Free flyer, we need to know what are the wind conditions and, more so, how they will develop as the day progress - should we decide to get airborne.

Today there is a plethora of meteorological sites; we suggest as follows. For wind and weather XCweather and the MetOffice; they should be read together as one could be somewhat more accurate for wind data, while the other could be more accurate regarding precipitations.

 Webcam:
Stirling Uni. (5min updates)
Alloa Tower (1min updates)
Portmoak (Lomomd Hill) (30min updates)

To fly in our area checking XCWeather for Stirling / Dollar gives a good indication of the wind for the Ochil Hills - while Stirling / Kippen provide wind forecast over the northerly sites.
    - XCweather - Stirling     - XCweather - Dollar     - Xcweather - Kippen

Similarly the MetOffice 5-days forecast in the same configuration provides similar data - precipitations being somewhat more accurate.
    - MetOffice - Stirling     - MetOffice - Dollar     - MetOffice - Kippen

And for the more scientifically minded: Weather Chart - Animation
or on Windy: Weather in Motion

Another source of interest is the "WindAlert" data for: WA - Menstrie

- Thermal conditions:

A good Updraft indicator can be found on the Regional Atmospheric Soaring Prediction (RASP) maps provided by Leeds Metropolitan University. This site superimposes Updraft predictions over a Google map providing pilot with information on where and how thermals develop during the day. The SHPF has created a 'quick-glance' set of pages - named: Lazy RASP - that allows an appreciation of conditions before jumping to more details for a particular day and time.

- Practice:

A spot check of any of these sites may mean very little, it is with experience that a pilot learns to assimilate the data provided to a more comprehensive interpretation of the day forecast. Keep getting at it - observing the weather even on days you are not flying - you will be amazed at how much better you can correlate the data given to what is actually happening. And yet - it can all be wrong - on occasion!