Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
065 UXUS97 KPUB 071224 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0624 MDT Friday, June 7, 2024 This forecast is for the Air Force Academy for Friday, June 7, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 78.0 F/25.5 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1459 ft/min (7.4 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 22076 ft MSL (14443 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 87.0 F/31.0 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0930 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1500 MDT Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 17957 ft MSL (10324 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Saturday 06/08..... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:33:36 / 20:23:03 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 49 min 27 sec (889 min 27 sec) Altitude of sun at 12:58:19 MDT... 73.87 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/07/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 16656 ft MSL (9023 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 17695 ft MSL (10062 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 19108 ft MSL (11475 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -3.7 K index......................... +16.8 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 -62.7 -80.9 265 24 13 -0.3 -0.1 M M M M M 45000 -61.2 -78.2 265 29 15 4.1 2.3 M M M M M 40000 -54.5 -66.1 245 39 20 7.7 4.2 M M M M M 38000 -49.3 -56.7 245 39 20 7.7 4.2 M M M M M 36000 -44.6 -48.3 245 39 20 7.7 4.2 M M M M M 34000 -40.0 -40.0 250 34 18 7.7 4.2 M M M M M 32000 -35.4 -31.7 255 30 15 7.5 4.1 M M M M M 30000 -30.5 -22.9 265 28 15 8.4 4.6 37.8 100.0 5.7 M M 29000 -27.9 -18.2 265 28 15 8.4 4.6 37.3 99.2 5.4 M M 28000 -25.4 -13.7 270 28 15 8.0 4.4 37.0 98.5 5.1 M M 27000 -23.1 -9.6 270 27 14 7.7 4.2 36.1 96.9 4.5 M M 26000 -20.8 -5.4 270 27 14 7.7 4.2 35.3 95.6 3.9 M M 25000 -18.5 -1.3 275 26 13 7.9 4.3 34.7 94.4 3.4 M M 24000 -16.6 2.1 275 26 14 5.8 3.2 33.4 92.0 2.3 M M 23000 -14.4 6.1 275 27 14 5.9 3.2 31.6 88.9 0.9 M M 22000 -12.7 9.1 275 28 15 6.3 3.5 30.4 86.7 -0.2 1445 7.3 21000 -10.7 12.7 270 29 15 6.7 3.7 29.2 84.6 -1.3 1357 6.9 20000 -8.8 16.2 265 31 16 