Valcava
📍 Lombardy , Provincia di Bergamo · Nearest city: Costa Valle Imagna (3 km)
72 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 1215 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
45.77980, 9.50990Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-20 13:16 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Día muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~486 m, viento 12 km/h.
base ~486m · wind 12 km/hDía muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~409 m, viento 14 km/h.
base ~409m · wind 14 km/hDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~762 m, viento 8 km/h, precipitación 1.9 mm.
base ~762m · wind 8 km/h · precip 1.9mmDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~1223 m, viento 10 km/h.
base ~1223m · 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 73 at 12h
- Cobertura nubosa >85% — sin radiación para disparar
- Cloud suck alto (76/100) — base bajo freezing con CU
⏰ Useful window: 11:00 – 18:00
| 08 40 | 09 55 | 10 55 | 11 55 | 12 73 | 13 73 | 14 73 | 15 63 | 16 73 ☁️⚠️ | 17 63 | 18 55 | 19 73 | 20 73 |
Peak 12h: CAPE 90 J/kg · LI -0.7 · BL top 565 m · w* 6.4 m/s · cloud base 1702 m · 0°C at 2520 m · Pro score 68/100 · sun 40° over slope
2026-04-21❌ Not recommended · peak 73 at 13h
- Cobertura nubosa >85% — sin radiación para disparar
- Cloud suck alto (64/100) — base bajo freezing con CU
⏰ Useful window: 11:00 – 19:00
| 08 45 | 09 55 | 10 55 | 11 55 | 12 63 | 13 73 ☁️⚠️ | 14 73 ☁️⚠️ | 15 73 ☁️⚠️ | 16 73 ☁️⚠️ | 17 73 ☁️⚠️ | 18 73 ☁️⚠️ | 19 73 ☁️⚠️ | 20 73 |
Peak 13h: CAPE 220 J/kg · LI -0.8 · BL top 455 m · w* 8.0 m/s · cloud base 1852 m · 0°C at 2320 m · Pro score 78/100 · sun 40° 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: 12:00 (peak of the day)
Surface T: 11.6°C · Td: 7.7°C
LCL (cloud base): 487 m
BL top: 565 m
0°C level: 2520 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 | 5 km/h S | gust 17 | 11 km/h S | gust 22 | 8 km/h SW | gust 19 |
| 2026-04-21 | 5 km/h S | gust 18 | 8 km/h S | gust 25 | 8 km/h SE | gust 27 |
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) | 11 | High |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.87 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.78 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Upcoming competitions in this country
- PWCA Italy Gemona 2026 · 2026-07-25 – 2026-08-01 · PWCA
Copa del Mundo en Gemona del Friuli, Italia
Takeoff description
Two slopes, one facing SW and the other one facing SE.
Pilot comments
Very good site for xc flight, this is a good spot for people willing to learn xc. You can fly 10km along the ridge before having to make the first transition. The landing field is not visible from the takeoff, you have to fly aroud 'Pizzo Pec' (see picture). The first thermal is right in front of the takeoff, over the small pit 'cavetta' (see picture). The flight is beautiful, mountains up to 2400mt (Grigna), lakes, hills, flatlands, ... Flights of hundreds of km have been performed taking off from Valcava.
Nearby sites
Pratino (Foppa Martinu) (45) · Roncola (66) · San'Antonio Abbandonato (39) · Cornizzolo (73) · Monte Rena (47) · Cusio - Monte Avaro (58)