L'épine - lac d'aiguebelette
📍 Rhone-Alpes , Departement de la Savoie · Nearest city: Novalaise (3 km)
54 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 1139 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
45.60180, 5.80720Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-19 16:15 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Día volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~923 m, viento 6 km/h.
base ~923m · wind 6 km/hCondiciones marginales, base de cúmulos ~1205 m, viento 10 km/h.
base ~1205m · wind 10 km/hCondiciones marginales, base de cúmulos ~1250 m, viento 16 km/h.
base ~1250m · wind 16 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Detailed hourly weather
2026-04-20⚠️ Marginal · peak 55 at 16h
- Cobertura nubosa >85% — sin radiación para disparar
| 08 30 | 09 30 | 10 50 | 11 50 | 12 40 | 13 40 | 14 40 | 15 50 | 16 55 | 17 55 | 18 50 | 19 50 | 20 50 |
Peak 16h: CAPE 0 J/kg · LI 0.5 · BL top 1385 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 2376 m · 0°C at 2750 m · Pro score 66/100 · sun 24° over slope
2026-04-21❌ Not recommended · peak 60 at 16h
- Día muy estable (CAPE<50, LI>2) — sin térmicas
- Cloud suck alto (70/100) — base bajo freezing con CU
| 08 30 | 09 30 | 10 30 | 11 35 | 12 35 | 13 35 | 14 40 | 15 40 | 16 60 | 17 60 | 18 45 ☁️⚠️ | 19 45 ☁️⚠️ | 20 30 ☁️⚠️ |
Peak 16h: CAPE 10 J/kg · LI 3.8 · BL top 1470 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 2351 m · 0°C at 2730 m · Pro score 55/100 · sun 24° 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: 16:00 (peak of the day)
Surface T: 13.9°C · Td: 4.0°C
LCL (cloud base): 1237 m
BL top: 1385 m
0°C level: 2750 m
Approximate profile from surface variables + synoptic levels. Red lines = temperature, dashed blue = dew point. Orange bands = detected inversions.
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 3 | Medium |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.77 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.62 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
alti:1150m after 13h the breeze is coming. Thermic during the afternoon, great flight at the end of the day, over the Aiguebelette lake.
Pilot comments
good for child, there is a beautiful lake just near the site. No wind and hot water.
Nearby sites
Le chat (27) · Saint-Maurice (39) · Bande (45) · Verel pragondran (46) · Le Sire Sud (56) · Parves (43)