Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
191 UXUS97 KGJT 131307 SRGGJT Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado 707 AM MDT Monday, May 13, 2024 This forecast is for Monday, May 13, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 70.3 F/21.3 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1283 ft/min (6.5 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 18748 ft MSL (13909 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 81.0 F/27.7 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 1100 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................. 15381 ft MSL (10541 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Tuesday 05/14...... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:02:03 / 20:18:55 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 16 min 52 sec (856 min 52 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:10:29 MDT... 69.40 degrees Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 05/13/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 12453 ft MSL (7614 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 14051 ft MSL (9212 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 15619 ft MSL (10779 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -3.8 K index......................... +24.8 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 -56.3 -69.3 315 8 4 4.0 2.2 105.3 221.6 44.8 M M 45000 -50.1 -58.2 295 28 15 6.4 3.5 89.9 193.9 38.5 M M 40000 -56.5 -69.7 345 19 10 -7.7 -4.2 56.8 134.3 19.5 M M 38000 -57.6 -71.7 360 36 19 -5.5 -3.0 46.4 115.5 12.9 M M 36000 -54.6 -66.3 360 35 18 7.0 3.9 42.2 108.0 10.4 M M 34000 -50.5 -58.9 355 29 15 6.4 3.5 39.7 103.5 8.9 M M 32000 -46.6 -51.9 010 28 15 7.1 3.9 37.0 98.5 7.1 M M 30000 -41.3 -42.3 360 22 11 7.9 4.3 35.3 95.5 6.1 M M 29000 -38.9 -38.0 005 19 10 7.9 4.3 34.6 94.3 5.6 M M 28000 -36.5 -33.7 010 21 11 8.0 4.4 33.9 93.0 5.1 M M 27000 -34.2 -29.6 005 26 13 8.0 4.4 33.2 91.8 4.7 M M 26000 -31.8 -25.2 005 26 13 7.6 4.2 32.5 90.5 4.1 M M 25000 -29.4 -20.9 360 22 11 8.4 4.6 31.9 89.4 3.7 M M 24000 -26.9 -16.4 360 19 10 9.6 5.3 31.3 88.4 3.3 M M 23000 -24.2 -11.6 010 22 11 9.1 5.0 31.1 88.0 3.1 M M 22000 -21.9 -7.4 005 24 12 7.4 4.0 30.4 86.7 2.5 M M 21000 -19.4 -2.9 360 22 11 9.2 5.1 29.8 85.7 2.1 M M 20000 -16.7 1.9 355 22 11 7.1 3.9 29.6 85.4 2.0 M M 19500 -16.0 3.2 360 21 11 5.4 2.9 28.8 83.9 1.2 M M 19000 -15.2 4.6 345 18 9 5.4 2.9 28.1 82.5 0.5 M M 18500 -14.5 5.9 335 19 10 5.2 2.8 27.3 81.1 -0.2 1272 6.5 18000 -13.8 7.2 350 12 6 5.2 2.9 26.5 79.7 -0.9 1235 6.3 17500 -13.0 8.6 355 10 5 5.1 2.8 25.7 78.3 -1.7 1198 6.1 17000 -11.9 10.6 005 14 7 