Caron Sud
📍 Rhone-Alpes , Departement de la Savoie · Nearest city: Val Thorens (4 km)
62 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 3140 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
45.26450, 6.55800Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-20 13:21 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Día volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~2051 m, viento 19 km/h.
base ~2051m · wind 19 km/hDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~1219 m, viento 20 km/h.
base ~1219m · wind 20 km/hDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~1640 m, viento 22 km/h.
base ~1640m · wind 22 km/hDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~930 m, viento 10 km/h.
base ~930m · wind 10 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Detailed hourly weather
2026-04-20❌ Not recommended · peak 65 at 13h
- Cobertura nubosa >85% — sin radiación para disparar
- Cloud suck alto (100/100) — base bajo freezing con CU
| 08 30 ☁️⚠️ | 09 30 ☁️⚠️ | 10 35 ☁️⚠️ | 11 30 ☁️⚠️ | 12 50 ☁️⚠️ | 13 65 ☁️⚠️ | 14 40 ☁️⚠️ | 15 40 ☁️⚠️ | 16 40 ☁️⚠️ | 17 40 ☁️⚠️ | 18 40 ☁️⚠️ | 19 50 ☁️⚠️ | 20 50 ☁️⚠️ |
Peak 13h: CAPE 0 J/kg · LI 3.2 · BL top 965 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 4127 m · 0°C at 2820 m · Pro score 76/100 · sun 40° over slope
2026-04-21❌ Not recommended · peak 55 at 16h
- Día muy estable (CAPE<50, LI>2) — sin térmicas
- Cloud suck alto (87/100) — base bajo freezing con CU
| 08 30 ☁️⚠️ | 09 30 ☁️⚠️ | 10 30 ☁️⚠️ | 11 30 ☁️⚠️ | 12 50 ☁️⚠️ | 13 30 ☁️⚠️ | 14 30 ☁️⚠️ | 15 30 ☁️⚠️ | 16 55 ☁️⚠️ | 17 55 ☁️⚠️ | 18 55 ☁️⚠️ | 19 55 ☁️⚠️ | 20 50 ☁️⚠️ |
Peak 16h: CAPE 0 J/kg · LI 3.3 · BL top 1295 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 3977 m · 0°C at 2560 m · Pro score 74/100 · sun 25° over slope
Hourly flyability (0–100). ⛈️ = storm risk · ☁️⚠️ = cloud suck · 🏔️ = active ridge lift. CAPE = convective energy, LI = stability, BL top = thermal ceiling, w* = estimated dry thermal velocity. Source: Open-Meteo (ECMWF/GFS/ICON blend model).
Estimated vertical profile (Sounding)
Reference time: 13:00 (peak of the day)
Surface T: -1.3°C · Td: -9.2°C
LCL (cloud base): 987 m
BL top: 965 m
0°C level: 2820 m
Approximate profile from surface variables + synoptic levels. Red lines = temperature, dashed blue = dew point. Orange bands = detected inversions.
Wind chart — altitude × time
Color: green < 20 km/h · yellow 20-30 · red >40. Arrows point to where the wind is blowing. Each column = 1 hour. 4 altitudes: 10m surface, 80m first thermal, 1500m (850 hPa) thermal cruise, 3000m (700 hPa) top.
Wind next days (Open-Meteo model)
Wind rose 10m — 2026-04-20
| Date | Morning 08-12h | Midday 12-16h | Evening 16-20h | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-20 | 10 km/h N | gust 29 | 15 km/h NW | gust 31 | 16 km/h N | gust 32 |
| 2026-04-21 | 7 km/h NW | gust 31 | 10 km/h NW | gust 27 | 12 km/h NW | gust 29 |
Colors: green < 15 km/h (optimal) · orange 15-25 · red >25 (flying not recommended). ⚠️ = shear >25 km/h between 10m and 850 hPa (potentially broken thermals).
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 5 | Medium |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.77 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.57 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
Under beginning of Black Slope of Caron, a little walk from Cable Car Station
Rules and notes
NEVER TAKE OFF ON OPEN SLOPE NEVER LAND ON OPEN SLOPE
Pilot comments
http://www.valthorens.com/hiver-fr/val-thorens/live/balises-meteo.59.html winds in real time (no average winds) The winds in 'Moraine' are stonger cause Venturi of the Glacier du Col.
Nearby sites
Caron Ouest (56) · Caron Nord (56) · Les 2 lacs (38) · Mont de la chambre (52) · Pointe de la Masse (61) · Modane - valfrejus (49)