Skydiving is a sport where the slightest misread of the atmosphere can turn an exhilarating jump into a risky one. While seasoned jumpers develop a "feel" for the sky, modern technology gives us the power to make that feel scientifically informed. Below, we explore the top weather forecast apps that combine high‑resolution data, real‑time updates, and skydiving‑specific tools to help you plan every jump with confidence.
Why Standard Weather Apps Aren't Enough
| Limitation | Impact on Skydiving |
|---|---|
| Coarse grid resolution (often 3--5 km) | Misses localized lift, wind shear, and turbulence that can appear within a few hundred meters. |
| No vertical profiling | Skydives span 3 km+; surface forecasts don't reveal wind direction changes aloft. |
| Missing skydiving layers (e.g., freefall wind, canopy drift) | Leads to inaccurate exit‑to‑landing calculations. |
| Delayed alerts | Critical last‑minute changes can go unnoticed. |
A skydiving‑focused forecast app must go deeper than "sunny, 20 °C" and deliver layered, high‑frequency data tailored to a jumper's altitude window (typically 1 500 -- 5 000 ft AGL).
Evaluation Criteria
When we tested each app we considered five core factors:
- Vertical wind profiling -- Ability to view wind speed/direction at multiple altitude bands (e.g., 1 000 ft, 3 000 ft, 5 000 ft).
- Resolution & update cadence -- Grid size (km) and how often the model refreshes (hourly, every 15 min, etc.).
- User‑friendly visualization -- Skew‑T/Tempest diagrams, interactive maps, and jump‑specific overlays (e.g., Freefall Drift Vectors).
- Alert system -- Push notifications for rapid changes in wind shear or precipitation within a chosen radius.
- Integration with skydiving tools -- Export to GPS loggers, compatibility with jump‑plan calculators, or direct import into drop‑zone management software.
The Top Apps
1. Windy (Windy.com) -- "The All‑Purpose Meteorology Powerhouse"
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Vertical profiles | Interactive Skew‑T diagrams for any coordinate; selectable altitude bands from surface to 30 km. |
| Resolution | 1 km global grid (courtesy of ECMWF "IFS") and 250 m regional overlays in Europe & North America. |
| Update cadence | Every 10 min for the latest model run; live radar overlay refreshed every 5 min. |
| Skydiving overlay | "Freefall drift" option draws a vector from exit altitude to estimated canopy landing spot based on profile wind. |
| Alerts | Custom push alerts for wind shear > 10 kt between user‑defined altitude bands. |
| Pros | Massive model selection (ECMWF, GFS, ICON); excellent map UI; free tier covers everything a solo jumper needs. |
| Cons | Advanced settings can be overwhelming for beginners; data‑heavy, drains battery quickly. |
Why it shines for skydivers: The Skew‑T diagram lets you verify that wind direction at 3 000 ft matches the exit wind at 13 000 ft (typical for a sport jump), while the drift vector instantly shows where the canopy is likely to be blown.
2. Aviation Weather Center (AVC) -- "FAA‑Approved Flight Weather Suite"
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Vertical profiles | FAA‑style wind aloft charts (in 1 000 ft increments) plus FOCA (Forecast Outlook for Cloud and Aerosol). |
| Resolution | 0.5 km (high‑resolution NAM) over the United States; 1 km elsewhere. |
| Update cadence | Hourly model updates; METAR and TAF data refreshed every 5 min. |
| Skydiving overlay | "Drop Zone Planner" layer: plots wind vectors at typical exit altitudes, calculates drift distance. |
| Alerts | Automatic alerts for convective SIGMETs, low‑level wind shear, and turbulence (E‑Turb) within a 50 nm radius. |
| Pros | Direct integration with most drop‑zone scheduling software; highly reliable official government data. |
| Cons | UI designed for pilots, not jumpers---steeper learning curve. Mobile app can be sluggish on older devices. |
Why it shines for skydivers: If your drop zone is FAA‑certified or you need to file a skydiving flight plan, the AVC app gives you the exact same data the pilot will see, reducing the chance of miscommunication.
3. SkyDive Weather -- "Built By Jumpers, For Jumpers"
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Vertical profiles | Simplified wind profile chart with pre‑set altitudes (3 000 ft, 6 000 ft, 9 000 ft, 12 000 ft). |
| Resolution | 3 km global, enhanced to 1 km over the United States via a partnership with NOAA. |
| Update cadence | Every 30 min; "real‑time nowcast" uses nearby weather stations to refine the last hour. |
| Skydiving overlay | Exit‑to‑landing drift calculator, freefall temperature loss predictor, and canopy glide ratio estimator. |
| Alerts | Custom notifications for wind direction shifts > 15° between exit and landing altitudes. |
| Pros | Intuitive UI, jump‑specific jargon (e.g., "M‑value") already built‑in; lightweight, long battery life. |
| Cons | Fewer model options than Windy; limited to major continents (Europe, North America, Australia). |
Why it shines for skydivers: The app's "One‑Tap Forecast" lets a boogey‑man skip the charts and see a quick "Go/No‑Go" verdict based on your chosen drop zone. Great for spontaneous jumps.
