Mass ascensions cancelled at Balloon Fiesta, the role weather plays in flight
The excessive rain outlook published by the NOAA on Wednesday showed New Mexico as the only state to have excessive rain that could lead to flooding.
The excessive rain outlook published by the NOAA on Wednesday showed New Mexico as the only state to have excessive rain that could lead to flooding.
The excessive rain outlook published by the NOAA on Wednesday showed New Mexico as the only state to have excessive rain that could lead to flooding.
For the second time in five days, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta canceled mass ascension, where hot air balloons take off. KOAT spoke with one of the Balloon Fiesta meteorologists who said there are still some mornings this week where mass ascension could still happen.
Rounds of rain fell over Balloon Fiesta Park on Wednesday.
"We were at pilot's briefing this morning and the only place in the whole United States that had rain was in New Mexico. So yeah, it's a bummer," said Scott Appleman, a lifelong balloonist and the founder of Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Co.
The excessive rain outlook published by the NOAA on Wednesday showed New Mexico as the only state to have excessive rain that could lead to flooding.
Appleman said he was forced to tell 350 passengers that their flights were canceled, when the red flag went up signaling the balloons would stay grounded.
"What the problem is, is that we have that hurricane that came up through Florida and wreaked havoc all across the East Coast," Brad Temeyer, a meteorologist for Balloon Fiesta, Said. "We happen to be caught in a really bad spot in the fact that there was a low pressure across the Rocky Mountains and it just couldn't move because that hurricane was across the East Coast. That low pressure just kind of hung around through the weekend and led to inclement weather showers and thunderstorms."
Temeyer added that on top of the rain, there were also low clouds.
"With the monsoon, we were dealing with a very saturated atmosphere and for a time even this morning, you couldn't even see the mountain, like because it was completely shrouded in clouds," Temeyer said.
The low clouds can reduce visibility for balloon pilots and make it unsafe to fly.
Thankfully, the weather forecast for the next few days doesn't show constant downpours. And Teymeyer said all balloonists need is a window of opportunity.
"The one good thing is that it looks like the morning should still be fairly good. As long as we don't have rain threatening Balloon Fiesta park itself, we'll be able to do something," Temeyer said. "I think there are our chances for windows of opportunity, both Thursday, Friday, and potentially Sunday, too."