurf1978 0]

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Its not looking good for jumping

Looks like rain here in so cali for the weekend and to compound it I got fam visiting. Could it possibly get any worse.

[grue 1]

I feel your pain: Conditions look perfect here, except for wind. I'm gonna call the DZ in the morning, and head out and try and get as many jumps in as possible. If it goes to shit, I'll pitch a tent and jump on Sunday.

cavete terrae.

[heidihagen 0]

hey jeth... i know exactly what you mean! winds and cloud deck can ruin a jump day
this is my favorite place to check weather: http://usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi?sta=KHOU&model=avn&state=TX&Submit=Get+Forecast
it gives wind speed/direction, cloud levels (and density i think...)
anyway, it's a lot better than weather.com in my opinion. i like your page too! i have one on here too but i don't have gear/suit/etc... just vids (and i didn't even put all of them up!)check that weather page... you'll love it!!!

i didn't lose my mind, i sold it on ebay. .:need a container to fit 5'4", 110 lb. cypres ready & able to fit a 170 main (or slightly smaller):.[/ce

[bob.dino 1]

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As far as cold weather jumping...the hot ticket are silk liners under your gloves, a fullface helmet, and neck gaitor. If I keep my hands, face and neck warm...it could be 20 on the ground and it's "jumpable".

If, by 'gaitor', you mean neckwarmer, then yup, I'm in full agreement.