Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
191 UXUS97 KGJT 031307 SRGGJT Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado 707 AM MDT Monday, June 3, 2024 This forecast is for Monday, June 3, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 81.4 F/27.5 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1354 ft/min (6.9 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 20859 ft MSL (16020 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 91.0 F/33.2 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 1030 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1400 MDT Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast thin middle Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 17278 ft MSL (12438 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Tuesday 06/04...... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:49:00 / 20:35:54 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 46 min 54 sec (886 min 54 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:12:27 MDT... 73.11 degrees Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 06/03/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 14473 ft MSL (9634 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 18250 ft MSL (13411 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 19486 ft MSL (14647 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... +1.3 K index......................... +16.0 Height Temperature Wind Wind Spd Lapse Rate ConvectionT Thermal Lift Rate ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft deg C deg F Index fpm m/s -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50000 -58.4 -73.1 275 27 14 1.9 1.0 99.9 211.9 38.7 M M 45000 -58.3 -72.9 295 26 14 -4.8 -2.7 74.4 165.9 25.7 M M 40000 -59.5 -75.1 340 55 28 7.7 4.2 49.4 121.0 11.0 M M 38000 -54.6 -66.3 340 41 21 8.4 4.6 48.1 118.5 10.4 M M 36000 -49.9 -57.8 325 33 17 7.7 4.2 46.4 115.5 9.5 M M 34000 -44.2 -47.6 330 30 15 8.9 4.9 46.1 114.9 9.5 M M 32000 -38.5 -37.3 315 30 16 8.5 4.7 44.9 112.8 8.9 M M 30000 -33.4 -28.1 300 29 15 7.5 4.1 44.0 111.1 8.4 M M 29000 -31.2 -24.2 290 35 18 7.6 4.2 43.1 109.6 7.9 M M 28000 -28.8 -19.8 290 30 15 9.2 5.1 42.3 108.2 7.3 M M 27000 -26.1 -15.0 280 30 15 6.5 3.6 42.1 107.8 7.2 M M 26000 -24.2 -11.6 280 29 15 6.7 3.7 40.9 105.6 6.3 M M 25000 -22.2 -8.0 280 28 14 8.2 4.5 39.7 103.5 5.4 M M 24000 -19.7 -3.5 265 29 15 8.0 4.4 39.2 102.6 5.0 M M 23000 -17.3 0.9 265 22 11 8.0 4.4 38.6 101.4 4.5 M M 22000 -15.1 4.8 265 17 9 8.0 4.4 37.7 99.9 3.9 M M 21000 -15.7 3.7 300 25 13 -0.6 -0.3 33.6 92.5 0.4 M M 20000 -13.3 8.1 285 26 13 7.0 3.9 33.0 91.4 -0.2 1466 7.4 19500 -12.7 9.1 280 25 13 4.4 2.4 32.0 89.6 -1.0 1434 7.3 19000 -12.1 10.2 275 24 12 5.3 2.9 31.1 88.0 -1.8 1398 7.1 18500 -11.1 12.0 275 25 13 7.6 4.2 30.5 86.9 -2.4 1356 6.9 18000 -9.9 14.2 275 25 13 8.3 4.6 30.3 86.5 -2.6 1304 6.6 17500 -8.0 17.6 280 24 13 8.4 4.6 29.9 85.9 -3.0 1226 6.2 17000 -6.8 19.8 275 26 13 8.3 4.6 29.7 85.5 -3.2 1174 6.0 16500 -5.5 22.1 280 24 12 9.3 5.1 29.5 85.1 -3.4 1121 5.7 16000 -4.1 24.6 275 21 11 9.4 5.2 29.5 85.1 -3.4 1064 