![National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](/build/images/header/noaa.d87e0251.png)
![National Weather Service](/build/images/header/nws.4e6585d8.png)
![United States Department of Commerce](/build/images/header/doc.b38ba91a.png)
Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
450 UXUS97 KBOU 151315 SRGBOU Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado 0714 MDT Saturday, June 15, 2024 This forecast is for Saturday, June 15, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 79.3 F/26.3 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1412 ft/min (7.2 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 20331 ft MSL (15000 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 91.0 F/33.2 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0930 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ None Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 17110 ft MSL (11778 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 06/16....... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1800 MDT)......... Little change Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... None Weak PVA/NVA (through 1800 MDT)................ Neither Potential height of wave....................... 19580 ft MSL (14249 ft AGL) Wave soaring outlook for Sunday 06/16.......... Poor Remarks... Warmer today, with a few gusty showers Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:30:52 / 20:29:28 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 58 min 36 sec (898 min 36 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:00:10 MDT... 73.58 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/15/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 14838 ft MSL (9507 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 15004 ft MSL (9673 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 16796 ft MSL (11464 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -4.1 K index......................... +23.9 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 -58.8 -73.8 260 33 17 3.0 1.6 M M M M M 45000 -54.3 -65.7 265 38 20 2.6 1.4 M M M M M 40000 -50.2 -58.4 270 33 17 4.4 2.4 M M M M M 38000 -47.6 -53.7 280 32 16 4.3 2.4 M M M M M 36000 -45.0 -49.0 285 32 16 4.4 2.4 M M M M M 34000 -41.5 -42.7 290 31 16 6.6 3.6 M M M M M 32000 -37.5 -35.5 290 31 16 6.6 3.6 M M M M M 30000 -32.5 -26.5 290 28 15 7.9 4.3 42.9 109.3 7.7 M M 29000 -30.2 -22.4 290 27 14 7.9 4.3 42.2 108.0 7.3 M M 28000 -27.8 -18.0 285 26 13 7.9 4.3 41.7 107.0 6.9 M M 27000 -25.5 -13.9 290 25 13 7.8 4.3 40.8 105.5 6.3 M M 26000 -23.2 -9.8 295 23 12 7.8 4.3 40.1 104.1 5.8 M M 25000 -20.8 -5.4 300 22 12 8.0 4.4 39.4 102.9 