9.6 5.3 25.3 77.6 -2.0 1150 5.8 16500 -9.9 14.2 345 12 6 8.7 4.8 25.2 77.3 -2.2 1067 5.4 16000 -8.9 16.0 340 15 8 6.5 3.6 24.7 76.5 -2.7 1022 5.2 15500 -7.7 18.1 350 12 6 8.5 4.7 24.4 75.9 -3.0 973 4.9 15000 -6.4 20.5 320 7 4 9.0 5.0 24.2 75.6 -3.2 920 4.7 14500 -5.1 22.8 325 7 4 9.0 5.0 24.1 75.4 -3.3 865 4.4 14000 -3.8 25.2 345 9 5 8.6 4.7 24.0 75.2 -3.5 810 4.1 13500 -2.6 27.3 355 10 5 8.1 4.4 23.7 74.7 -3.8 760 3.9 13000 -1.3 29.7 360 12 6 9.1 5.0 23.6 74.4 -4.0 708 3.6 12500 -0.0 32.0 345 12 6 9.1 5.0 23.5 74.2 -4.1 653 3.3 12000 1.3 34.3 355 12 6 9.1 5.0 23.4 74.0 -4.2 598 3.0 11500 2.7 36.9 355 14 7 9.1 5.0 23.2 73.8 -4.4 543 2.8 11000 4.0 39.2 355 16 8 9.1 5.0 23.1 73.6 -4.5 488 2.5 10500 5.4 41.7 340 12 6 9.2 5.0 23.0 73.4 -4.7 433 2.2 10250 6.0 42.8 330 11 6 8.6 4.7 22.9 73.3 -4.7 405 2.1 10000 6.6 43.9 320 10 5 7.7 4.2 22.8 73.0 -4.9 380 1.9 9750 7.2 45.0 315 9 5 7.6 4.2 22.6 72.7 -5.1 356 1.8 9500 7.8 46.0 310 8 4 7.6 4.2 22.5 72.4 -5.2 331 1.7 9250 8.3 46.9 300 7 4 7.6 4.2 22.3 72.2 -5.4 307 1.6 9000 8.9 48.0 290 6 3 7.7 4.2 22.2 71.9 -5.6 283 1.4 8750 9.5 49.1 285 5 3 7.5 4.1 22.0 71.6 -5.7 258 1.3 8500 10.0 50.0 290 4 2 8.0 4.4 21.8 71.3 -5.9 234 1.2 8250 10.6 51.1 280 2 1 6.3 3.5 21.7 71.0 -6.1 210 1.1 8000 11.0 51.8 190 4 2 7.1 3.9 21.3 70.4 -6.5 190 1.0 7750 11.4 52.5 165 7 4 0.2 0.1 21.0 69.9 -6.8 171 0.9 7500 10.9 51.6 150 11 6 -9.6 -5.3 19.8 67.6 -8.0 178 0.9 7250 10.4 50.7 155 18 9 -0.6 -0.3 18.5 65.4 -9.3 185 0.9 7000 10.7 51.3 145 14 7 5.9 3.2 18.1 64.7 -9.7 169 0.9 6750 11.0 51.8 145 14 7 3.7 2.1 17.7 63.9 -10.2 153 0.8 6500 11.2 52.2 140 15 8 2.1 1.1 17.2 63.0 -10.7 139 0.7 6250 11.3 52.3 140 17 9 0.8 0.4 16.6 61.8 -11.4 130 0.7 6000 11.3 52.3 135 17 9 1.2 0.6 15.9 60.7 -12.1 121 0.6 5750 11.4 52.5 135 18 9 1.6 0.9 15.3 59.5 -12.8 111 0.6 5500 11.6 52.9 145 19 10 2.5 1.4 14.7 58.5 -13.4 99 0.5 5250 11.7 53.1 145 18 9 1.0 0.6 14.1 57.4 -14.0 87 0.4 5000 11.7 53.1 145 15 8 -2.0 -1.1 13.4 56.0 -14.8 80 0.4 * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 05/13/2024 at 0900 MDT | 05/13/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +0.1 LI... +0.4 | CAPE... +117.7 LI... +0.3 CINH... -0.9 K Index... +23.1 | CINH... -18.2 K Index... +20.1 | 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 -56.0 -68.8 285 14 7 3.4 1.8 | -55.9 -68.6 275 14 7 3.3 1.8 45000 -51.9 -61.4 300 21 11 -4.2 -2.3 | -51.9 -61.4 295 18 9 -4.7 -2.6 40000 -58.3 -72.9 335 22 12 -3.8 -2.1 | -58.9 -74.0 320 23 12 -4.3 -2.4 38000 -56.5 -69.7 345 24 13 5.1 2.8 | -57.0 -70.6 325 23 12 5.6 3.1 36000 -53.5 -64.3 350 27 14 5.1 2.8 | -53.6 -64.5 330 24 12 5.6 3.1 34000 -49.9 -57.8 355 28 14 7.2 3.9 | -49.8 -57.6 335 23 12 7.4 4.1 32000 -45.6 -50.1 355 25 13 7.2 3.9 | -45.3 -49.5 340 21 11 7.4 4.1 30000 -41.2 -42.2 355 23 12 7.5 4.1 | -41.0 -41.8 345 19 10 7.0 3.9 29000 -39.0 -38.2 355 22 11 7.5 4.1 | -38.9 -38.0 345 18 9 7.1 3.9 28000 -36.7 -34.1 355 22 11 7.5 4.1 | -36.8 -34.2 345 18 9 7.1 3.9 27000 -34.4 -29.9 355 21 11 8.1 4.4 | -34.6 -30.3 345 17 9 8.2 4.5 26000 -32.1 -25.8 355 22 11 8.0 4.4 | -32.1 -25.8 345 18 9 8.1 4.4 25000 -29.1 -20.4 360 22 11 8.0 4.4 | -29.1 -20.4 350 18 9 8.1 4.4 24000 -26.7 -16.1 360 22 11 8.1 4.5 | -26.7 -16.1 350 18 9 8.5 4.7 23000 -24.2 -11.6 360 22 11 8.1 4.5 | -24.1 -11.4 355 18 9 8.5 4.7 22000 -21.8 -7.2 360 22 11 8.1 4.5 | -21.6 -6.9 355 19 10 8.5 4.7 21000 -19.4 -2.9 360 21 11 7.8 4.3 | -19.1 -2.4 355 18 9 8.2 4.5 20000 -17.1 1.2 360 19 10 7.8 4.3 | -16.6 2.1 355 16 8 8.2 4.5 19500 -15.9 3.4 360 18 9 7.7 4.2 | -15.4 4.3 355 16 8 8.2 4.5 19000 -14.8 5.4 355 17 9 7.5 4.1 | -14.2 6.4 355 15 8 7.8 4.3 18500 -13.8 7.2 355 17 9 6.6 3.6 | -13.1 8.4 350 14 7 6.8 3.7 18000 -12.8 9.0 350 16 8 6.7 3.6 | -12.1 10.2 350 13 7 6.8 3.8 17500 -11.8 10.8 350 15 8 6.6 3.6 | -11.2 11.8 345 12 6 6.1 3.4 17000 -10.9 12.4 345 15 8 6.6 3.6 | -10.3 13.5 340 12 6 6.1 3.3 16500 -9.9 14.2 340 15 7 6.8 3.7 | -9.4 15.1 335 12 6 6.3 3.5 16000 -8.9 16.0 335 14 7 7.0 3.9 | -8.4 16.9 330 12 6 6.6 3.6 15500 -7.9 17.8 330 14 7 7.1 3.9 | -7.5 18.5 325 12 6 6.7 3.7 15000 -6.9 19.6 325 14 7 7.5 4.1 | -6.5 20.3 325 11 6 7.6 4.2 14500 -5.8 21.6 325 14 7 7.5 4.1 | -5.4 22.3 320 11 6 7.5 4.1 14000 -4.6 23.7 320 13 7 8.3 4.6 | -4.3 24.3 315 11 6 8.2 4.5 13500 -3.4 25.9 320 13 6 8.3 4.6 | -3.1 26.4 315 11 5 8.2 4.5 13000 -2.2 28.0 325 12 6 8.3 4.5 | -1.9 28.6 315 10 5 8.6 4.7 12500 -1.0 30.2 330 11 6 8.3 4.5 | -0.6 30.9 315 9 5 8.6 4.7 12000 0.2 32.4 335 10 5 8.4 4.6 | 0.6 33.1 315 8 4 8.7 4.8 11500 1.4 34.5 345 10 5 8.5 4.7 | 1.9 35.4 315 7 4 8.8 4.8 11000 2.7 36.9 355 10 5 7.9 4.3 | 3.2 37.8 315 6 3 8.2 4.5 10500 3.8 38.8 360 10 5 7.3 4.0 | 4.4 39.9 320 5 3 7.4 4.1 10250 4.4 39.9 005 10 5 9.5 5.2 | 5.0 41.0 325 5 2 10.5 5.7 10000 5.2 41.4 005 9 5 9.8 5.4 | 5.9 42.6 325 4 2 11.1 6.1 9750 5.8 42.4 005 8 4 7.7 4.2 | 6.5 43.7 325 4 2 8.5 4.6 9500 6.4 43.5 005 8 4 8.4 4.6 | 7.2 45.0 325 4 2 9.5 5.2 9250 7.0 44.6 010 7 4 7.5 4.1 | 7.9 46.2 330 3 2 8.2 4.5 9000 7.5 45.5 010 7 3 6.6 3.6 | 8.5 47.3 330 3 1 8.5 4.7 8750 8.0 46.4 015 6 3 6.6 3.6 | 9.9 49.8 330 2 1 10.0 5.5 8500 9.0 48.2 020 3 2 5.7 3.1 | 10.6 51.1 325 2 1 7.6 4.2 8250 9.4 48.9 030 3 1 4.5 2.5 | 11.0 51.8 325 2 1 6.9 3.8 8000 9.8 49.6 050 2 1 5.7 3.1 | 11.7 53.1 325 1 1 10.3 5.7 7750 10.2 50.4 080 2 1 6.1 3.4 | 12.5 54.5 325 1 1 11.1 6.1 7500 10.6 