Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
352 UXUS97 KPUB 021210 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0610 MDT Sunday, June 2, 2024 This forecast is for the Air Force Academy for Sunday, June 2, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 71.1 F/21.7 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1981 ft/min (10.1 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 27004 ft MSL (19383 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 85.0 F/29.9 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0900 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1700 MDT Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 22319 ft MSL (14698 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 06/03....... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:34:52 / 20:19:59 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 45 min 6 sec (885 min 6 sec) Altitude of sun at 12:57:26 MDT... 73.33 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/02/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 14964 ft MSL (7343 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 23099 ft MSL (15478 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 24416 ft MSL (16795 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -1.8 K index......................... +0.4 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 -57.7 -71.9 260 38 19 -0.4 -0.2 M M M M M 45000 -58.4 -73.1 260 51 26 -0.8 -0.4 M M M M M 40000 -59.5 -75.1 240 51 26 -1.6 -0.9 M M M M M 38000 -55.0 -67.0 245 49 25 7.6 4.1 M M M M M 36000 -50.4 -58.7 250 46 24 7.6 4.1 M M M M M 34000 -45.8 -50.4 255 44 23 7.9 4.3 M M M M M 32000 -41.1 -42.0 255 43 22 7.9 4.3 M M M M M 30000 -36.4 -33.5 255 42 22 7.7 4.2 31.7 89.0 1.7 M M 29000 -34.1 -29.4 255 41 21 7.7 4.2 30.9 87.6 1.1 M M 28000 -31.8 -25.2 255 41 21 7.7 4.2 30.2 86.4 0.6 M M 27000 -29.4 -20.9 255 40 21 8.0 4.4 29.5 85.1 0.0 M M 26000 -27.0 -16.6 255 39 20 8.0 4.4 28.8 83.9 -0.5 1886 9.6 25000 -24.6 -12.3 255 38 20 8.0 4.4 28.2 82.8 -1.0 1784 9.1 24000 -22.3 -8.1 255 37 19 7.3 4.0 27.5 81.6 -1.6 1685 8.6 23000 -19.5 -3.1 250 36 19 7.3 4.0 26.4 79.5 -2.6 1565 8.0 22000 -17.3 0.9 250 36 18 7.4 4.0 25.6 78.1 -3.3 1470 7.5 21000 -15.2 4.6 245 34 17 7.0 3.8 24.6 76.4 -4.2 1377 7.0 20000 -13.1 8.4 245 32 16 7.0 3.9 23.7 74.6 -5.1 1286 6.5 19500 -12.1 10.2 245 31 16 7.0 3.9 23.2 73.8 -5.5 1240 6.3 19000 -11.0 12.2 245 29 15 8.3 4.5 22.9 