On the Radar

New Zealand - Soaring Weather API

New Zealand coverage is on the radar. The Omarama wave, the South Island ridges, the Wanaka and Queenstown paragliding scene - one of the most extreme soaring environments in the world by ridge and wave terms.

See live coverage

Planned specifications

ModelWRF (planned) - source model under evaluation
Target resolution4 km target
Regionthe South Island, with the North Island depending on demand
Update cadence4× daily - same contract as live regions
API contractSame JSON shape as live regions
TimeframeOn the radar
StatusOn the Radar

What New Zealand coverage will include

Same JSON contract as live regions. Final field list confirmed when New Zealand goes live.

Thermal Strength

wstar_ms - thermal updraft velocity in m/s

Soaring Height

hglider_agl_m + hglider_msl_m - usable thermalling height

Cloudbase

cloudbase_agl_ft + cloudbase_msl_m, Cu potential, OD risk

Wind

surface_wind_* plus wind_925_*, wind_850_*, wind_800_*, wind_700_*

Trigger Temperature

thermal_trigger_temp_c - surface temperature at which thermals fire

Day Rating

day_rating - poor, marginal, fair, good, excellent

Corridor Sampling

Weather along a route - time-aware available

Sounding Profile

Full vertical profile - temp, dewpoint, wind

About soaring weather in New Zealand

New Zealand wave flying is in a class of its own. The Omarama valley sits underneath some of the cleanest standing wave systems in the world, and the South Island ridges generate orographic lift that a 25 km global cell cannot see. A 4 km regional WRF is the obvious tool.

The South Island is the priority. North Island flying around Lake Taupo and Mt. Tongariro is on the roadmap, but the South Island is what most international visitors come for and the forecast value is highest there.

Day-window and sounding labels would use Pacific/Auckland.

Want New Zealand coverage next?

Join the waitlist. We email when New Zealand goes live, and waitlist demand drives launch order.

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