5.4 15500 -2.7 27.1 280 22 11 9.4 5.2 29.5 85.1 -3.4 1007 5.1 15000 -1.3 29.7 270 21 11 9.4 5.2 29.5 85.1 -3.5 950 4.8 14500 0.1 32.2 265 21 11 9.4 5.2 29.5 85.0 -3.5 893 4.5 14000 1.5 34.7 265 21 11 9.4 5.2 29.4 85.0 -3.6 835 4.2 13500 3.0 37.4 265 19 10 9.4 5.2 29.4 84.9 -3.6 778 4.0 13000 4.4 39.9 260 17 9 9.4 5.2 29.3 84.8 -3.7 721 3.7 12500 5.8 42.4 270 16 8 9.4 5.2 29.3 84.7 -3.7 664 3.4 12000 7.2 45.0 260 17 9 9.4 5.2 29.2 84.6 -3.8 607 3.1 11500 8.6 47.5 255 16 8 9.4 5.2 29.1 84.4 -4.0 550 2.8 11000 10.0 50.0 245 16 8 9.5 5.2 29.0 84.2 -4.1 493 2.5 10500 11.4 52.5 240 16 8 9.7 5.3 29.0 84.1 -4.1 435 2.2 10250 12.1 53.8 235 16 8 8.3 4.6 28.9 84.1 -4.2 407 2.1 10000 12.7 54.9 235 16 8 7.6 4.2 28.7 83.7 -4.3 382 1.9 9750 13.3 55.9 245 14 7 9.3 5.1 28.6 83.6 -4.5 356 1.8 9500 14.0 57.2 240 13 7 8.3 4.5 28.6 83.5 -4.6 330 1.7 9250 14.5 58.1 240 12 6 7.1 3.9 28.4 83.2 -4.8 306 1.6 9000 15.1 59.2 235 9 5 7.3 4.0 28.2 82.8 -5.0 282 1.4 8750 15.6 60.1 230 8 4 7.3 4.0 28.0 82.5 -5.2 259 1.3 8500 16.1 61.0 220 8 4 7.3 4.0 27.9 82.1 -5.4 235 1.2 8250 16.7 62.1 200 11 6 7.3 4.0 27.7 81.8 -5.6 212 1.1 8000 17.2 63.0 185 9 5 7.3 4.0 27.5 81.4 -5.8 188 1.0 7750 17.8 64.0 175 10 5 7.2 4.0 27.3 81.1 -6.0 164 0.8 7500 18.3 64.9 160 13 7 7.6 4.1 27.1 80.7 -6.2 141 0.7 7250 18.8 65.8 155 17 9 6.3 3.5 26.9 80.4 -6.4 117 0.6 7000 19.1 66.4 150 21 11 0.5 0.3 26.4 79.6 -6.9 101 0.5 6750 19.0 66.2 150 23 12 -2.6 -1.4 25.5 78.0 -7.7 98 0.5 6500 18.9 66.0 145 25 13 -0.8 -0.4 24.7 76.4 -8.6 93 0.5 6250 18.9 66.0 145 26 13 -0.5 -0.3 23.9 75.0 -9.3 86 0.4 6000 18.9 66.0 140 25 13 1.3 0.7 23.1 73.7 -10.1 79 0.4 5750 19.0 66.2 140 23 12 2.7 1.5 22.6 72.7 -10.7 67 0.3 5500 19.2 66.6 130 18 9 3.1 1.7 22.1 71.7 -11.3 55 0.3 5250 19.3 66.7 120 14 7 0.4 0.2 21.5 70.7 -11.9 43 0.2 5000 19.0 66.2 105 11 5 -8.0 -4.4 20.5 68.9 -13.0 46 0.2 * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 06/03/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/03/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +0.6 | CAPE... +0.2 LI... +1.0 CINH... -0.2 K Index... +21.4 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +20.0 | Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50000 -59.7 -75.5 285 22 11 -1.3 -0.7 | -60.3 -76.5 275 26 13 -2.4 -1.3 45000 -61.0 -77.8 305 27 14 1.5 0.8 | -62.8 -81.0 290 33 17 2.6 1.4 40000 -58.4 -73.1 325 41 21 7.2 4.0 | -58.4 -73.1 300 36 18 8.2 4.5 38000 -53.3 -63.9 320 38 19 8.5 4.7 | -53.0 -63.4 300 32 17 8.9 4.9 36000 -48.1 -54.6 315 35 18 8.5 4.7 | -47.7 -53.9 300 29 15 8.9 4.9 34000 -43.0 -45.4 310 31 16 8.7 4.8 | -42.4 -44.3 300 28 14 8.7 4.8 32000 -37.7 -35.9 305 27 14 8.7 4.8 | -37.2 -35.0 295 28 14 8.7 4.8 30000 -32.7 -26.9 300 26 13 8.3 4.5 | -32.2 -26.0 290 28 15 8.2 4.5 29000 -30.2 -22.4 300 26 13 8.3 4.5 | -29.7 -21.5 285 29 15 8.2 4.5 28000 -27.7 -17.9 295 26 13 8.3 4.6 | -27.3 -17.1 285 29 15 8.2 4.5 27000 -25.6 -14.1 295 26 13 6.5 3.6 | -25.1 -13.2 280 30 15 6.6 3.6 26000 -23.2 -9.8 290 27 14 6.5 3.5 | -22.7 -8.9 280 31 16 6.6 3.6 25000 -21.3 -6.3 290 27 14 6.5 3.6 | -20.7 -5.3 280 32 16 6.7 3.7 24000 -19.6 -3.3 290 28 14 