Can You Skydive Through Clouds?
Monday, March 31, 2025
While the idea of descending through a misty expanse sounds cinematic, the reality involves very important safety, regulatory, and meteorological considerations. If you’re wondering if you might have the chance to touch a puffy cloud while on your skydive, we’ve got your answers right here. We’ll explore the feasibility, risks and regulations of skydiving through clouds, so you can prepare for your jump ahead!
Understanding Cloud Conditions
To grasp why skydiving through clouds is a complex issue, it’s essential to understand different cloud types and their impact on skydiving. Clouds form when warm air rises, cools, and condenses into tiny water droplets or even ice crystals. Their density and altitude influence skydiving safety in various ways.
Types of Clouds and Their Impact on Skydiving
Cumulus Clouds
These are the puffy, picture-perfect clouds we all used to draw in pictures as a child. While they are typically associated with fair weather, they can develop into storm clouds with strong updrafts and turbulence.
Stratus Clouds
Stratus clouds are low-hanging, blanket-like clouds that reduce visibility and may contain precipitation – no bueno for jumping conditions!
Nimbostratus Clouds
If you spot these thick, dark clouds in the area you can bet that your jump is going to be a no-go. These clouds bring steady rain or even snow, increasing the chances of dangerous conditions that limit visibility and potentially cause icing.
Cirrus Clouds
On the other hand, Cirrus clouds that are usually located at higher altitudes, may not be a cause of concern for your skydive. These wispy clouds are typically too high in altitude to impact skydiving but we will want to keep an eye on them as they could indicate incoming weather changes.
Cumulonimbus Clouds
Towering storm clouds that generate lightning, turbulence, and severe updrafts are a sure sign that jumping will not occur that day. We are not the ones to mess with the wrath of nature.
Skydiving Through Clouds: How They Can Affect Your Jump
Clouds impact skydiving in various ways that you can’t always see with the human-eye. Visibility, temperature, and even turbulence can all be affected by clouds.
Visibility
An obvious, maybe not-so-obvious, impact of cloud cover is visibility. We need to be able to see the dropzone from the airplane in order to navigate back to the landing area with as little obstruction possible – making for the best opportunity for a successful landing.
Additionally, cloud cover can increase the risk of mid-air collisions with other jumpers or aircraft. Without visual reference points, you could become confused about your position in space, causing disorientation and leading to dangerous maneuvers.
If there are clouds in between the jump altitude and the ground, you can expect that jumping will be put on hold until clouds clear.
Temperature
The air inside clouds is often cooler, which can lead to discomfort or unexpected changes in parachute performance.
Turbulence
Certain clouds can create unpredictable air currents that have the power to destabilize your parachute, take you off course, and impact your flight.
Safety Regulations: Can You Skydive Through a Cloud?
At Skydive STL, we are proud members of the United States Parachute Association (USPA) and uphold the highest standards when it comes to their specific rules and regulations. Safety is our top priority, and following the USPA guidelines ensures the safest possible experience for our guests and staff.
The USPA and FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) work together to enforce strict visibility rules for skydivers and pilots, which prohibit skydiving through clouds due to safety concerns. Section 105.17 in the FAR (Federal Aviation Regulations) states:
“No person may conduct a parachute operation, and no pilot in command of an aircraft may allow a parachute operation to be conducted from that aircraft –
- Into or through a cloud, or
- When the flight visibility or the distance from any cloud is less than that prescribed in the following table:”
| Altitude (Mean Sea Level) | Flight Visibility(Statute Miles) | Distance from Clouds |
| 1,200 feet or less above the surface regardless of the MSL altitude | 3 | 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 2,000 feet horizontal. |
| More than 1,200 feet above the surface but less than 10,000 feet MSL | 3 | 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 2,000 feet horizontal. |
| More than 1,200 feet above the surface and at or above 10,000 feet MSL | 5 | 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 1 mile horizontal. |
So, can you skydive through clouds even if you wanted to? The answer is a big ’ol nope! This isn’t to keep you from achieving your dreams, it’s simply to keep you as safe as possible while enjoying the adventure of a lifetime.
Safety Protocols and Recommendations
Before each jump, the weather is assessed to determine if conditions are favorable for jump operations. The dropzone will look at cloud coverage, precipitation, wind, and temperature.
When it comes to measuring the clouds, we use multiple aviation systems in place to help us determine where the clouds are, how far the spread is, and about what time they should be cleared. As we all know, weather can be pretty unpredictable so we will use these measurements with precaution and keep our eyes on the clouds that are above us and within a reasonable distance.
To determine cloud coverage, we use AWOS (Automated Weather Observation System) and weather predicting tools like US Air Sports Net – which will give us its best guess at the cloud base and percentage of coverage in your local area.
To make the call, Skydive STL will:
- Monitor Forecasts: Pay close attention to weather updates, wind reports and cloud cover predictions before each jump.
- Discuss with the Safety & Training Advisor and Pilots: Our experienced staff can provide real-time insights on whether conditions are suitable for jumping. Even if the dropzone says weather conditions are good, it must be cleared with the pilot to ensure they are comfortable flying in the conditions.
- Follow Legal Restrictions: Always comply with local aviation and skydiving regulations to ensure the best chance at a successful skydive.
If your jump gets canceled because of clouds, you will either have the option to wait it out OR you can go ahead and reschedule your jump for another day that works for you.
Skydiving through clouds introduces significant risks that can change your skydive from a thrilling adventure to a dangerous one very quickly. Jumping in good weather conditions can be a gamechanger for having the best skydiving experience ever! This is why skydivers across the world wish each other “Blue skies!”
Book your tandem skydive today – we can’t wait for you to fly with us! Blue skies!
