What SoarScope is
SoarScope is a soaring forecast for glider pilots in western and central Europe, from the west of Ireland to central Europe and from Denmark to the south of Spain.
A general weather forecast tells you about sunshine, wind and rain. A pilot needs to know something else: whether thermals will form, how strong they will be, how high they reach, whether there will be cumulus to mark them, and how far that lets you go. SoarScope works that out from the weather models, hour by hour, for every place on the map.
What you get
Section titled “What you get”- A map you scrub through by hour. Pick a day, a layer and an hour, and see the whole area at once.
- A wide range of layers. Some describe the soaring day (distance, speed, climb, working height), some the cloud, some the weather around it.
- A point forecast for any spot. Click or tap anywhere for that place’s whole day.
- Days ahead, not just tomorrow. The near days are the most detailed; further out the forecast is best for spotting the good days early.
What it is not
Section titled “What it is not”A forecast is a model of the weather, not the weather. It can be wrong, and on some days it will be. Use it to decide where and when to look, then check the sky, the latest observations and your own judgement before you fly.
The airspace shown on the map is a snapshot for orientation only. It is not for navigation.