5.5 3.0 | -19.0 -2.2 280 31 16 5.4 3.0 23000 -18.0 -0.4 285 27 14 5.5 3.0 | -17.4 0.7 275 30 16 5.4 3.0 22000 -16.4 2.5 285 27 14 5.5 3.0 | -15.9 3.4 275 29 15 5.4 3.0 21000 -14.7 5.5 280 26 13 5.8 3.2 | -14.2 6.4 270 28 14 5.7 3.1 20000 -13.0 8.6 280 25 13 5.9 3.2 | -12.6 9.3 265 27 14 5.7 3.1 19500 -12.1 10.2 275 25 13 5.9 3.3 | -11.7 10.9 260 26 13 5.7 3.1 19000 -11.3 11.7 275 25 13 6.5 3.5 | -10.9 12.4 260 25 13 6.0 3.3 18500 -10.3 13.5 275 24 12 7.1 3.9 | -10.0 14.0 260 25 13 6.3 3.5 18000 -9.2 15.4 270 24 12 7.1 3.9 | -9.1 15.6 255 25 13 6.2 3.4 17500 -8.2 17.2 270 24 12 7.1 3.9 | -8.1 17.4 255 25 13 7.0 3.8 17000 -7.1 19.2 270 23 12 7.2 3.9 | -7.1 19.2 250 25 13 7.0 3.8 16500 -6.1 21.0 265 23 12 7.7 4.2 | -6.0 21.2 250 25 13 7.6 4.2 16000 -4.9 23.2 265 22 11 8.0 4.4 | -4.8 23.4 250 25 13 8.1 4.4 15500 -3.7 25.3 265 22 11 8.1 4.5 | -3.6 25.5 245 25 13 8.2 4.5 15000 -2.4 27.7 265 21 11 8.6 4.7 | -2.3 27.9 245 25 13 8.7 4.8 14500 -1.2 29.8 265 21 11 8.5 4.7 | -1.0 30.2 245 24 13 8.6 4.7 14000 0.1 32.2 260 20 10 9.0 4.9 | 0.3 32.5 245 24 12 9.2 5.0 13500 1.5 34.7 260 20 10 9.0 4.9 | 1.6 34.9 245 23 12 9.1 5.0 13000 2.8 37.0 260 20 10 9.2 5.1 | 3.0 37.4 240 23 12 9.2 5.0 12500 4.2 39.6 255 19 10 9.3 5.1 | 4.4 39.9 240 22 11 9.2 5.0 12000 5.6 42.1 255 19 10 8.9 4.9 | 5.7 42.3 240 22 11 9.1 5.0 11500 6.9 44.4 250 19 10 8.7 4.8 | 7.1 44.8 240 21 11 9.1 5.0 11000 8.2 46.8 250 18 9 7.5 4.1 | 8.4 47.1 240 20 10 8.2 4.5 10500 9.2 48.6 250 18 9 6.1 3.4 | 9.6 49.3 240 20 10 7.6 4.1 10250 9.8 49.6 250 18 9 10.3 5.7 | 10.2 50.4 240 19 10 11.2 6.2 10000 10.7 51.3 245 17 9 10.7 5.9 | 11.2 52.2 240 19 10 10.8 5.9 9750 11.3 52.3 245 17 9 6.8 3.7 | 11.8 53.2 245 18 9 7.6 4.2 9500 11.8 53.2 245 16 8 7.6 4.2 | 12.4 54.3 245 17 9 7.9 4.3 9250 12.4 54.3 245 16 8 8.3 4.6 | 13.0 55.4 245 17 9 10.0 5.5 9000 13.6 56.5 240 14 7 6.8 3.7 | 14.5 58.1 245 16 8 8.0 4.4 8750 14.1 57.4 235 13 7 7.3 4.0 | 15.1 59.2 245 15 8 8.9 4.9 8500 14.7 58.5 235 13 6 6.8 3.7 | 15.8 60.4 250 14 7 7.6 4.2 8250 15.2 59.4 235 12 6 6.2 3.4 | 16.3 61.3 255 12 6 8.5 4.7 8000 15.6 60.1 235 11 6 6.2 3.4 | 17.0 62.6 255 12 6 10.5 5.7 7750 16.1 61.0 225 11 5 6.7 3.7 | 17.8 64.0 255 12 6 10.8 5.9 7500 16.6 61.9 220 10 5 5.2 2.9 | 18.6 65.5 255 12 6 9.1 5.0 7250 16.9 62.4 215 9 5 3.9 2.2 | 19.2 66.6 260 11 6 7.6 4.2 7000 17.3 63.1 215 8 4 7.0 3.9 | 19.9 67.8 260 11 6 10.4 5.7 6750 17.9 64.2 205 7 4 8.8 4.8 | 20.7 69.3 260 11 6 12.0 6.6 6500 18.5 65.3 200 7 4 7.9 4.4 | 21.6 70.9 260 10 5 10.8 5.9 6250 19.1 66.4 190 6 3 8.0 4.4 | 22.4 72.3 265 10 5 10.9 6.0 6000 19.7 67.5 185 5 2 7.8 4.3 | 23.2 73.8 270 9 5 8.7 4.8 5750 20.4 68.7 190 5 3 12.1 6.6 | 23.9 75.0 265 9 5 14.7 8.0 5500 22.1 71.8 175 4 2 40.0 21.9 | 26.9 80.4 275 8 4 83.4 45.7 5250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 5000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 06/03/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/03/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +0.8 LI... +0.4 | CAPE... +5.1 LI... -0.2 CINH... -7.4 K Index... +21.8 | CINH... -12.1 K Index... +24.3 | Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50000 -60.5 -76.9 275 29 15 -2.4 -1.3 | -60.4 -76.7 280 31 16 -1.7 -0.9 45000 -62.6 -80.7 285 40 21 2.9 1.6 | -61.7 -79.1 285 41 21 2.6 1.4 40000 -58.0 -72.4 290 41 21 8.6 4.7 | -57.7 -71.9 285 50 26 7.0 3.8 38000 -52.5 -62.5 285 38 20 9.0 4.9 | -52.4 -62.3 280 45 23 8.9 4.9 36000 -47.1 -52.8 280 35 18 9.0 4.9 | -47.1 -52.8 275 41 21 8.9 4.9 34000 -41.9 -43.4 275 34 17 8.6 4.7 | -41.5 -42.7 275 40 20 8.2 4.5 32000 -36.7 -34.1 280 33 17 8.5 4.7 | -36.5 -33.7 270 39 20 8.3 4.5 30000 -31.9 -25.4 280 33 17 7.9 4.3 | -31.9 -25.4 270 37 19 7.6 4.2 29000 -29.5 -21.1 280 33 17 7.9 4.3 | -29.6 -21.3 270 36 18 7.6 4.2 28000 -27.2 -17.0 280 33 17 7.9 4.4 | -27.4 -17.3 270 34 18 7.7 4.2 27000 -24.7 -12.5 275 34 17 6.3 3.4 | -25.3 -13.5 270 33 17 6.7 3.7 26000 -22.8 -9.0 275 34 18 6.3 3.5 | -23.3 -9.9 270 33 17 6.7 3.7 25000 -20.9 -5.6 270 34 18 6.3 3.5 | -21.4 -6.5 270 33 17 6.7 3.7 24000 -19.2 -2.6 270 34 17 5.8 3.2 | -19.5 -3.1 265 33 17 5.8 3.2 23000 -17.5 0.5 265 32 17 5.8 3.2 | -17.8 -0.0 265 33 17 5.8 3.2 22000 -15.7 3.7 260 31 16 5.8 3.2 | -16.1 3.0 265 33 17 5.9 3.2 21000 -14.0 6.8 255 30 15 6.0 3.3 | -13.9 7.0 260 32 17 6.2 3.4 20000 -12.2 10.0 250 28 15 6.0 3.3 | -12.1 10.2 260 31 16 6.2 3.4 19500 -11.4 11.5 250 28 14 6.1 3.3 | -11.2 11.8 255 30 16 6.2 3.4 19000 -10.5 13.1 245 27 14 6.4 3.5 | -10.3 13.5 255 30 15 6.3 3.5 18500 -9.5 14.9 245 27 14 6.8 3.8 | -9.4 15.1 255 29 15 6.4 3.5 18000 -8.5 16.7 240 27 14 6.9 3.8 | -8.5 16.7 250 28 14 6.3 3.5 17500 -7.4 18.7 240 26 14 6.9 3.8 | -7.4 18.7 250 27 14 7.7 4.2 17000 -6.4 20.5 240 26 13 7.0 3.8 | -6.3 20.7 250 27 14 7.6 4.2 16500 -5.4 22.3 240 25 13 7.6 4.2 | -5.2 22.6 250 26 14 8.3 4.5 16000 -4.2 24.4 240 25 13 8.2 4.5 | -3.9 25.0 250 26 13 8.6 4.7 15500 -2.9 26.8 240 24 12 8.3 4.5 | -2.6 27.3 250 26 13 8.8 4.8 15000 -1.6 29.1 240 24 12 9.1 5.0 | -1.3 29.7 250 26 13 9.3 5.1 14500 -0.3 31.5 240 23 12 9.1 5.0 | 0.1 32.2 250 25 13 9.2 5.0 14000 1.1 34.0 240 23 12 9.4 5.1 | 1.5 34.7 250 25 13 9.8 5.4 13500 2.5 36.5 240 23 12 9.3 5.1 | 3.0 37.4 250 24 13 9.7 5.3 13000 3.9 39.0 245 23 12 9.2 5.1 | 4.4 39.9 250 24 12 9.5 5.2 12500 5.3 41.5 245 22 11 9.2 5.0 | 5.8 42.4 255 24 12 9.5 5.2 12000 6.6 43.9 245 22 11 9.3 5.1 | 7.2 45.0 255 23 12 9.4 5.2 11500 8.0 46.4 245 22 11 9.3 5.1 | 8.6 47.5 255 23 12 9.4 5.2 11000 9.4 48.9 250 22 11 8.4 4.6 | 10.0 50.0 260 22 11 8.4 4.6 10500 10.6 51.1 250 21 11 7.9 4.3 | 11.1 52.0 260 22 11 8.3 4.6 10250 11.2 52.2 250 20 10 11.6 6.4 | 11.9 53.4 260 21 11 12.0 6.6 10000 12.2 54.0 250 20 10 11.3 6.2 | 12.8 55.0 260 21 11 11.0 6.0 9750 12.9 55.2 255 20 10 8.7 4.8 | 13.5 56.3 260 21 11 8.4 4.6 9500 13.6 56.5 255 20 10 8.9 4.9 | 14.1 57.4 265 20 10 8.7 4.8 9250 15.1 59.2 255 19 10 11.0 6.1 | 14.8 58.6 265 20 10 10.1 5.5 9000 15.8 60.4 255 19 10 9.5 5.2 | 15.6 60.1 265 19 10 10.5 5.8 8750 16.6 61.9 255 19 10 10.1 5.6 | 16.3 61.3 265 19 10 9.2 5.0 8500 17.3 63.1 255 19 10 9.1 5.0 | 17.0 62.6 265 18 9 9.6 5.3 8250 18.0 64.4 260 19 10 9.4 5.1 | 17.7 63.9 265 18 9 9.1 5.0 8000 18.7 65.7 260 19 10 10.5 5.7 | 19.1 66.4 270 18 9 9.9 5.4 7750 19.5 