How Will Weather Affect My Skydiving Day?

Skydiving is, by nature, an outdoor sport. It would be awfully difficult to jump out of an airplane inside! As such, there is such a thing as good and bad skydiving weather, and weather conditions for skydiving can often impact whether or not we get to jump. You probably guessed that sunny weather is optimal for skydiving, but you might be wondering: Can you skydive in the rain? or Can you skydive through a cloud?

The answers to those questions are technically no, but there’s more to the reasoning than you might suspect. Bad weather, like rain, clouds, and high winds, can impact jump visibility, landing conditions, and overall safety.

Let’s learn how to interpret a skydiving forecast and gain a better understanding of exactly how weather impacts our ability (and desire) to jump!

New York Skydiving & Weather Conditions

Believe it or not, there are actually official rules and regulations around skydiving in certain weather conditions. And those requirements aren’t made up willy-nilly at the dropzone – skydiving weather restrictions are put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the United States Parachute Association (USPA).

The FAA requires that skydivers observe Visual Flight Rules conditions (14 CFR Part 105 for those detail-oriented folks). In summary: if the skies are covered with low clouds or the winds are too strong, we cannot skydive. And if it’s raining, we don’t want to either. Here are some of the main weather conditions we encounter and how they impact our jumps:

• Sunny and Clear Days: These are ideal conditions for skydiving and the days skydivers live for. Good visibility, stable winds, and comfortable temperatures make for beautiful views, mild conditions, and an opportunity to focus on little else but enjoying the jump.

• Cloudy or Overcast Conditions: The reason we aren’t allowed to skydive through or too near clouds has to do with visibility. While those white puffies are beautiful from the ground, they completely obscure visibility in the sky. And skydiving without being able to see the ground, other skydivers, or potential hazards is an absolute no-go.

• Wind Conditions: A certain amount of wind can actually be helpful during a skydive and aid in softer landings. But strong winds pose a higher risk by making parachute flight unpredictable and landings much more difficult. There are actually different wind limits for students, licensed skydivers, and tandem jumps, and the more experienced you are the windier it can be. However, skydivers have a saying that goes: I would rather be on the ground wishing I was in the sky than in the sky wishing I was on the ground. 

• Rain and Precipitation: Rainy conditions are probably the worst for skydiving, and typically lead to cancellations or rescheduling. The main problem is that rain almost always comes with clouds, so that automatically poses an issue. But clouds aside, landing on slick grass greatly increases the risk of injury, and falling through raindrops at 120 mph actually hurts! Even if you could skydive in the rain, you wouldn’t want to.

• Temperature Extremes: Temperature is less of a worry than other weather, but extreme temps can still impact jumping. Very hot or very cold temperatures can be dangerous to skydive in, and it’s important to take these in consideration when planning the timing of your jump and what you’re going to wear. This is also the reason that dropzones in the North shutdown for winter.

How Weather is Monitored

The most useful tool that skydivers have when assessing weather conditions is their eyes. Just like anyone else who’s wondering what the current weather looks like, a quick peek outside the hangar door will tell prospective jumpers everything they need to know about the immediate weather and whether or not it’s currently safe to jump. 

But there’s a lot more to jump planning than just what the sky looks like in the moment. An average skydive can take anywhere from 30-45 minutes, so keeping track of incoming weather changes is just as important as the current conditions. No one wants to be caught in the sky as a thunderstorm rolls in – talk about a bad day! 

Luckily for us, weather technology has become incredibly advanced, and we have all sorts of informational gadgets at our disposal. Beyond the weather app everyone carries around in their pocket, pilots, skydivers, and dropzone staff will use highly accurate forecasting, radar, and anemometers to predict changing weather throughout the day. There are even skydiving specific apps like Spot Assist that can help skydivers incorporate weather into planning their day. 

Tips for Weather-Worried Jumpers

Poor weather in the morning doesn’t mean there won’t be jumping later in the afternoon. We want to share the sky with you, and so, most of the time, we’re willing to wait all day for conditions to improve! Here are some tips to help you deal with any weather related worries you might have:

• Prepare to wait. Once the weather clears, we begin with the students who scheduled the earliest appointments and work our way down. Sometimes, patience is rewarded. 

• Dress for the season. You’re going to be outside, so pick an outfit that’s appropriate for the time of year.  

• Wear layers. Weather changes, and the temperature in the sky is cooler than that on the ground. Layers can help you adjust. 

• Check the weather before arriving. If things look really bad, give us a call to check in before you leave. 

• Be flexible. You may have to reschedule. Try to remember that it’s for your safety and we want you to jump. 

Ready to schedule your next adventure or give the best present on the planet and purchase a skydiving gift card? Let’s go!! Blue skies!