5.3 M M 24000 -18.9 -2.0 305 21 11 5.8 3.2 38.2 100.7 4.3 M M 23000 -17.3 0.9 310 20 10 5.8 3.2 36.7 98.0 3.1 M M 22000 -15.6 3.9 320 20 10 5.8 3.2 35.3 95.6 1.9 M M 21000 -13.8 7.2 325 20 10 6.3 3.5 34.0 93.2 0.8 M M 20000 -11.9 10.6 330 21 11 6.4 3.5 32.8 91.1 -0.3 1390 7.1 19500 -11.0 12.2 330 22 11 6.4 3.5 32.3 90.1 -0.8 1347 6.8 19000 -10.1 13.8 335 22 11 6.7 3.7 31.7 89.1 -1.3 1304 6.6 18500 -9.1 15.6 335 22 12 7.0 3.8 31.2 88.2 -1.8 1260 6.4 18000 -8.1 17.4 340 23 12 7.0 3.8 30.8 87.4 -2.2 1215 6.2 17500 -7.0 19.4 340 22 12 7.7 4.2 30.4 86.7 -2.6 1168 5.9 17000 -5.3 22.5 345 21 11 7.7 4.2 29.8 85.7 -3.2 1096 5.6 16500 -4.1 24.6 345 20 10 8.8 4.8 29.6 85.2 -3.4 1045 5.3 16000 -2.8 27.0 345 18 9 8.7 4.8 29.4 84.9 -3.6 991 5.0 15500 -1.5 29.3 350 17 9 8.9 4.9 29.2 84.6 -3.8 938 4.8 15000 -0.2 31.6 350 17 9 8.9 4.9 29.1 84.4 -4.0 883 4.5 14500 1.1 34.0 350 16 8 8.9 4.9 29.0 84.2 -4.1 829 4.2 14000 2.4 36.3 350 16 8 8.9 4.9 28.8 83.9 -4.3 775 3.9 13500 3.8 38.8 350 15 8 9.0 4.9 28.7 83.7 -4.4 720 3.7 13000 5.1 41.2 350 15 8 9.0 4.9 28.6 83.4 -4.6 666 3.4 12500 6.4 43.5 350 14 7 9.0 4.9 28.5 83.2 -4.8 612 3.1 12000 7.6 45.7 350 13 7 8.3 4.5 28.3 82.9 -5.0 560 2.8 11500 8.9 48.0 345 12 6 8.5 4.6 28.0 82.5 -5.3 508 2.6 11000 10.0 50.0 345 11 6 7.2 3.9 27.7 81.9 -5.6 460 2.3 10500 11.0 51.8 340 11 5 10.6 5.8 27.3 81.1 -6.1 414 2.1 10250 12.0 53.6 340 10 5 11.7 6.4 27.6 81.6 -5.9 379 1.9 10000 12.6 54.7 335 10 5 8.0 4.4 27.5 81.4 -6.0 352 1.8 9750 13.2 55.8 335 10 5 8.9 4.9 27.4 81.3 -6.1 325 1.7 9500 13.9 57.0 335 9 5 8.8 4.9 27.3 81.2 -6.2 298 1.5 9250 14.5 58.1 335 9 5 6.9 3.8 27.2 81.0 -6.3 273 1.4 9000 15.0 59.0 330 10 5 7.4 4.1 26.9 80.5 -6.6 252 1.3 8750 15.6 60.1 325 10 5 9.5 5.2 26.9 80.4 -6.7 225 1.1 8500 16.3 61.3 320 10 5 8.8 4.9 26.8 80.3 -6.8 198 1.0 8250 16.8 62.2 315 10 5 6.6 3.6 26.7 80.1 -6.9 173 0.9 8000 17.2 63.0 315 11 5 5.7 3.1 26.4 79.5 -7.3 154 0.8 7750 17.7 63.9 310 10 5 7.4 4.1 26.1 79.1 -7.6 132 0.7 7500 18.2 64.8 300 10 5 6.2 3.4 26.0 78.7 -7.8 110 0.6 7250 18.5 65.3 295 10 5 3.6 2.0 25.6 78.0 -8.2 93 0.5 7000 18.7 65.7 295 10 5 2.3 1.3 25.0 77.1 -8.8 80 0.4 6750 18.9 66.0 290 10 5 2.9 1.6 24.5 76.1 -9.4 68 0.3 6500 18.9 66.0 280 8 4 -0.4 -0.2 23.9 75.0 -10.1 58 0.3 6250 18.7 65.7 270 7 4 -3.9 -2.2 22.9 73.3 -11.1 60 0.3 6000 18.3 64.9 260 6 3 -3.0 -1.6 21.9 71.5 -12.2 62 0.3 5750 18.0 64.4 245 6 3 -4.8 -2.6 21.0 69.7 -13.3 65 0.3 5500 17.3 63.1 220 6 3 -12.1 -6.6 19.6 67.3 -14.7 78 0.4 * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 06/15/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/15/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +106.4 LI... -1.0 | CAPE... +160.9 