67.1 260 19 10 10.7 5.8 | 19.8 67.6 270 17 9 10.0 5.5 7500 20.3 68.5 260 18 9 9.4 5.1 | 20.6 69.1 270 17 9 9.1 5.0 7250 20.9 69.6 260 19 10 8.0 4.4 | 21.2 70.2 270 17 9 8.1 4.4 7000 21.6 70.9 260 19 10 10.2 5.6 | 21.8 71.2 270 17 9 9.7 5.3 6750 22.4 72.3 260 18 9 11.6 6.4 | 22.6 72.7 270 16 8 10.7 5.9 6500 23.3 73.9 260 17 9 10.8 5.9 | 23.4 74.1 270 15 8 10.4 5.7 6250 24.1 75.4 260 17 9 11.0 6.0 | 24.2 75.6 275 15 8 10.7 5.9 6000 24.9 76.8 265 17 9 8.6 4.7 | 25.0 77.0 275 15 8 8.6 4.7 5750 25.5 77.9 260 16 8 13.7 7.5 | 25.5 77.9 275 13 7 8.7 4.8 5500 28.3 82.9 265 14 7 77.2 42.3 | 26.9 80.4 275 11 6 36.6 20.1 5250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 5000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M ________________________________________________________________________________ This product is issued twice per day, once by approximately 0630 MST/0730 MDT (1330 UTC) and again by approximately 1830 MST/1930 MDT (0130 UTC). It is not continuously monitored nor updated after its initial issuance. The information contained herein is based on rawinsonde observation and/or numerical weather prediction model data taken at Walker Field in Grand Junction, Colorado at North Latitude: 39 deg 07 min 00.001 sec West Longitude: 108 deg 31 min 59.998 sec Elevation: 4839 feet (1475 meters) and may not be representative of other areas along the Western Slope of Colorado. Note that some elevations in numerical weather prediction models differ from actual station elevations, which can lead to data which appear to be below ground. Erroneous data such as these should not be used. The content and format of this report as well as the issuance times are subject to change without prior notice. Comments and suggestions are welcome and should be directed to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this page. To expedite a response to comments, be sure to mention your interest in the soaring forecast. DEFINITIONS: CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) - An integrated measure of the energy available for convective development, also known as the positive area on a thermodynamic diagram. Units are Joules per kilogram. Larger values are indicative of greater instability and the possibility of stronger convective activity, including thunderstorms. Values around or greater than 1000 suggest the possibility of severe weather should convective activity develop. CINH (Convective Inhibition) - An integrated measure of the amount of energy needed to initiate convective activity, also known as the negative area on a thermodynamic diagram. Units are Joules per kilogram. The more negative this number, the more energy is required to initiate convection. This inhibitive energy can be overcome through surface heating, cooling aloft, lifting mechanisms (orographic, frontal, gravity waves, etc.) Convective Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the average saturation mixing ratio in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass, if heated sufficiently from below, will rise dry adiabatically until it just becomes