Paragliding, a sport of grace and wonder, relies heavily on nature's whims - thermals. Thermals, these unseen pillars of rising air, can elevate a paraglider even higher than their mountain launch site, enabling epic journeys of many tens to hundred+ of kilometers. The puffy clouds are indicators of thermals under it, because the water condenses with cooling with altitude.

Generally a 3 consecutive days of sunny days in summer, even the higher altitude air begins to swell with warmth and weakens thermal updraft. Additionally, wind from the south brings warm air, and this will also impede thermals from the ground rising.

Now, let's flip the coin. On a night where the stars are clearly visible, Earth radiates infrared into space, giving up her heat, letting it escape into the cosmos. The result? The ground cools and, come morning, is primed for thermal generation. In contrast, an overcast sky acts like a thermal blanket, retaining the day's warmth and inhibiting the birth of robust thermals during the day.

A pending cold front is a paraglider's unexpected ally. Regardless of how much the sun's rays are veiled, a cold front brings dramatic thermals. As the cold airmass collides with the warmer air, the warm air is wedged and is elevated.

The temperature contrast between valley and mountain top plays a critical role in the thermal strength. Broad differences are perfect for the sun's morning rays to stir the valley and mountains into a thermal dance. But recent rain can also delay the surface warming, slowing down the thermal updraft generation. Paradoxically, if the temperature difference is too dramatic, the rising air become disorganized, rather than staying in a column, making paraglider usable thermals difficult to find.

Spring into mid-summer – that's the sweet spot for longer, 30-60 minute flights. In particular, spring's youthful energy give birth to the strongest thermals. By late summer, these thermal mini “tornados” mellow, becoming less forceful.

In essence, paragliding is a dance with the invisible. It's a thrilling blend of understanding weather patterns and harnessing their energy, a challenge that adds layers of complexity and unpredictability to the sport, making every flight an adventure.