The Pacific Northwest (PNW) is a playground for wingsuit pilots, base jumpers, and kite‑surfing enthusiasts. Its dramatic coastline, deep valleys, and relentless Pacific storms create a constantly shifting tapestry of wind, pressure, and temperature---exactly the conditions that determine whether a jump will be a soaring success or a frustrating wash‑out.
Getting a reliable "jump window" forecast isn't about checking the daily high‑low temperature anymore; you need tools that can read subtle pressure gradients, gust patterns, and mesoscale wind phenomena that reign over places like the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Rainier, and the rugged cliffs of the Olympic Peninsula. Below is a curated list of the most capable weather‑pattern apps (and the platforms that power them) for anyone serious about timing the perfect lift in the PNW.
Windy (Windy.com) -- The Visual Meteorology Hub
| Feature | Why It Matters for Jumpers |
|---|---|
| 3‑D globe with animated wind vectors | Instantly spot converging jet streams, ridge‑top gusts, and valley‑channelled breezes. |
| Multiple weather models (GFS, ECMWF, ICON, NAM) | Cross‑compare forecast outputs; ECMEC gives higher‑resolution, short‑range detail crucial for a 2‑hour jump window. |
| Custom "Wind Profiler" layers | Slice through the atmosphere at any altitude (e.g., 500 ft, 1 000 ft, 5 000 ft) to see how wind direction/shear changes with height---a must‑check for base jumps from cliffs. |
| Alert system | Set thresholds (e.g., wind > 20 kt at 500 ft, pressure drop > 3 hPa in 6 h) and get push notifications. |
| Offline map tiles (via premium subscription) | Access crucial data when you're in deep canyons with spotty cellular coverage. |
Best Use Cases
- Columbia Gorge thermals: Visualize the "gap wind" that accelerates through the gorge.
- Pacific Ocean fronts: Track offshore low‑pressure systems that generate strong on‑shore gusts along the coastal cliffs.
AerisWeather (Aeris API + Mobile App)
Aeris offers a suite of data‑rich layers that can be baked into custom dashboards. While the generic mobile app is solid, power users often tap the API to build their own "jump‑window" widgets.
| Feature | Why It Matters for Jumpers |
|---|---|
| High‑resolution (1 km) forecast for the PNW | Captures micro‑scale wind patterns near the Cascades that broader models smooth out. |
| Real‑time METAR and TAF feeds | Immediate airport weather reports are invaluable for checking wind consistency near launch sites like Portland‑Troutdale (TTD) or Seattle‑Boeing Field (BFI). |
| Storm‑track alerts | Alerts for approaching Pacific low‑pressure systems (often the source of strong on‑shore winds). |
| Historical weather graphs | Review the past 30 days of wind gusts at a specific coordinate to understand typical seasonal windows. |
Best Use Cases
- Pre‑flight planning : Pull the 6‑hour wind forecast for a specific grid point (e.g., 45.6300° N, -122.1475° W for Sea Breeze Beach).
- Post‑jump analysis : Compare actual wind conditions with the forecast to refine future threshold settings.
MyRadar -- Radar‑Focused, Lightning‑Aware
For jumpers, especially those eyeing cliff dives that depend on brief gust bursts from passing squalls, a radar‑first view is priceless.
| Feature | Why It Matters for Jumpers |
|---|---|
| Dual‑polarization radar (U.S. NEXRAD) | Shows precise precipitation intensity and can infer wind shear zones within storms. |
| Lightning strike overlay | Avoid dangerous thunderstorm proximity---essential for high‑risk cliff jumps. |
| "Nowcasting" radar loop (5‑minute updates) | Visualize incoming gust fronts that can generate "wind bursts" over the Willamette Valley. |
| Custom alerts (e.g., "Gusts > 25 kt within 5 mi radius") | Direct push notifications to your phone, even when the app is in the background. |
Best Use Cases
- Olympic Peninsula cliffs : Spot a fast‑moving rain band that will pump up wind shear on the coast.
- Tidal considerations : Pair radar with tide forecasts to avoid being caught in sudden sea‑level increases when a storm surge arrives.
Mountain‑Aviation Weather (MAW) + FlightGear Integration
Originally built for pilots of small aircraft, MAW provides high‑altitude wind and turbulence forecasts that translate beautifully to the vertical dimension of jumps.
| Feature | Why It Matters for Jumpers |
|---|---|
| Wind aloft charts up to 30 000 ft | Perfect for wingsuit pilots who want to understand pressure‑gradient driven lift above ridge tops. |
| Turbulence indices (EDR, CAT) | Identify pockets of stable air versus chaotic shear---good for planning a long glide versus a short vertical descent. |
| FlightGear plug‑in (open‑source simulator) | Simulate a jump in a 3‑D environment using live weather data for a "dry run." |
| Batch forecast export (CSV) | Feed the data into spreadsheet models for statistical analysis of wind trends over multiple jumps. |
Best Use Cases
- High‑altitude ridge jumps: Evaluate whether a low‑level jet (LLJ) is present over the Cascades.
