08.09.2026, News, USA

Reading Clouds Like a Cross-Country Pilot

"It is a classic beginner mistake to think every beautiful white cloud in the sky is a golden ticket to altitude. In reality, under typical fair-weather conditions, only about every third cloud actually has a usable thermal beneath its base. To avoid wasting precious altitude on a "dead" cloud, you must understand that the thermal itself is the primary phenomenon, while the cloud is merely a secondary symptom. Cumulus clouds can happily persist in the sky long after their thermal lifeline has completely dissipated. ..." [wingsandwheels.com]