saturated. It estimates the base of cumulus clouds that are produced by surface heating only. Convection Temperature (ConvectionT) - The surface temperature required to make the airmass dry adiabatic up to the given level. It can be considered a "trigger temperature" for that level. Freezing Level - The height where the temperature is zero degrees Celsius. Height of Stable Layer - The height (between 12,000 and 18,000 feet above mean sea level) where the smallest lapse rate exists. The location and existence of this feature is important in the generation of mountain waves. K Index - A measure of stability which combines the temperature difference between approximately 5,000 and 18,000 feet above the surface, the amount of moisture at approximately 5,000 feet above the surface, and a measure of the dryness at approximately 10,000 feet above the surface. Larger positive numbers indicate more instability and a greater likelihood of thunderstorm development. One interpretation of K index values regarding soaring in the western United States is given in WMO Technical Note 158 and is reproduced in the following table: below -10 no or weak thermals -10 to 5 dry thermals or 1/8 cumulus with moderate thermals 5 to 15 good soaring conditions 15 to 20 good soaring conditions with occasional showers 20 to 30 excellent soaring conditions, but increasing probability of showers and thunderstorms above 30 more than 60 percent probability of thunderstorms Lapse Rate - The change with height of the temperature. Negative values indicate inversions. Lifted Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the average dew point in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass and the forecast maximum temperature must be lifted dry adiabatically to attain saturation. Lifted Index (LI) - The difference between the environmental temperature at a level approximately 18,000 feet above the surface and the temperature of an air parcel lifted dry adiabatically from the surface to its lifted condensation level and then pseudoadiabatically thereafter to this same level. The parcel`s initial temperature is the forecast maximum temperature and its dew point is the average dew point in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass. Negative values are indicative of instability with positive values showing stable conditions. Lift Rate - An experimental estimate of the strength of thermals. It is computed the same way as the maximum rate of lift but uses the actual level rather than the maximum height of thermals in the calculation. Also, none of the empirical adjustments based on cloudiness and K-index are applied to these calculations. Maximum Height of Thermals - The height where the dry adiabat through the forecast maximum temperature intersects the environmental temperature. Maximum Rate of Lift - An estimate of the maximum strength of thermals. It is computed from an empirical formula which combines the expected maximum height of thermals with the difference in the environmental temperatures between the maximum height of thermals and the