- Seasonal trend analysis: Export five years of wind data for a specific mountain face to spot the most reliable months.
CanyonWind -- Specialized for Gorge & Valley Flows
This niche app, built by a community of paragliders and base jumpers, zeroes in on wind channeling through narrow passes---a hallmark of the PNW's terrain.
| Feature | Why It Matters for Jumpers |
|---|---|
| Real‑time wind tunnel modeling for specific canyon geometries (e.g., The Gorge , Gifford Pinchot State Park). | |
| User‑submitted wind reports (crowd‑sourced "instant wind") -- useful when official stations are sparse. | |
| Pressure‑gradient visual overlay -- highlights when a Pacific low is intensifying, sending fresh air down the valleys. | |
| Solar‑powered offline mode -- supports a small UI that can run on a rugged handheld device (e.g., Garmin Tactrix). |
Best Use Cases
- Columbia River Gorge : Determine when the "headwind" from a Pacific front will strengthen to the 25--30 kt range ideal for up‑draft jumps.
- West Hills of Portland : Use the app's micro‑model to see if a sudden "thermal‑gap" is forming.
NOAA Weather Radar & Alerts (Official App)
Even the most sophisticated third‑party tools rely on the same core data the NOAA provides. The official app gives you a reliable baseline:
- National Weather Service (NWS) alerts -- Swift delivery of wind advisories, high‑wind warnings, and red flag warnings (important for fire‑risk management in dry summer months).
- Localized radar loops -- Straight from the source, no middle‑man latency.
- Hourly forecast alerts -- Set "wind speed > 15 kt" for specific zip codes (useful for jump sites that lack a dedicated weather station).
Why Keep It Handy
The official app is often the first source of extreme weather warnings that other services receive a few minutes later. Pair it with an app like Windy for visual analysis, and you'll have both speed and depth.
How to Combine These Tools for a Bullet‑Proof Jump Plan
| Step | Tool(s) | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Identify the target window | Windy (ECMWF 0‑6 h), AerisWeather | Look for a consistent wind direction (e.g., west‑to‑east for the Gorge) and speed > 20 kt at 500 ft. |
| 2. Validate with real‑time data | MyRadar , NOAA Alerts | Confirm the forecast with the latest radar and METAR. |
| 3. Check micro‑scale gusts | CanyonWind , MyRadar | Look for localized gust bursts that can boost lift for a short period. |
| 4. Layer vertical profile | MAW , Windy (wind aloft) | Ensure there's no strong shear or turbulence just above the launch altitude. |
| 5. Crowd‑source sanity check | CanyonWind user reports, local jump forums | Verify that other jumpers on the ground are seeing similar conditions. |
| 6. Set alerts | Windy (custom thresholds), MyRadar (gust alerts) | Receive push notifications when the window opens or conditions deteriorate. |
| 7. Run a quick "dry" simulation | MAW + FlightGear | Replay the forecasted wind field in a simulator to feel the expected lift. |
| 8. Final go/no‑go decision | All tools combined + personal risk tolerance | If any tool flags a red flag (e.g., sudden gusts > 30 kt, lightning, or a high‑wind warning), abort. |
Tips for Staying Ahead of the Weather in the PNW
- Watch the Pacific Fronts -- The PNW's weather is driven by the Pacific Ocean. A fast‑moving low-pressure system offshore usually translates to strong on‑shore winds 12--24 hours later.
- Seasonal wind cycles -- Summer afternoons often bring sea‑breeze fronts that lift along the coast; winter storms generate strong downslope winds that can be dangerous for vertical jumps.
- Tide‑wind interaction -- On coastal cliffs, an incoming tide can amplify or dampen wind speed due to the sea‑temperature gradient. Merge tide tables with wind forecasts for pinpoint accuracy.
- Pressure tendency -- A rapid pressure drop (> 3 hPa in 6 h) signals an intensifying system, often a prelude to gusty conditions. Most apps let you monitor pressure trends directly.
- Layered alerts -- Use multiple thresholds (e.g., wind speed + gust + precip ). A single high‑wind warning may be okay, but add a lightning alert and you must retreat.
Final Thought
In the Pacific Northwest, ideal jump windows are a dance between the ocean's pulse, the mountains' shadows, and the wind's hidden corridors. No single app can give you the whole story, but when you combine the visual power of Windy , the precision of Aeris , the real‑time radar of MyRadar , the vertical insight from MAW , and the micro‑scale focus of CanyonWind, you get a complete meteorological toolkit that turns guesswork into data‑driven confidence.
Remember: weather is the only variable you can control ---by mastering these tools, you give yourself the best chance to soar safely, consistently, and with the awe‑inspiring freedom that only the PNW can provide. Happy jumping!