Firle Beacon Weather Station

Current Weather

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Station Details

Public Access by Telephone

Live Winds NOW call 0900-900-7000 and enter 02 after the opening beep.

Calls cost 50p/min at all times. Details...

Subscribers Access

Subscribers call 01273-858-174   Details... and help....

Station Situation

Firle Wendy station is on top of one of the twin radio masts at Firle, southeast of Lewes, in Sussex. For detailed location, see the linked map.|OS Grid ref: TQ470060|Altitude: 492ft (150m)

Interpreting Readings

The actual site at Firle takes winds principally from NNE and NE, but the Wendy station is used to check the winds for other nearby hills, which take other wind directions. The anemometer is approx 150 feet above ground level, and is thus not screened in any direction, and gives true wind speeds for that height. However, fliers should appreciate that winds at the takeoff will be often much lower than the station's readout.The site owners, Sussex Police, have asked us to re-site the sensors on a pole on the brick buildings, approx 25-30ft above ground, rather than 150 feet up on the tower. Therefore, when this happens (late 2009 seems likely) the readings will be considerably lower, and more representative of winds at takeoff.

Pilot Notes

The site is used by Hang Gliders, and Paragliders who belong to the Southern Hang Gliding Club who should be contacted before flying a Hang or Paraglider in the area.

Local contacts

Southern Hang Gliding Club

Service Status

On Thursday 10th Dec 2009, the wind sensors were removed from the top of the tower where they were 150 feet up in the air, and were remounted much lower, in a new location, around 25 feet above ground level, at the request of the site owners. Therefore, be aware that the readings will be considerably lower than you are used to for the same conditions. I think the readings will reflect the situation at takeoff a bit more than in the past, being lower down.