La Union
📍 Valle del Cauca · Nearest city: La Union (4 km)
68 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 1499 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
4.56528, -76.10170Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-21 01:14 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Very favorable day for XC, cloud base ~365 m, wind 11 km/h, precipitation 1.3 mm.
base ~365m · wind 11 km/h · precip 1.3mmVery favorable day for XC, cloud base ~388 m, wind 14 km/h, precipitation 1.2 mm.
base ~388m · wind 14 km/h · precip 1.2mmVery favorable day for XC, cloud base ~434 m, wind 14 km/h.
base ~434m · wind 14 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Detailed hourly weather
2026-04-21⚠️ Marginal · peak 80 at 11h
- Cloud cover >85% — no radiation to trigger thermals
⏰ Useful window: 09:00 – 16:00
| 08 55 | 09 63 | 10 78 | 11 80 | 12 70 | 13 80 | 14 70 | 15 20 | 16 10 | 17 18 | 18 10 | 19 10 | 20 10 |
Peak 11h: CAPE 170 J/kg · LI -2.2 · BL top 1115 m · w* 8.0 m/s · cloud base 2249 m · 0°C at 4970 m · Pro score 78/100 · sun 74° over slope
Hourly flyability (0–100). ⛈️ = storm risk · ☁️⚠️ = cloud suck · 🏔️ = active ridge lift. CAPE = convective energy, LI = stability, BL top = thermal ceiling, w* = estimated dry thermal velocity. Source: Open-Meteo (ECMWF/GFS/ICON blend model).
Estimated vertical profile (Sounding)
Reference time: 11:00 (peak of the day)
Surface T: 23.4°C · Td: 17.4°C
LCL (cloud base): 750 m
BL top: 1115 m
0°C level: 4970 m
Approximate profile from surface variables + synoptic levels. Red lines = temperature, dashed blue = dew point. Orange bands = detected inversions.
Wind chart — altitude × time
Color: green < 20 km/h · yellow 20-30 · red >40. Arrows point to where the wind is blowing. Each column = 1 hour. 4 altitudes: 10m surface, 80m first thermal, 1500m (850 hPa) thermal cruise, 3000m (700 hPa) top.
Wind next days (Open-Meteo model)
Wind rose 10m — 2026-04-21
| Date | Morning 08-12h | Midday 12-16h | Evening 16-20h | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-21 | 4 km/h W | gust 16 | 12 km/h W | gust 29 | 7 km/h W | gust 25 |
Colors: green < 15 km/h (optimal) · orange 15-25 · red >25 (flying not recommended). ⚠️ = shear >25 km/h between 10m and 850 hPa (potentially broken thermals).
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 22 | High |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.86 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.61 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Real takeoff terrain
| SRTM elevation | 1518 m AMSL |
| Average slope | 1.3° |
| Slope aspect | 111° (E) |
| Hemisphere | north — Orientation unfavorable for direct solar thermals |
Derived from SRTM 30m (NASA).
Pilot comments
initialy imported from International Leonardo
Nearby sites
Roldanillo - Los Tanques (60) · North LZ (5) · Roldanillo East Meadow LZ (5) · Roldanillo Estadio LZ (5) · Roldanillo LZ (5) · Roldanillo - El torre (64)