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Shelley Beach

Shelley Beach is a paragliding flying site at 91 m elevation, in the Western Australia region of AU. The launch faces SE. This page consolidates multi-model weather forecasts, the GO / CAUTION / NO-GO flyability score, the vertical windgram and the thermal emagram so pilots can plan their flight in one place.

Wind and orientation. Shelley Beach flies in SE winds, meaning the airflow must come head-on into the launch. Any component outside that window triggers CAUTION or NO-GO depending on intensity. The launch is rated safe up to 43 km/h sustained wind, beyond which ParaRidge switches to NO-GO. The hourly forecast table and the vertical windgram both show wind direction and speed at takeoff altitude, hour by hour, for the next five days.

Weather model and forecast. For Shelley Beach, ParaRidge auto-selects the best-available model (HRDPS, GDPS or GFS in North America; AROME, ICON-D2 or ECMWF in Europe), then surfaces hourly forecasts for today and the next four days. The windgram stacks the vertical wind profile of every hour into one chart; the emagram reveals cloud base, thermal ceiling and the instability band — the three pieces of information needed to estimate whether the day is flyable and how long the thermals will last.

How to read the GO / CAUTION / NO-GO verdict. ParaRidge cross-references the forecast wind direction against the launch's orientation window, the wind speed against the safety limit, and the gust speed against the maximum threshold. GO means every check passes; CAUTION that at least one threshold is borderline (you stay pilot in command); NO-GO that the direction is wrong or the wind exceeds the window. The reasons are always spelled out — no opaque score, no magic. At Shelley Beach as anywhere else, the final go decision remains the pilot's, after local briefing and direct observation.

Fly your own decision

Spot info is community-sourced and may be outdated. The weather shown is a numerical model, not real-time observed conditions — actual wind on launch can differ. Landing-zone details (surface, obstacles, access, livestock) must be verified locally before every flight. Always cross-check with local clubs and pilots. ParaRidge is not responsible for any incident.

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Shelley Beach

91 mAustralia›Western Australia
—Not rated yet·0 votes
Takeoff

main

91 m · SE

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Landing

main

6 m

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One of the best known coastal sites in WA, a large coastal site suitable for beginners with fantastic scenery, good access and a developed take off area with wooden hang glider ramps. Getting There:laning on the beach (photo Georgina Bass) Turn Left off Lower Denmark Road at the signposted turn off to Cosy Corner. Turn Right up hill after the Torbay Hotel, then left onto a good gravel road at the top of the hill. Follow this to the end where it splits right to the lookout/takeoff and left down to the bottom landing, beach and camping ground. Flying: Be aware of other pilots attempting to top land when setting up. Rotor behind take off and at often at SW end of main ridge. There is a steep valley between the take off hill and the main ridge. In more Southerly winds the main ridge may be unflyable due to Rotor, but the take off hill OK. In a more Easterly wind the take off hill will generate very little lift and it may be necessary to glide straight across to the main ridge. This can make top landing impossiblke if the wind is light as the valley cannot be crossed back with sufficient hieght. There is a substantial wind gradient at take off so the wind may be stronger than it feels on the ramp. No commercial activities including teaching and tandems are permitted in the National Park without the relevant Dept of CALM permit. Flying from Shelleys is an approved activity in the National Park Management Plan. http://www.naturebase.net/national_parks/management/index.html#management_plans Shelley Beach: paragliding site in Western Australia, Australia. Elevation 91 m.

Forecast · ACCESS_G

NESW
Takeoff

No flyability data

91 m

Model· fine-mesh → global

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Which model should I pick?

Fine-mesh models (1–3 km: HRDPS, AROME, ICON-D2, HRRR) resolve terrain and thermals well, but only reach +1 to +2 days. Use them for the day you actually fly.

Coarse-mesh models (10–25 km: GDPS, ARPEGE, ECMWF, GFS) miss valley detail but reach +3 to +10 days. Use them to scout a window 3+ days out, then re-check on a fine-mesh model the day before.

Advanced analysis
Fine mesh — accurate here · ★ recommendedRegional — trendGlobal — big picture

Day · Windgram / Emagram

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