7.1 3.9 28.2 82.8 -2.3 1270 6.5 19500 -7.8 18.0 260 32 16 7.5 4.1 27.8 82.1 -2.8 1226 6.2 19000 -6.5 20.3 260 32 16 9.6 5.3 27.7 81.8 -2.9 1173 6.0 18500 -5.1 22.8 265 31 16 9.5 5.2 27.6 81.7 -3.0 1114 5.7 18000 -3.7 25.3 265 31 16 9.5 5.2 27.6 81.7 -3.0 1057 5.4 17500 -2.3 27.9 265 30 15 9.5 5.2 27.5 81.6 -3.1 1000 5.1 17000 -0.8 30.6 270 29 15 9.4 5.1 27.5 81.5 -3.1 943 4.8 16500 0.4 32.7 270 26 13 8.2 4.5 27.3 81.2 -3.4 890 4.5 16000 1.6 34.9 275 23 12 8.3 4.5 27.1 80.7 -3.7 840 4.3 15500 2.8 37.0 280 20 11 9.3 5.1 26.9 80.4 -3.9 788 4.0 15000 4.2 39.6 280 19 10 9.4 5.2 26.8 80.3 -4.0 732 3.7 14500 5.6 42.1 285 18 9 9.5 5.2 26.8 80.3 -4.1 676 3.4 14000 7.0 44.6 290 17 9 9.7 5.3 26.8 80.2 -4.2 619 3.1 13500 8.4 47.1 295 16 8 9.8 5.4 26.8 80.2 -4.3 562 2.9 13000 9.9 49.8 300 16 8 9.8 5.4 26.8 80.3 -4.3 503 2.6 12500 11.2 52.2 300 16 8 8.8 4.8 26.7 80.1 -4.4 449 2.3 12000 12.5 54.5 300 16 8 8.5 4.7 26.6 79.8 -4.7 396 2.0 11750 13.1 55.6 300 16 8 8.8 4.8 26.5 79.6 -4.8 369 1.9 11500 13.8 56.8 300 16 8 9.8 5.4 26.4 79.6 -4.8 342 1.7 11250 14.5 58.1 295 16 8 8.2 4.5 26.4 79.5 -4.9 314 1.6 11000 15.0 59.0 295 16 8 6.5 3.6 26.2 79.1 -5.1 291 1.5 10750 15.5 59.9 290 16 8 6.4 3.5 26.0 78.7 -5.4 269 1.4 10500 16.0 60.8 290 16 8 8.6 4.7 25.7 78.3 -5.6 247 1.3 10250 16.7 62.1 285 15 8 8.2 4.5 25.7 78.3 -5.6 218 1.1 10000 17.1 62.8 285 15 8 5.1 2.8 25.4 77.7 -6.0 198 1.0 9750 17.4 63.3 280 15 8 5.0 2.7 25.1 77.1 -6.4 180 0.9 9500 17.8 64.0 275 16 8 6.3 3.4 24.7 76.5 -6.8 162 0.8 9250 18.1 64.6 270 16 8 1.3 0.7 24.4 75.9 -7.1 144 0.7 9000 17.9 64.2 265 16 8 -2.3 -1.2 23.5 74.2 -8.1 144 0.7 8750 17.8 64.0 260 16 8 -0.6 -0.3 22.7 72.8 -9.0 140 0.7 8500 17.7 63.9 260 16 8 1.0 0.6 21.9 71.4 -9.9 136 0.7 8250 17.5 63.5 255 17 9 -6.8 -3.7 21.1 70.0 -10.7 133 0.7 8000 14.4 57.9 240 10 5 -24.4 -13.4 16.6 61.9 -15.4 212 1.1 7750 12.5 54.5 220 6 3 -28.5 -15.7 14.0 57.2 -18.1 262 1.3 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 * * * * * * 06/07/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/07/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +681.0 LI... -0.9 | CAPE... +282.9 LI... -0.0 CINH... -31.5 K Index... +15.5 | CINH... -3.0 K Index... +20.6 | 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 -62.6 -80.7 275 25 13 -0.2 -0.1 | -62.6 -80.7 260 18 9 0.3 0.2 45000 -61.1 -78.0 270 29 15 4.2 2.3 | -60.5 -76.9 255 25 13 4.1 2.2 40000 -54.5 -66.1 255 37 19 6.8 3.8 | -54.1 -65.4 265 37 19 6.5 3.6 38000 -49.9 -57.8 255 36 19 6.8 3.7 | -50.2 -58.4 265 36 19 6.5 3.5 36000 -45.8 -50.4 255 35 18 6.9 3.8 | -45.9 -50.6 265 35 18 6.6 3.6 34000 -40.9 -41.6 255 33 17 8.2 4.5 | -41.1 -42.0 260 33 17 8.0 4.4 32000 -36.0 -32.8 255 30 15 8.1 4.4 | -36.3 -33.3 250 32 16 7.9 4.3 30000 -30.8 -23.4 255 29 15 8.7 4.8 | -31.3 -24.3 250 30 16 8.4 4.6 29000 -28.2 -18.8 255 29 15 8.7 4.8 | -28.8 -19.8 250 30 15 8.4 4.6 28000 -25.6 -14.1 255 29 15 7.7 4.2 | -26.4 -15.5 250 29 15 7.1 3.9 27000 -23.5 -10.3 255 28 14 7.1 3.9 | -24.4 -11.9 260 29 15 6.5 3.6 26000 -21.4 -6.5 255 28 14 7.1 3.9 | -22.5 -8.5 265 28 15 6.5 3.6 25000 -19.2 -2.6 260 27 14 7.2 3.9 | -20.5 -4.9 270 28 15 6.5 3.6 24000 -17.3 0.9 265 27 14 6.2 3.4 | -18.6 -1.5 275 28 15 6.6 3.6 23000 -15.5 4.1 270 27 14 6.3 3.4 | -16.7 1.9 275 28 14 6.7 3.7 22000 -13.2 8.2 275 27 14 7.3 4.0 | -14.2 6.4 275 28 14 8.7 4.8 21000 -10.9 12.4 280 26 13 7.8 4.3 | -11.4 11.5 275 26 13 9.2 5.0 20000 -8.6 16.5 285 24 13 7.8 4.3 | -8.7 16.3 280 24 12 9.2 5.0 19500 -7.4 18.7 285 24 12 7.6 4.2 | -7.3 18.9 280 23 12 9.0 4.9 19000 -6.4 20.5 290 23 12 6.9 3.8 | -6.1 21.0 280 23 12 8.5 4.7 18500 -5.4 22.3 290 22 11 6.9 3.8 | -4.8 23.4 285 24 12 8.5 4.7 18000 -4.4 24.1 295 21 11 8.3 4.6 | -3.5 25.7 285 24 12 8.8 4.8 17500 -3.1 26.4 295 21 11 8.8 4.8 | -2.3 27.9 285 22 12 8.9 4.9 17000 -1.8 28.8 295 21 11 9.0 4.9 | -1.0 30.2 285 21 11 9.1 5.0 16500 -0.4 31.3 295 21 11 9.6 5.3 | 0.4 32.7 285 19 10 9.8 5.4 16000 1.0 33.8 295 21 11 9.6 5.3 | 1.8 35.2 285 17 9 9.8 5.4 15500 2.4 36.3 295 20 11 9.2 5.0 | 3.2 37.8 285 16 8 9.5 5.2 15000 3.8 38.8 295 21 11 9.2 5.0 | 4.6 40.3 285 15 8 9.5 5.2 14500 5.2 41.4 300 21 11 9.4 5.2 | 6.1 43.0 285 15 8 9.6 5.3 14000 6.6 43.9 300 20 10 9.6 5.2 | 7.5 45.5 285 14 7 9.7 5.3 13500 8.1 46.6 300 19 10 9.8 5.4 | 8.9 48.0 285 14 7 10.3 5.7 13000 9.6 49.3 300 19 10 9.7 5.3 | 10.7 51.3 285 14 7 10.3 5.7 12500 10.8 51.4 300 19 10 8.4 4.6 | 12.0 53.6 285 14 7 8.9 4.9 12000 12.2 54.0 300 18 9 9.3 5.1 | 13.3 55.9 285 13 7 9.1 5.0 11750 12.8 55.0 300 17 9 9.1 5.0 | 14.0 57.2 285 13 7 9.6 5.3 11500 13.5 56.3 300 17 9 9.0 5.0 | 14.8 58.6 285 