73.2 -5.9 1193 6.1 18500 -9.7 14.5 250 25 13 8.8 4.8 22.7 72.9 -6.1 1139 5.8 18000 -8.4 16.9 250 22 11 8.9 4.9 22.6 72.6 -6.3 1085 5.5 17500 -7.1 19.2 255 21 11 8.9 4.9 22.4 72.4 -6.5 1030 5.2 17000 -5.8 21.6 260 23 12 8.9 4.9 22.3 72.1 -6.7 976 5.0 16500 -4.4 24.1 260 24 12 9.5 5.2 22.2 71.9 -6.8 921 4.7 16000 -3.0 26.6 260 24 13 9.7 5.3 22.2 71.9 -6.9 863 4.4 15500 -1.5 29.3 265 25 13 9.6 5.3 22.2 71.9 -6.9 805 4.1 15000 -0.1 31.8 265 25 13 9.5 5.2 22.1 71.8 -7.0 747 3.8 14500 1.3 34.3 265 25 13 9.5 5.2 22.1 71.8 -7.1 690 3.5 14000 2.8 37.0 265 26 13 10.0 5.5 22.1 71.8 -7.1 631 3.2 13500 4.3 39.7 265 25 13 9.7 5.3 22.1 71.8 -7.1 572 2.9 13000 5.8 42.4 265 25 13 10.6 5.8 22.2 72.0 -7.1 510 2.6 12500 7.2 45.0 265 25 13 8.5 4.7 22.1 71.9 -7.2 454 2.3 12000 8.5 47.3 265 25 13 9.4 5.2 22.0 71.6 -7.4 399 2.0 11750 9.2 48.6 265 24 12 9.6 5.3 22.0 71.6 -7.4 370 1.9 11500 10.0 50.0 265 24 12 9.6 5.3 22.0 71.6 -7.4 341 1.7 11250 10.7 51.3 265 24 12 9.5 5.2 22.0 71.5 -7.5 312 1.6 11000 11.4 52.5 265 24 12 8.9 4.9 21.9 71.5 -7.5 284 1.4 10750 12.0 53.6 265 24 12 8.3 4.6 21.8 71.3 -7.6 258 1.3 10500 12.7 54.9 265 24 12 9.4 5.1 21.8 71.2 -7.7 231 1.2 10250 13.4 56.1 265 24 12 10.9 6.0 21.8 71.2 -7.7 200 1.0 10000 14.2 57.6 265 24 12 9.8 5.4 21.9 71.4 -7.7 169 0.9 9750 14.9 58.8 265 23 12 8.7 4.8 21.8 71.2 -7.7 142 0.7 9500 15.6 60.1 265 23 12 8.9 4.9 21.7 71.1 -7.8 114 0.6 9250 16.2 61.2 265 22 11 9.1 5.0 21.7 71.0 -7.9 87 0.4 9000 16.9 62.4 265 21 11 6.3 3.5 21.6 70.8 -8.0 60 0.3 8750 17.1 62.8 260 20 10 3.3 1.8 21.1 70.1 -8.5 45 0.2 8500 17.4 63.3 260 18 9 6.6 3.6 20.7 69.3 -9.0 29 0.1 8250 17.7 63.9 255 17 9 -2.7 -1.5 20.4 68.6 -9.5 14 0.1 8000 16.3 61.3 255 14 7 -30.6 -16.8 18.4 65.1 -11.6 48 0.2 7750 13.0 55.4 260 10 5 -48.7 -26.7 14.5 58.1 -15.7 138 0.7 7500 M M M M M M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M M M M M M 6750 M M M M M M M M M M M M * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 06/02/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/02/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +61.6 LI... +0.1 | CAPE... +43.6 LI... -0.5 CINH... -48.8 K Index... +5.0 | CINH... -1.3 K Index... +13.0 | 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 -56.4 -69.5 265 30 15 0.6 0.3 | -56.3 -69.3 260 29 15 1.3 0.7 45000 -56.1 -69.0 260 41 21 -2.5 -1.4 | -55.2 -67.4 255 44 22 -2.6 -1.4 40000 -60.1 -76.2 235 50 26 0.4 0.2 | -59.3 -74.7 240 50 26 -0.1 -0.1 38000 -56.0 -68.8 240 50 26 7.2 4.0 | -55.7 -68.3 240 48 25 6.4 3.5 36000 -51.7 -61.1 245 49 25 7.2 3.9 | -51.8 -61.2 240 46 24 6.4 3.5 34000 -47.0 -52.6 245 47 24 8.2 4.5 | -47.4 -53.3 240 44 23 8.2 4.5 32000 -42.1 -43.8 250 45 23 8.2 4.5 | -42.4 -44.3 245 43 22 8.2 4.5 30000 -37.2 -35.0 250 42 22 8.0 4.4 | -37.4 -35.3 245 41 21 8.4 4.6 29000 -34.8 -30.6 250 41 21 8.0 4.4 | -34.9 -30.8 245 39 20 8.4 4.6 28000 -32.4 -26.3 250 39 20 8.1 4.4 | -32.3 -26.1 250 38 19 8.4 4.6 27000 -29.9 -21.8 250 38 20 8.2 4.5 | -29.9 -21.8 250 37 19 8.0 4.4 26000 -27.5 -17.5 250 36 19 8.2 4.5 | -27.5 -17.5 250 36 19 8.0 4.4 25000 -25.0 -13.0 250 35 18 8.1 4.5 | -25.1 -13.2 250 35 18 8.0 4.4 24000 -22.2 -8.0 250 34 17 6.8 3.7 | -22.4 -8.3 250 35 18 6.2 3.4 23000 -20.2 -4.4 250 34 17 6.8 3.7 | -20.6 -5.1 250 35 18 6.2 3.4 22000 -18.2 -0.8 250 33 17 6.7 3.7 | -18.8 -1.8 250 36 18 5.9 3.2 21000 -16.0 3.2 250 36 18 7.7 4.2 | -16.3 2.7 250 35 18 8.9 4.9 20000 -13.7 7.3 250 39 20 7.8 4.3 | -13.7 7.3 255 33 17 8.9 4.9 19500 -12.6 9.3 250 41 21 7.9 4.3 | -12.4 9.7 255 33 17 9.0 4.9 19000 -11.4 11.5 250 42 22 9.1 5.0 | -11.1 12.0 255 32 16 9.2 5.0 18500 -10.0 14.0 250 41 21 9.6 5.3 | -9.7 14.5 255 28 15 9.3 5.1 18000 -8.5 16.7 250 39 20 9.6 5.3 | -8.3 17.1 255 25 13 9.3 5.1 17500 -7.1 19.2 250 37 19 9.4 5.2 | -6.9 19.6 255 23 12 9.7 5.3 17000 -5.7 21.7 250 33 17 9.5 5.2 | -5.5 22.1 255 21 11 9.7 5.3 16500 -4.3 24.3 250 30 16 9.0 4.9 | -4.0 24.8 255 19 10 9.8 5.4 16000 -2.9 26.8 250 27 14 8.9 4.9 | -2.6 27.3 255 18 9 9.8 5.4 15500 -1.6 29.1 250 24 12 8.9 4.9 | -1.1 30.0 250 16 8 9.8 5.4 15000 -0.2 31.6 255 22 12 9.0 4.9 | 0.3 32.5 250 16 8 9.7 5.3 14500 1.1 34.0 255 21 11 9.0 4.9 | 1.8 35.2 250 15 8 9.7 5.3 14000 2.5 36.5 260 21 11 9.5 5.2 | 3.3 37.9 250 15 7 9.9 5.4 13500 3.9 39.0 260 21 11 9.3 5.1 | 4.7 40.5 250 14 7 9.7 5.3 13000 5.4 41.7 265 21 11 10.5 5.8 | 6.3 43.3 245 14 7 10.6 5.8 12500 6.8 44.2 265 22 11 9.1 5.0 | 7.7 45.9 245 13 7 8.6 4.7 12000 8.2 46.8 270 22 11 8.8 4.8 | 9.0 48.2 245 13 7 9.8 5.4 11750 8.8 47.8 270 21 11 9.1 5.0 | 9.8 49.6 245 13 7 10.0 5.5 11500 9.5 49.1 270 20 11 9.9 5.5 | 10.5 50.9 245 12 6 9.9 5.4 11250 10.3 50.5 270 20 10 10.0 5.5 | 11.3 52.3 240 12 6 9.8 5.4 11000 11.0 51.8 270 19 10 9.0 4.9 | 12.0 53.6 240 12 6 9.6 5.3 10750 11.6 52.9 270 18 9 8.4 4.6 | 12.7 54.9 240 12 6 9.4 5.1 10500 12.3 54.1 270 17 9 9.3 5.1 | 13.4 56.1 240 12 6 9.9 5.4 10250 13.0 55.4 270 17 9 10.3 5.7 | 14.2 57.6 240 