Grey forecast?
Ask before you write off the day
Tell me your dates. I'll help you read the valley weather and decide whether to wait or move.
Weather
What if the weather cancels my flight?
Short answer: Flights go ahead when conditions are safe at the launch site. A rainy morning can still turn into a flyable afternoon. Mountain weather often changes within hours.
Check hourly first
A rainy breakfast forecast can still clear. Wait for the operator's call.
MeteoSwiss
Pilots use live radar and hour-by-hour forecasts from MeteoSwiss.
Book early
Put paragliding early in your Interlaken trip so you have days left to reschedule.
What stops a flight
Rain, wind, and weather apps
Apple Weather and Google Weather are weak in the mountains, so one rain cloud at breakfast is a poor reason to write off the day.
We often have rain in the morning, cancel the first rounds, then fly beautifully after the sun comes out. Some of the best conditions of the week can follow a wet breakfast.
Pilots use MeteoSwiss: live radar, hour-by-hour forecasts, and the free app. Check our 7-day Interlaken forecast on this site too, along with the MeteoSwiss radar.
What stops a flight: strong or gusty wind at launch, active rain or thunderstorms in the flying window, low cloud or visibility, or conditions outside limits for your weight.
Operators assess conditions at the launch site with live weather data.
Mountain weather
What is the south föhn?
South föhn is a warm, dry, gusty wind that blows down the northern side of the Alps. It is one of the main reasons we cancel flights in Interlaken, even when the sky looks perfect.
How the föhn forms
It starts with a large pressure difference across the Alps. When a high-pressure system sits south of the Alps (over Italy) and a low-pressure system sits to the north, moist air is driven up the southern mountain slopes.
- The pressure difference pushes moist air up the southern slopes of the Alps.
- As the air rises, it cools and condenses into cloud.
- It drops its moisture as heavy rain or snow on the southern side.
- The dried-out air crests the peak and plunges down into the northern valleys, such as the Haslital and the valleys feeding into Interlaken.
- As it sinks it is compressed, so it heats up rapidly and accelerates.
Föhn can look like a beautiful, sunny day, but the wind is gusty and turbulent, so we don't fly. If your flight is cancelled for föhn, that means our system is working.
If your slot is grounded
Rescheduling and refunds
Short answer: If your flight is grounded for safety, operators usually offer another slot, another day, or a refund according to their booking policy.
Read the booking policy before you pay. Most reputable operators in Interlaken are reasonable when the weather blocks flying. Flexibility in your trip dates helps a lot.
Wait for your operator's call or message before assuming the day is lost. They assess conditions at the launch site with better tools than a hotel-room weather icon.
Read your booking policy when you book. Reschedule and refund rules vary by operator.
More help: best time to fly, what to expect on the day, or ask me.
Planning tip
Book early in your trip
The single best planning move: book your paragliding slot early in your Interlaken visit. Avoid your departure morning.
Booking early gives you days to move if day one fails. Leave space after your slot because weather delays happen.
Allow around 1.5–2 hours for the full experience, plus buffer time. A grey morning rarely ruins a whole Interlaken stay when you leave yourself options later in the week.