LI... -1.5 CINH... -79.1 K Index... +20.9 | CINH... -15.1 K Index... +19.9 | 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 -59.3 -74.7 260 34 18 3.3 1.8 | -59.5 -75.1 255 36 19 3.1 1.7 45000 -54.6 -66.3 265 41 21 2.7 1.5 | -54.9 -66.8 260 40 21 3.1 1.7 40000 -50.3 -58.5 270 36 19 3.7 2.0 | -50.0 -58.0 260 39 20 3.3 1.8 38000 -48.1 -54.6 270 33 17 3.7 2.0 | -48.1 -54.6 260 35 18 3.3 1.8 36000 -45.9 -50.6 275 29 15 3.8 2.1 | -46.1 -51.0 260 31 16 3.4 1.9 34000 -42.1 -43.8 280 28 15 7.4 4.1 | -42.5 -44.5 260 29 15 7.0 3.9 32000 -37.6 -35.7 285 29 15 7.4 4.1 | -38.3 -36.9 265 27 14 7.1 3.9 30000 -32.3 -26.1 285 28 14 8.2 4.5 | -33.6 -28.5 270 26 14 8.2 4.5 29000 -29.9 -21.8 285 27 14 8.2 4.5 | -30.5 -22.9 270 26 14 8.2 4.5 28000 -27.4 -17.3 290 27 14 8.0 4.4 | -28.1 -18.6 270 27 14 8.3 4.5 27000 -25.1 -13.2 290 25 13 7.5 4.1 | -25.6 -14.1 275 26 14 8.4 4.6 26000 -22.9 -9.2 290 24 12 7.5 4.1 | -23.0 -9.4 275 26 13 8.4 4.6 25000 -20.6 -5.1 290 23 12 7.7 4.2 | -20.5 -4.9 280 26 13 8.7 4.8 24000 -18.8 -1.8 290 22 11 5.5 3.0 | -18.7 -1.7 280 25 13 5.2 2.9 23000 -17.1 1.2 300 21 11 5.6 3.0 | -17.2 1.0 280 23 12 5.3 2.9 22000 -15.5 4.1 305 21 11 5.5 3.0 | -15.7 3.7 285 21 11 5.2 2.9 21000 -13.6 7.5 310 22 11 6.7 3.7 | -13.8 7.2 285 20 10 6.9 3.8 20000 -11.7 10.9 315 22 12 6.7 3.7 | -11.8 10.8 290 19 10 7.0 3.8 19500 -10.7 12.7 315 23 12 6.8 3.7 | -10.8 12.6 295 19 10 7.0 3.8 19000 -9.7 14.5 320 23 12 7.5 4.1 | -9.8 14.4 295 19 10 8.0 4.4 18500 -8.6 16.5 320 22 12 7.9 4.3 | -8.5 16.7 295 19 10 8.4 4.6 18000 -7.4 18.7 320 22 11 8.0 4.4 | -7.3 18.9 295 19 10 8.4 4.6 17500 -6.3 20.7 320 21 11 7.9 4.3 | -6.0 21.2 295 19 10 8.8 4.8 17000 -5.1 22.8 315 20 10 7.9 4.4 | -4.7 23.5 295 19 10 8.7 4.8 16500 -3.4 25.9 315 19 10 8.6 4.7 | -3.4 25.9 295 19 10 8.9 4.9 16000 -2.1 28.2 315 18 9 8.6 4.7 | -2.1 28.2 295 18 9 9.0 4.9 15500 -0.9 30.4 320 17 9 8.7 4.8 | -0.8 30.6 295 18 9 9.0 4.9 15000 0.4 32.7 320 16 8 8.8 4.8 | 1.2 34.2 295 16 8 9.1 5.0 14500 1.7 35.1 325 15 7 8.8 4.8 | 2.6 36.7 295 15 8 9.1 5.0 14000 3.0 37.4 325 14 7 8.9 4.9 | 3.9 39.0 290 14 7 9.1 5.0 13500 4.3 39.7 325 13 6 8.9 4.9 | 5.3 41.5 290 13 7 9.1 5.0 13000 5.6 42.1 325 12 6 8.8 4.9 | 6.6 43.9 290 12 6 9.1 5.0 12500 6.9 44.4 325 11 5 8.8 4.9 | 7.9 46.2 285 11 6 9.1 5.0 12000 8.2 46.8 330 10 5 8.6 4.7 | 9.3 48.7 285 10 5 9.2 5.0 11500 9.5 49.1 325 9 5 8.8 4.8 | 10.6 51.1 285 9 5 9.2 5.1 11000 10.7 51.3 325 8 4 7.3 4.0 | 11.8 53.2 285 8 4 7.7 4.2 10500 11.7 53.1 320 7 4 10.6 5.8 | 12.9 55.2 280 8 4 12.0 6.6 10250 12.7 54.9 320 7 3 11.2 6.2 | 14.0 57.2 280 7 4 13.2 7.2 10000 13.3 55.9 315 6 3 7.4 4.1 | 14.7 58.5 275 7 4 8.2 4.5 9750 13.9 57.0 310 6 3 8.4 4.6 | 15.4 59.7 