4. MyRadar Pro -- "Lightning‑Fast Radar with Wind Layers"
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Vertical profiles | Wind barbs over radar at selectable pressure levels (850 hPa, 700 hPa, 500 hPa). |
| Resolution | 1 km radar; wind overlay sourced from GFS with 2 km resolution. |
| Update cadence | Radar refreshes every minute; wind overlay updates every 15 min. |
| Skydiving overlay | "Jump Planner" widget combines radar precipitation intensity with wind shear graphics. |
| Alerts | Immediate push when storms enter a 30 nm radius; also warns of gust fronts that often create dangerous turbulence for jumpers. |
| Pros | Lightning‑fast data feed---perfect for last‑minute "weather check" before boarding the aircraft. |
| Cons | Wind data isn't as granular as dedicated aviation apps; no explicit freefall drift calculator. |
Why it shines for skydivers: When you need to confirm that no storm cells are lurking near the drop zone, MyRadar's real‑time radar beats anything else.
5. Lift‑It (iOS Only) -- "The Altitude‑Centric Forecast"
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Vertical profiles | Full Skew‑T with slices every 500 ft up to 15 000 ft AGL. |
| Resolution | 0.75 km over the continental U.S.; 5 km elsewhere. |
| Update cadence | 20‑min refreshes; integrates private weather stations for hyper‑local wind data. |
| Skydiving overlay | "Freefall Window" shows the altitude band where wind direction stays within ±10° of the exit wind. |
| Alerts | "Stability Alert" when wind direction varies > 5° across any 1 000 ft segment in your chosen band. |
| Pros | Purely altitude‑focused---exactly what skydivers need. Clean, minimal UI. |
| Cons | iOS‑only; premium subscription required for full model suite. |
Why it shines for skydivers: The "Freefall Window" feature directly tells you whether the atmosphere will stay stable enough for a "straight‑down" freefall or if you should expect a drift.
6. Paragliders' Weather Pro -- "Cross‑Sport Insight"
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Vertical profiles | Wind aloft graphs from 0 m to 12 km; includes thermals and convection indices. |
| Resolution | 2 km global; 500 m over major European mountain ranges. |
| Update cadence | Hourly model runs; "nowcast" every 10 min. |
| Skydiving overlay | Although designed for paragliders, the "Thermal Strength" and "Turbulence Index" are excellent for judging freefall turbulence. |
| Alerts | Convective activity alerts, high‑altitude wind shear, and temperature inversions. |
| Pros | Provides extra context (e.g., potential for cumulus build‑up) that can help anticipate unexpected pockets of turbulence. |
| Cons | Not dedicated to skydiving; you need to translate some metrics manually. |
Why it shines for skydivers: If you frequently jump from high‑altitude platforms (e.g., balloons) or operate in mountainous regions, the thermal and turbulence indices add a layer of safety beyond simple wind direction.
How to Build a Reliable Jump Forecast in Practice
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Set Your Altitude Band
-
Cross‑Check at Least Two Sources
-
Look for Consistency in Direction
-
Assess Wind Speed
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Check Turbulence & Shear Indices
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- In each app, create a custom notification: "Notify me if wind direction changes > 15° between 12 000 ft and 5 000 ft" and "Alert me when any convective SIGMET enters a 30 nm radius."
-
Do a Final On‑Site Check
- Even with perfect data, micro‑scale effects (thermal drafts off nearby terrain, aircraft wake turbulence) can surprise you. A quick visual inspection of sky conditions and a 5‑minute "nowcast" refresh before boarding can catch last‑minute shifts.
Quick Comparison Table
| App | Best For | Vertical Wind Detail | Model Variety | Battery Impact | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windy | Power users who want every model option | Full Skew‑T, 1 km grid | ECMWF, GFS, ICON, NAM | High (data‑heavy) | Free (ads), Pro $4.99/mo |
| AVC | Drop‑zone operators needing official FAA data | Wind aloft charts, 0.5 km (US) | GFS, NAM, HRRR | Moderate | Free |
| SkyDive Weather | Casual jumpers who want a "Go/No‑Go" button | Simplified 4‑band profile | NOAA (US) + GFS | Low | Free, Pro $3.99/mo |
| MyRadar Pro | Rapid storm tracking before a jump | Radar + wind barbs | GFS | Low‑Moderate | $2.99/mo |
| Lift‑It | Altitude‑focused analysis (iOS) | 500 ft slices to 15 000 ft | ECMWF, GFS | Moderate | $4.99 (single purchase) |
| Paragliders' Weather Pro | High‑altitude or mountainous jumps | Detailed thermals & turbulence | ECMWF, COSMO | Low‑Moderate | Free, Pro $5.99/mo |
Final Thoughts
Precision skydiving is a blend of skill, experience, and information. A well‑chosen weather forecast app closes the information gap, turning "feeling the wind" into a data‑driven decision.
- For the detail‑hungry: Windy gives you every model under the sun -- just remember to bring a power bank.
- For compliance‑focused operations: AVC syncs with pilot briefings and official flight plans.
- For quick, jump‑specific checks: SkyDive Weather shines with its one‑tap "Go/No‑Go" verdict.
Whichever tool you adopt, the key is consistency : use the same altitude bands, set alerts, and cross‑verify with at least one other source. Combine that disciplined approach with a solid pre‑jump visual inspection, and you'll be soaring with confidence---no matter how high the sky.
Happy jumping, and may the winds always be in your favor! 🚀🪂