Which dropzone has the best weather (on average)?

[Marc K 1]

Hi There:)

I was wondering which dropzones might have the best weather (on average)...Arizona, Cali, Barcelona? Appreciate any tips:)

Thank you & blue skies,
Marc

[BIGUN 707]

50 minutes ago, Marc K said:

best weather (on average)

On average - All of them. 

https://weatherspark.com/

For most days of jumping; you might plug in:

Perris

Eloy

Spaceland Houston

Zephyrhills, FL 

 

[JoeWeber 1,271]

13 hours ago, Marc K said:

Hi There:)

I was wondering which dropzones might have the best weather (on average)...Arizona, Cali, Barcelona? Appreciate any tips:)

Thank you & blue skies,
Marc

Hi there, too. Depends on your pleasure, really. Do you consider dust devils, high humidity, and sub VFR cloud clearances weather?

[riggerrob 297]

Yes!

Dust devils make jumping waaaaaaay more exciting. We saw plenty of them during California summers, especially near the hills in Hemet.

I have even seen dust devils as far North as Pitt Meadows, Canada (49 th parallel).

[lyosha 21]

Taft in socal

[mccordia 62]

We have been visiting Skydive Spain (Seville) regularly the last 1,5 year and they seem to have jumpable weather all year round. No issue with dust devils in summer, but you do get general turbulence making jumping a thing from 7:00 (1st load) to around 14:00 or so on those days, and a few sunset loads if enough people hang around. But September up to around May, the dropzone runs pretty much non stop all day long, and 15.000 ft standard jump altitude (2x Dornier), from 9:00 to sunset.

Heading there again next week, February as well as April. It's perfect for EU 'winter' jumping, at a comfy 16 to 18 celcius, even on the colder days...

[Bokdrol 30]

On 1/3/2022 at 11:30 AM, mccordia said:

We have been visiting Skydive Spain (Seville) regularly the last 1,5 year and they seem to have jumpable weather all year round. No issue with dust devils in summer, but you do get general turbulence making jumping a thing from 7:00 (1st load) to around 14:00 or so on those days, and a few sunset loads if enough people hang around. But September up to around May, the dropzone runs pretty much non stop all day long, and 15.000 ft standard jump altitude (2x Dornier), from 9:00 to sunset.

Heading there again next week, February as well as April. It's perfect for EU 'winter' jumping, at a comfy 16 to 18 celcius, even on the colder days...

The only issues I have ever had with Seville are (1) they put up a 100/200/500 jump limit fairly sharply which, at times, can limit the jumps for less experienced jumpers  (2) the shortened jumping day in mid-summer as you have stated already (3) the concrete hard/sloping landing area. There are plenty of off landing areas, though - especially important when you are last out on a 4 way freefly and the pilot will only do one pass lol. Having said that, I give it 8/10.

[mccordia 62]

Quote

The only issues I have ever had with Seville are (1) they put up a 100/200/500 jump limit fairly sharply which, at times, can limit the jumps for less experienced jumpers  

A dropzone making correct safety decisions in terms of wind/weather conditions is in my view never a bad thing. Having been at some dropzones where I (at +- 6000 skydives) skipped loads due to weather conditions on landing, and then seeing guys with 51 jumps go up because 'the limit is 50 jumps', it can at times feel like a jump-limit was set with DZ income in mind, as opposed to safety.

In the 6 or so weeks I've spent at the dropzone over 2021, I've seen the DZ limit jumping at 50/100/500 jumps, but in almost 100% of those, I had already taken myself of the load. There, at lower jump numbers, its sometimes worth trusting the judgement of people with more experience and eye for local conditions.

The landing area is indeed not the lush patch of grass you see on other dropzones, for a large part caused by the all year round warm to hot weather.

Summer season (June to August) we also avoid, as it just gets too hot. Though jumping from early to mid-day, and then chilling at the pool of your hotel, is never a bad thing.

My main gripe with the surrounding area is not too much to do (sea/beach is an hour away) in the direct area surrounding the DZ, but enough good restaurants to not stress about that too much, as in the end, we're there to jump

[billvon 1,404]

On 1/1/2022 at 3:16 AM, Marc K said:

Hi There:)

I was wondering which dropzones might have the best weather (on average)...Arizona, Cali, Barcelona? Appreciate any tips:)

San Diego/Otay is pretty dang good.  No 110F days in the summer, no 40F morning loads in the winter.  Dust devils a super rare event.  Sea level.  (Almost) no rain and (almost) no clouds, other than morning clouds in May and June.

[JerryBaumchen 632]

On 1/1/2022 at 3:16 AM, Marc K said:

Hi There:)

I was wondering which dropzones might have the best weather (on average)...Arizona, Cali, Barcelona? Appreciate any tips:)

Thank you & blue skies,
Marc

Hi Marc,

Since you included Spain, I would guess that anywhere in the world meets your criteria.  Therefore, if it was me, I would give serious consideration to:  Skydive Ramblers | Skydiving Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Lots of good weather days there,

Jerry Baumchen

[JoeWeber 1,271]

13 hours ago, billvon said:

San Diego/Otay is pretty dang good.  No 110F days in the summer, no 40F morning loads in the winter.  Dust devils a super rare event.  Sea level.  (Almost) no rain and (almost) no clouds, other than morning clouds in May and June.

That's a fact. I ran Otters and Caravans at Otay for years and the load sheets tell that exact story. Also, the wind direction is very consistent.