275 6 3 9.6 5.3 9500 14.5 58.1 305 6 3 8.3 4.6 | 16.1 61.0 270 6 3 8.9 4.9 9250 15.1 59.2 300 5 3 6.7 3.7 | 16.7 62.1 270 6 3 7.4 4.0 9000 15.5 59.9 295 5 3 7.5 4.1 | 17.2 63.0 265 5 3 9.1 5.0 8750 16.2 61.2 290 5 3 9.5 5.2 | 18.0 64.4 265 5 3 11.1 6.1 8500 16.8 62.2 285 5 3 9.0 4.9 | 18.8 65.8 260 5 3 10.6 5.8 8250 17.5 63.5 280 5 3 7.3 4.0 | 19.5 67.1 255 5 2 8.3 4.5 8000 18.0 64.4 275 5 3 7.2 4.0 | 20.1 68.2 255 4 2 9.1 5.0 7750 18.6 65.5 270 5 3 9.1 5.0 | 20.9 69.6 255 4 2 11.8 6.5 7500 19.2 66.6 265 6 3 8.0 4.4 | 21.7 71.1 250 4 2 10.4 5.7 7250 19.7 67.5 265 6 3 5.3 2.9 | 22.4 72.3 250 4 2 7.8 4.3 7000 20.0 68.0 265 7 3 4.5 2.5 | 23.0 73.4 250 4 2 8.2 4.5 6750 20.4 68.7 260 7 4 5.7 3.2 | 23.7 74.7 250 4 2 12.8 7.0 6500 20.8 69.4 255 7 4 6.0 3.3 | 24.7 76.5 245 4 2 12.3 6.8 6250 21.1 70.0 245 7 4 5.9 3.2 | 25.5 77.9 245 3 2 9.8 5.4 6000 21.5 70.7 240 6 3 5.4 3.0 | 26.2 79.2 240 3 2 9.6 5.3 5750 22.0 71.6 230 6 3 8.8 4.8 | 27.0 80.6 240 3 1 11.5 6.3 5500 22.9 73.2 225 6 3 18.2 10.0 | 28.1 82.6 240 3 2 21.3 11.7 06/15/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/15/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +350.2 LI... -1.0 | CAPE... +237.3 LI... -0.5 CINH... -19.4 K Index... +25.3 | CINH... -125.9 K Index... +23.7 | 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 -59.4 -74.9 250 39 20 2.8 1.5 | -58.4 -73.1 245 38 19 2.9 1.6 45000 -55.2 -67.4 250 45 23 2.7 1.5 | -54.7 -66.5 255 45 23 1.2 0.7 40000 -51.1 -60.0 255 40 20 3.5 1.9 | -52.8 -63.0 265 39 20 3.5 1.9 38000 -49.0 -56.2 260 37 19 3.5 1.9 | -50.0 -58.0 260 32 17 4.1 2.2 36000 -46.6 -51.9 265 33 17 3.5 1.9 | -47.6 -53.7 260 26 13 4.1 2.2 34000 -42.8 -45.0 265 32 17 7.0 3.8 | -43.3 -45.9 260 25 13 8.0 4.4 32000 -38.6 -37.5 265 31 16 7.0 3.9 | -38.5 -37.3 265 26 13 8.0 4.4 30000 -33.9 -29.0 270 30 16 8.2 4.5 | -33.7 -28.7 270 27 14 7.9 4.3 29000 -31.5 -24.7 270 30 15 8.2 4.5 | -31.4 -24.5 270 27 14 7.9 4.3 28000 -29.0 -20.2 270 29 15 8.1 4.5 | -29.0 -20.2 270 27 14 7.8 4.3 27000 -26.7 -16.1 270 28 14 7.9 4.3 | -26.7 -16.1 270 27 14 7.6 4.2 26000 -24.3 -11.7 270 26 14 7.9 4.3 | -24.4 -11.9 265 27 14 7.6 4.2 25000 -22.0 -7.6 270 25 13 8.1 4.4 | -22.2 -8.0 265 26 14 7.6 4.2 24000 -19.9 -3.8 270 25 13 6.4 3.5 | -20.0 -4.0 265 26 13 7.4 4.1 23000 -18.0 -0.4 265 25 13 6.5 3.5 | -17.8 -0.0 260 26 13 7.5 4.1 22000 -16.2 2.8 265 26 13 6.3 3.5 | -15.6 3.9 260 25 13 7.5 4.1 21000 -13.9 7.0 265 26 13 8.5 4.7 | -13.3 8.1 265 24 12 8.1 4.4 20000 -11.4 11.5 270 25 13 8.6 4.7 | -10.3 13.5 270 23 12 8.1 4.5 19500 -10.1 13.8 270 24 13 8.6 4.7 | -9.2 15.4 270 22 12 8.1 4.4 19000 -8.9 16.0 275 24 12 8.7 4.8 | -7.9 17.8 275 22 11 8.8 4.8 18500 -6.9 19.6 275 23 