13 7 10.3 5.6 11250 14.1 57.4 300 16 8 8.6 4.7 | 15.5 59.9 285 13 7 9.4 5.1 11000 14.8 58.6 300 16 8 8.4 4.6 | 16.2 61.2 285 13 6 9.1 5.0 10750 15.4 59.7 300 15 8 7.9 4.3 | 16.9 62.4 285 12 6 8.2 4.5 10500 16.0 60.8 300 14 7 10.0 5.5 | 17.5 63.5 285 12 6 12.2 6.7 10250 16.8 62.2 295 14 7 10.2 5.6 | 18.6 65.5 285 12 6 12.9 7.1 10000 17.4 63.3 300 13 7 8.3 4.5 | 19.4 66.9 285 12 6 9.2 5.1 9750 18.0 64.4 300 13 7 8.7 4.8 | 20.1 68.2 285 12 6 10.5 5.8 9500 18.7 65.7 300 13 7 8.8 4.8 | 20.9 69.6 285 11 6 9.0 4.9 9250 19.3 66.7 300 12 6 8.7 4.8 | 21.5 70.7 285 11 6 9.2 5.1 9000 19.9 67.8 300 13 7 7.9 4.3 | 22.3 72.1 285 11 6 10.5 5.8 8750 20.4 68.7 300 13 7 7.8 4.3 | 23.0 73.4 285 11 6 10.3 5.6 8500 20.9 69.6 300 13 7 7.8 4.3 | 23.8 74.8 285 11 5 10.0 5.5 8250 21.5 70.7 300 13 7 8.0 4.4 | 24.6 76.3 285 10 5 12.1 6.6 8000 22.0 71.6 290 12 6 12.0 6.6 | 25.7 78.3 285 10 5 19.2 10.6 7750 23.1 73.6 285 10 5 17.7 9.7 | 27.3 81.1 285 9 5 25.1 13.8 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 06/07/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/07/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +376.9 LI... -0.8 | CAPE... +685.1 LI... -1.9 CINH... -24.6 K Index... +27.2 | CINH... -109.8 K Index... +22.5 | 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 -62.2 -80.0 255 19 10 -0.3 -0.2 | -61.8 -79.2 255 20 10 -0.2 -0.1 45000 -60.7 -77.3 250 26 13 4.4 2.4 | -60.5 -76.9 250 23 12 3.7 2.0 40000 -53.8 -64.8 265 37 19 6.3 3.5 | -54.5 -66.1 250 28 14 7.3 4.0 38000 -50.0 -58.0 270 37 19 6.3 3.5 | -49.6 -57.3 255 30 15 7.2 4.0 36000 -45.7 -50.3 275 36 19 6.6 3.6 | -45.3 -49.5 255 31 16 7.3 4.0 34000 -41.0 -41.8 270 36 19 7.9 4.4 | -40.4 -40.7 260 32 16 8.2 4.5 32000 -36.2 -33.2 270 36 19 7.8 4.3 | -35.5 -31.9 265 32 17 8.1 4.5 30000 -31.4 -24.5 265 36 18 8.2 4.5 | -30.4 -22.7 265 34 17 8.5 4.7 29000 -28.9 -20.0 265 35 18 8.2 4.5 | -27.9 -18.2 265 35 18 8.5 4.7 28000 -26.5 -15.7 265 35 18 7.0 3.8 | -25.4 -13.7 265 35 18 7.5 4.1 27000 -24.6 -12.3 265 33 17 6.5 3.6 | -23.3 -9.9 270 35 18 6.8 3.7 26000 -22.6 -8.7 265 30 16 6.6 3.6 | -21.3 -6.3 270 34 18 6.8 3.7 25000 -20.7 -5.3 265 28 15 6.8 3.7 | -19.3 -2.7 275 33 17 6.8 3.8 24000 -18.3 -0.9 265 26 14 8.7 4.8 | -17.3 0.9 275 34 18 6.6 3.6 23000 -15.7 3.7 265 24 12 8.8 4.8 | -15.4 4.3 