12 6 10.6 5.8 10000 13.8 56.8 270 17 9 9.2 5.0 | 15.0 59.0 240 11 6 10.1 5.6 9750 14.4 57.9 270 17 9 8.4 4.6 | 15.7 60.3 240 11 6 9.9 5.4 9500 15.0 59.0 270 17 9 8.5 4.7 | 16.5 61.7 240 11 6 9.7 5.3 9250 15.7 60.3 270 18 9 8.8 4.8 | 17.2 63.0 240 11 6 10.6 5.8 9000 16.3 61.3 270 18 9 8.1 4.4 | 18.0 64.4 235 10 5 10.9 6.0 8750 16.8 62.2 270 18 9 7.1 3.9 | 18.8 65.8 235 10 5 10.3 5.7 8500 17.3 63.1 265 18 9 7.6 4.1 | 19.6 67.3 235 10 5 10.2 5.6 8250 17.9 64.2 265 17 9 6.8 3.7 | 20.4 68.7 235 10 5 11.2 6.2 8000 18.3 64.9 260 14 7 10.0 5.5 | 21.4 70.5 235 9 5 18.1 9.9 7750 19.3 66.7 255 10 5 17.5 9.6 | 23.0 73.4 235 9 5 26.2 14.4 7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 6750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 06/02/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/02/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +105.5 LI... -1.0 | CAPE... +19.6 LI... -0.5 CINH... -2.3 K Index... +13.6 | CINH... -66.7 K Index... +20.9 | 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 -56.2 -69.2 265 30 15 1.9 1.0 | -56.7 -70.1 260 29 15 2.1 1.1 45000 -54.4 -65.9 265 42 22 -3.0 -1.6 | -54.8 -66.6 270 32 16 -2.6 -1.4 40000 -59.2 -74.6 250 51 26 -1.2 -0.6 | -58.6 -73.5 265 43 22 -1.3 -0.7 38000 -55.8 -68.4 250 47 24 6.3 3.4 | -55.4 -67.7 265 40 21 6.0 3.3 36000 -52.0 -61.6 255 44 22 6.3 3.4 | -51.8 -61.2 260 37 19 6.0 3.3 34000 -47.6 -53.7 255 41 21 8.2 4.5 | -47.6 -53.7 260 34 17 7.8 4.3 32000 -42.6 -44.7 250 40 21 8.2 4.5 | -42.9 -45.2 250 31 16 7.8 4.3 30000 -37.7 -35.9 250 39 20 8.2 4.5 | -37.8 -36.0 245 28 14 8.9 4.9 29000 -35.2 -31.4 250 38 20 8.2 4.5 | -35.2 -31.4 245 26 13 8.9 4.9 28000 -32.8 -27.0 250 37 19 8.2 4.5 | -31.8 -25.2 245 23 12 8.9 4.9 27000 -30.5 -22.9 250 36 18 6.9 3.8 | -29.3 -20.7 245 21 11 8.5 4.7 26000 -28.0 -18.4 250 33 17 6.9 3.8 | -26.7 -16.1 245 20 10 8.5 4.7 25000 -25.9 -14.6 250 30 16 6.9 3.8 | -24.2 -11.6 245 19 10 8.6 4.7 24000 -23.6 -10.5 250 28 14 8.5 4.7 | -21.8 -7.2 250 18 9 7.8 4.3 23000 -21.1 -6.0 255 25 13 8.6 4.7 | -19.5 -3.1 255 17 9 7.9 4.3 22000 -18.5 -1.3 255 22 11 8.5 4.7 | -17.2 1.0 260 17 9 8.0 4.4 21000 -15.8 3.6 255 21 11 9.6 5.2 | -15.0 5.0 260 17 9 7.1 3.9 20000 -12.9 8.8 255 20 10 9.5 5.2 | -12.9 8.8 260 17 9 7.2 3.9 19500 -11.5 11.3 255 20 10 9.5 5.2 | -11.9 10.6 260 17 9 7.2 3.9 19000 -10.0 14.0 255 19 10 9.6 5.2 | -10.8 12.6 265 17 9 7.9 4.3 18500 -8.6 16.5 255 19 10 9.6 5.3 | -9.5 14.9 265 16 8 8.3 4.6 18000 -7.2 19.0 255 19 10 9.6 5.3 | -8.3 17.1 265 16 8 8.3 4.5 17500 -5.7 21.7 255 18 9 9.8 5.4 | -6.9 19.6 260 16 8 10.1 5.5 17000 -4.2 24.4 255 18 9 9.8 5.4 | -5.4 22.3 260 15 8 9.9 5.5 16500 -2.7 27.1 255 17 9 9.9 5.4 | -3.9 25.0 260 15 8 9.6 5.3 16000 -1.3 29.7 255 17 9 9.9 5.4 | -2.5 27.5 255 15 8 9.5 5.2 15500 0.2 32.4 250 16 8 9.8 5.4 | -1.1 30.0 255 15 7 9.5 5.2 15000 1.7 35.1 250 16 8 9.7 5.3 | 0.4 32.7 255 14 7 9.8 5.4 14500 3.1 37.6 250 16 8 9.7 5.3 | 1.9 35.4 250 14 7 9.8 5.4 14000 4.6 40.3 250 15 8 9.7 5.3 | 3.3 37.9 250 14 7 9.7 5.3 13500 6.1 43.0 245 15 8 9.2 5.1 | 4.8 40.6 250 14 7 9.0 4.9 13000 7.8 46.0 245 14 7 11.7 6.4 | 6.6 43.9 245 14 7 13.2 7.2 12500 9.1 48.4 240 14 7 8.6 4.7 | 8.0 46.4 245 13 7 8.3 4.6 12000 10.5 50.9 240 13 7 9.6 5.3 | 9.3 48.7 245 13 7 10.1 5.5 11750 11.2 52.2 240 13 7 10.0 5.5 | 10.1 50.2 245 13 7 10.4 5.7 11500 12.0 53.6 235 13 7 10.2 5.6 | 10.9 51.6 245 13 7 9.5 5.2 11250 12.7 54.9 235 13 7 10.2 5.6 | 11.6 52.9 240 13 7 9.4 5.2 11000 13.5 56.3 235 13 7 9.4 5.1 | 12.3 54.1 240 13 7 9.7 5.3 10750 14.1 57.4 235 13 7 8.6 4.7 | 13.0 55.4 240 13 6 9.9 5.4 10500 14.8 58.6 235 13 6 9.6 5.2 | 13.8 56.8 240 13 6 9.8 5.4 10250 15.6 60.1 235 12 6 10.8 5.9 | 14.5 58.1 240 12 6 9.8 5.4 10000 16.4 61.5 230 12 6 10.0 5.5 | 16.0 60.8 240 12 6 10.0 5.5 9750 17.1 62.8 230 12 6 9.5 5.2 | 16.8 62.2 235 12 6 10.3 5.6 9500 17.8 64.0 230 12 6 9.5 5.2 | 17.5 63.5 235 12 6 9.0 5.0 9250 18.5 65.3 230 12 6 9.8 5.4 | 18.2 64.8 235 12 6 9.2 5.1 9000 19.3 66.7 230 12 6 10.2 5.6 | 18.9 66.0 235 12 6 10.5 5.7 8750 20.0 68.0 230 11 6 10.3 5.6 | 19.7 67.5 230 11 6 10.5 5.8 8500 20.8 69.4 225 11 6 10.0 5.5 | 20.5 68.9 230 11 6 9.2 5.0 8250 21.6 70.9 225 11 6 11.1 6.1 | 21.0 69.8 230 10 5 6.2 3.4 8000 22.5 72.5 225 11 6 14.9 8.2 | 21.3 70.3 225 8 4 5.5 3.0 7750 23.7 74.7 225 10 5 17.9 9.8 | 21.7 71.1 215 7 3 5.7 3.1 7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 6750 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). 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 near the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado at North Latitude: 38 deg 58 min 48.000 sec West Longitude: 104 deg 49 min 12.000 sec Elevation: 6572 feet (2003 meters) and may not be representative of other areas along the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. 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. CIN (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