12 8.8 4.8 | -6.6 20.1 275 21 11 8.8 4.8 18000 -5.6 21.9 275 22 11 8.9 4.9 | -5.4 22.3 275 20 11 8.9 4.9 17500 -4.3 24.3 275 21 11 8.9 4.9 | -4.0 24.8 280 20 10 9.0 5.0 17000 -3.0 26.6 275 20 10 8.9 4.9 | -2.7 27.1 280 19 10 9.1 5.0 16500 -1.7 28.9 275 19 10 8.8 4.8 | -1.3 29.7 280 18 9 9.1 5.0 16000 -0.4 31.3 275 18 9 8.8 4.8 | 0.0 32.0 280 17 9 9.1 5.0 15500 1.0 33.8 275 17 9 9.2 5.0 | 1.4 34.5 280 16 8 9.0 5.0 15000 2.4 36.3 275 16 8 9.2 5.1 | 2.7 36.9 280 15 8 9.0 4.9 14500 3.7 38.7 270 14 7 9.2 5.1 | 4.1 39.4 280 14 7 9.0 4.9 14000 5.1 41.2 270 13 7 9.2 5.1 | 5.4 41.7 280 13 7 8.9 4.9 13500 6.5 43.7 270 12 6 9.2 5.1 | 6.7 44.1 275 12 6 8.9 4.9 13000 7.9 46.2 265 11 6 9.2 5.0 | 8.0 46.4 275 11 6 8.9 4.9 12500 9.2 48.6 260 10 5 9.2 5.1 | 9.3 48.7 275 10 5 8.9 4.9 12000 10.6 51.1 255 9 5 9.1 5.0 | 10.7 51.3 270 9 5 8.9 4.9 11500 12.0 53.6 250 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 12.0 53.6 270 8 4 9.1 5.0 11000 13.2 55.8 245 8 4 7.9 4.3 | 13.2 55.8 270 7 4 7.7 4.2 10500 14.4 57.9 240 8 4 10.9 6.0 | 14.4 57.9 265 7 3 9.3 5.1 10250 15.4 59.7 235 7 4 12.8 7.0 | 15.2 59.4 265 6 3 11.4 6.3 10000 16.2 61.2 235 7 4 9.6 5.3 | 16.0 60.8 260 6 3 9.4 5.2 9750 16.9 62.4 235 7 4 9.7 5.3 | 16.6 61.9 255 5 3 8.4 4.6 9500 17.6 63.7 235 7 4 10.2 5.6 | 17.3 63.1 255 5 3 8.9 4.9 9250 18.3 64.9 230 7 4 8.0 4.4 | 17.9 64.2 250 5 3 7.9 4.3 9000 18.9 66.0 230 7 4 8.5 4.7 | 18.5 65.3 255 5 3 8.0 4.4 8750 19.7 67.5 230 7 4 10.9 6.0 | 19.1 66.4 250 5 2 9.0 4.9 8500 20.5 68.9 230 7 4 10.7 5.9 | 19.8 67.6 245 4 2 8.8 4.8 8250 21.2 70.2 230 7 4 8.6 4.7 | 20.4 68.7 240 4 2 8.6 4.7 8000 21.8 71.2 230 7 4 8.9 4.9 | 21.0 69.8 250 4 2 7.9 4.4 7750 22.6 72.7 230 7 4 11.2 6.2 | 21.6 70.9 245 4 2 7.8 4.3 7500 23.4 74.1 225 7 4 10.5 5.8 | 22.2 72.0 240 3 2 8.0 4.4 7250 24.1 75.4 225 7 4 8.4 4.6 | 22.7 72.9 235 3 2 7.1 3.9 7000 24.7 76.5 230 7 4 8.3 4.6 | 23.2 73.8 245 3 2 6.8 3.7 6750 25.5 77.9 230 7 4 11.7 6.4 | 23.7 74.7 245 3 2 7.7 4.2 6500 26.4 79.5 225 7 4 11.8 6.5 | 24.3 75.7 235 3 1 8.2 4.5 6250 27.2 81.0 225 7 4 10.0 5.5 | 24.9 76.8 235 3 1 8.5 4.7 6000 27.9 82.2 230 7 3 10.0 5.5 | 25.5 77.9 240 3 2 9.0 5.0 5750 28.7 83.7 230 7 3 10.0 5.5 | 26.1 79.0 245 3 2 7.7 4.2 5500 29.6 85.3 225 6 3 16.6 9.1 | 26.7 80.1 230 3 2 10.0 5.5 ________________________________________________________________________________ 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 near the old Stapleton Airport site in Denver, Colorado at North Latitude: 39 deg 46 min 5.016 sec West Longitude: 104 deg 52 min 9.984 sec Elevation: 5285 feet (1611 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. 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