275 35 18 6.6 3.6 22000 -13.2 8.2 265 22 11 8.6 4.7 | -12.9 8.8 275 36 18 7.6 4.2 21000 -10.4 13.3 270 19 10 7.7 4.2 | -10.6 12.9 275 35 18 8.1 4.4 20000 -8.1 17.4 275 17 9 7.8 4.3 | -8.2 17.2 280 34 17 8.1 4.4 19500 -7.0 19.4 275 16 8 8.3 4.5 | -7.0 19.4 280 33 17 8.2 4.5 19000 -5.6 21.9 275 15 8 9.5 5.2 | -5.7 21.7 280 33 17 9.1 5.0 18500 -4.2 24.4 275 15 8 9.4 5.2 | -4.4 24.1 280 32 16 9.1 5.0 18000 -2.8 27.0 275 15 8 9.7 5.3 | -3.0 26.6 285 31 16 9.0 4.9 17500 -1.4 29.5 275 15 8 9.7 5.3 | -1.8 28.8 285 30 15 9.0 4.9 17000 0.1 32.2 275 14 7 9.7 5.3 | -0.5 31.1 285 29 15 9.0 5.0 16500 1.6 34.9 275 14 7 9.8 5.4 | 0.9 33.6 285 28 14 9.6 5.3 16000 3.0 37.4 275 13 7 9.8 5.4 | 2.3 36.1 285 26 14 9.6 5.3 15500 4.5 40.1 280 13 7 10.0 5.5 | 3.7 38.7 285 25 13 9.3 5.1 15000 6.0 42.8 280 12 6 10.0 5.5 | 5.0 41.0 285 23 12 9.3 5.1 14500 7.5 45.5 280 12 6 9.6 5.2 | 6.3 43.3 290 22 11 9.1 5.0 14000 8.9 48.0 275 11 6 9.4 5.1 | 7.7 45.9 290 21 11 9.0 4.9 13500 10.3 50.5 275 10 5 9.7 5.3 | 9.0 48.2 290 19 10 9.0 4.9 13000 11.9 53.4 275 9 5 9.6 5.2 | 10.3 50.5 290 18 9 8.9 4.9 12500 13.1 55.6 275 9 5 8.6 4.7 | 11.6 52.9 290 16 8 8.4 4.6 12000 14.4 57.9 270 8 4 8.5 4.7 | 12.6 54.7 290 14 7 6.5 3.6 11750 15.1 59.2 270 8 4 9.5 5.2 | 13.1 55.6 290 12 6 6.9 3.8 11500 15.8 60.4 265 8 4 11.0 6.0 | 13.6 56.5 285 11 6 7.4 4.1 11250 16.6 61.9 265 7 4 9.2 5.0 | 14.2 57.6 285 9 5 6.3 3.5 11000 17.2 63.0 260 7 4 8.1 4.4 | 14.6 58.3 280 8 4 5.3 2.9 10750 17.8 64.0 255 7 4 7.6 4.2 | 15.0 59.0 280 7 3 4.9 2.7 10500 18.4 65.1 255 7 3 10.6 5.8 | 15.3 59.5 270 5 3 7.1 3.9 10250 19.3 66.7 250 6 3 10.8 5.9 | 15.9 60.6 260 4 2 7.4 4.1 10000 20.0 68.0 245 6 3 7.7 4.2 | 16.3 61.3 245 3 2 4.6 2.5 9750 20.6 69.1 240 6 3 8.4 4.6 | 16.7 62.1 220 3 1 5.0 2.8 9500 21.2 70.2 235 6 3 7.9 4.3 | 17.0 62.6 195 3 1 3.9 2.2 9250 21.8 71.2 225 6 3 10.6 5.8 | 17.3 63.1 170 3 2 8.0 4.4 9000 22.7 72.9 220 6 3 10.6 5.8 | 18.1 64.6 155 4 2 9.7 5.3 8750 23.3 73.9 215 6 3 8.3 4.6 | 18.6 65.5 150 5 2 7.2 4.0 8500 24.0 75.2 210 6 3 9.1 5.0 | 19.1 66.4 145 5 3 7.4 4.1 8250 24.6 76.3 205 6 3 8.3 4.5 | 19.6 67.3 140 6 3 9.3 5.1 8000 25.2 77.4 205 6 3 9.5 5.2 | 20.5 68.9 140 5 3 14.6 8.0 7750 26.0 78.8 205 5 3 13.2 7.3 | 21.7 71.1 135 5 3 16.8 9.2 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