The wait is over for the 48th annual Great Wellsville Balloon Rally.
More than two dozen hot air balloons, pilots and crews are in town for four mass launches over three days in Island Park beginning at 6 p.m. today.
The real fun begins when the balloons get off the ground. In order for that to happen, the weather conditions must be safe for flying.
According to Seattle Ballooning, the best weather for hot air ballooning is a combination of clear skies, calm winds and comfortable temperatures, ideally between 55 and 80 degrees.
Most flights are scheduled around sunrise or just prior to sunset because that is when the wind is the calmest and the easiest to predict. Even a gentle gust can turn a launch into a wrestling match, Seattle Ballooning said.
And balloons love steady or rising barometric pressure, because it keeps the atmosphere stable, making for a smooth and safe ride.
It is not unusual for Wellsville to have heavy early morning fog. Balloonists need to see where they are going, which means both pilots and spectators play a waiting game until the fog clears up.
For the Wellsville rally, balloons can’t go up if there are thunderstorms within 80 miles of Island Park. Wind speeds of above 5 miles per hour can also jeopardize balloons flying.
Rally officials keep a close eye on weather radar and stay abreast of the most up-to-date forecasts. Experienced Wellsville Balloonmeister Tony Saxton will make the final call on whether it is safe to take off.
Here is the current National Weather Service forecast for the rally’s four scheduled balloon launches:
Friday, July 18
Forecast for 6 p.m. balloon launch
The National Weather Service couldn’t have written a better script for the rally’s first launch.
Early clouds will give way to clear skies in plenty of time for the scheduled launch, according to the Buffalo-based Nation Weather Service Office.
Temperatures in the mid to low 70s and wind out of the north at 3 to 5 miles per hour should make for ideal flying conditions.
Saturday, July 19
Forecast for 6 a.m. balloon launch
Early risers may have to wait for fog to clear, but there may be no more uplifting way to start a Saturday than viewing colorful hot air balloons take to the sky and drift over valley communities.
The Saturday morning forecast is for partly sunny skies with southwest winds at 3 to 8 miles per hour. The daytime high temperature could reach the low 80s, the Weather Service said.
Forecast for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Balloon Rally Main Street Festival
People headed to the Wellsville Chamber of Commerce Main Street Festival should probably be on the safe side and bring an umbrella along. The chance of rain is 30%, with showers and thunderstorms possible after 2 p.m.
Forecast for 6 p.m. balloon launch
The Weather Service said there is a 20% likelihood of precipitation Saturday evening, including a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Winds will be out of the southwest at 3 to 6 miles per hour.
The Saturday night launch typically draws the largest crowd of the weekend to the park and with an improving forecast, plan for more of the same this year.
The busiest day of the rally will go out with a bang. A fireworks show is scheduled at 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 20
Forecast for 6 a.m. balloon launch
Based on the National Weather Service forecast, the final launch of the Great Wellsville Balloon Rally could be touch and go, with precipitation the chief worry.
There is a 60% chance of rain, according to the Weather Service, with showers most likely before 8 a.m. The wind will be out of the northwest at 3 to 10 miles per hour.
Otherwise, look for partly sunny skies with a high temperature near 77 on Sunday.
Email Neal Simon at nsimon@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: All eyes on the sky: What’s the weather forecast for Balloon Rally weekend in Wellsville?
Reporting by Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
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