temperature 4,000 feet above the ground. After this computation, further empirical adjustments are made based on the value of the K-index and the amount and opacity of middle and high level cloudiness expected between the time of trigger temperature and the time of overdevelopment. Middle/High Clouds - The amount and opacity of middle (altostratus, altocumulus) or high (cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus) clouds. Broken means that between 60% and 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud, with overcast conditions occurring when more than 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud. Thin implies that the clouds are predominantly transparent, meaning that some sunlight is reaching the ground, in contrast to opaque which suggests that little sunlight is reaching the ground. Potential Height of Wave - The minimum of the following two heights: 1. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists) where the wind direction changes by 30 degrees or more 2. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists) where the wind speed no longer increases with height PVA/NVA - Positive vorticity advection (PVA)/negative vorticity advection (NVA) on the 500 millibar isobaric surface (approximately 18,000 feet above mean sea level). Weak PVA has been shown to assist in mountain wave soaring. Soaring Window - The time between the time the trigger temperature is reached and the time of overdevelopment. Thermal Index - The difference between the environmental temperature and the temperature at a particular level determined by following the dry adiabat through the forecast maximum temperature up to that level. Negative values are indicative of thermal lift. Thermal Soaring Index - An adjective rating (for sailplanes) based on the computed maximum rate of lift, and the wind speed and middle and high cloud cover expected during the soaring window (the time of the trigger temperature and the time of overdevelopment) according to the following: Maximum rate of lift Adjective Rating >= 800 fpm Excellent >= 400 and < 800 fpm Good >= 200 and < 400 fpm Fair < 200 fpm Poor Time of Overdevelopment - The time one or more of the following phenomena, which essentially shut off thermal lift, is expected to occur: 1. formation of broken to overcast convective cloud cover 2. formation of scattered to numerous downbursts 3. initiation of widespread precipitation Time of Trigger Temperature - The time the surface temperature is expected to reach the trigger temperature. Trigger Temperature - The surface temperature required to make the first 4000 feet of the atmosphere dry adiabatic. Wave Soaring Index - An empirical, adjective rating (for sailplanes) which attempts to combine a variety of phenomena important in mountain wave soaring into a single index number. Objective points are assigned to these phenomena: wind speed and direction at 14,000 ft MSL, the static stability in the 12,000-18,000 ft MSL layer, the wind speed gradient above the stable layer, jet stream location and frontal and upper trough movements. 042613