51.1 110 2 1 5.0 2.7 | 13.3 55.9 320 1 1 8.6 4.7 7250 11.0 51.8 125 2 1 4.1 2.3 | 13.8 56.8 325 1 0 7.2 3.9 7000 11.3 52.3 130 3 1 7.1 3.9 | 14.5 58.1 325 1 0 11.5 6.3 6750 12.0 53.6 130 3 2 8.2 4.5 | 15.4 59.7 320 1 0 12.7 7.0 6500 12.5 54.5 130 3 2 6.6 3.6 | 16.3 61.3 315 1 0 10.2 5.6 6250 12.9 55.2 130 4 2 5.9 3.3 | 17.0 62.6 310 1 0 10.0 5.5 6000 13.4 56.1 130 4 2 8.7 4.8 | 17.8 64.0 000 0 0 9.5 5.2 5750 14.3 57.7 125 3 2 17.6 9.6 | 18.6 65.5 305 1 0 16.8 9.2 5500 15.8 60.4 125 4 2 18.8 10.3 | 21.2 70.2 000 0 0 64.6 35.5 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 05/13/2024 at 1500 MDT | 05/13/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +164.5 LI... -0.1 | CAPE... +97.1 LI... -0.1 CINH... -28.1 K Index... +19.4 | CINH... -44.3 K Index... +22.2 | 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 -55.8 -68.4 270 16 8 3.0 1.7 | -55.9 -68.6 275 18 9 3.4 1.9 45000 -52.3 -62.1 290 21 11 -4.6 -2.5 | -51.9 -61.4 280 20 10 -5.1 -2.8 40000 -59.3 -74.7 300 21 11 -4.4 -2.4 | -59.6 -75.3 290 25 13 -5.0 -2.7 38000 -57.2 -71.0 310 22 12 5.9 3.2 | -57.3 -71.1 295 26 13 6.2 3.4 36000 -53.6 -64.5 315 24 12 5.9 3.2 | -53.6 -64.5 300 27 14 6.2 3.4 34000 -49.7 -57.5 315 23 12 7.4 4.1 | -49.5 -57.1 300 27 14 7.7 4.2 32000 -45.3 -49.5 315 20 10 7.4 4.1 | -44.9 -48.8 305 24 13 7.7 4.2 30000 -40.9 -41.6 320 18 9 7.1 3.9 | -40.3 -40.5 310 22 11 7.5 4.1 29000 -38.8 -37.8 320 17 9 7.1 3.9 | -38.1 -36.6 310 20 11 7.5 4.1 28000 -36.6 -33.9 320 16 8 7.1 3.9 | -35.8 -32.4 310 19 10 7.5 4.1 27000 -34.4 -29.9 325 16 8 8.1 4.4 | -33.5 -28.3 310 18 9 7.5 4.1 26000 -31.4 -24.5 325 15 8 8.0 4.4 | -30.8 -23.4 305 17 9 7.5 4.1 25000 -29.0 -20.2 325 15 8 8.0 4.4 | -28.5 -19.3 305 16 8 7.5 4.1 24000 -26.6 -15.9 325 15 8 8.5 4.7 | -26.2 -15.2 305 15 8 7.8 4.3 23000 -24.0 -11.2 330 15 8 8.5 4.7 | -23.9 -11.0 305 15 8 7.9 4.3 22000 -21.5 -6.7 330 15 8 8.5 4.7 | -21.6 -6.9 305 14 7 7.9 4.3 21000 -19.0 -2.2 330 14 7 8.1 4.4 | -19.1 -2.4 305 14 7 8.5 4.7 20000 -16.6 2.1 330 13 7 8.1 4.4 | -16.6 2.1 300 13 7 8.6 4.7 19500 -15.4 4.3 330 13 7 8.1 4.4 | -15.3 4.5 300 13 7 8.6 4.7 19000 -14.2 6.4 330 12 6 8.0 4.4 | -14.1 6.6 300 12 6 8.4 4.6 18500 -13.1 8.4 330 12 6 7.6 4.2 | -12.9 8.8 305 12 6 8.1 4.4 18000 -11.9 10.6 330 11 6 7.7 4.2 | -11.7 10.9 305 12 6 8.1 4.5 17500 -10.8 12.6 325 11 6 7.6 4.2 | -10.5 13.1 305 11 6 8.0 4.4 17000 -9.7 14.5 325 10 5 7.6 4.2 | -9.3 15.3 305 11 6 8.0 4.4 16500 -8.6 16.5 325 10 5 7.8 4.3 | -8.1 17.4 305 10 5 8.2 4.5 16000 -7.5 18.5 325 10 5 7.9 4.3 | -6.9 19.6 305 10 5 8.4 4.6 15500 -6.3 20.7 325 9 5 7.9 4.4 | -5.7 21.7 300 9 5 8.5 4.6 15000 -5.1 22.8 320 8 4 8.4 4.6 | -4.4 24.1 300 8 4 8.5 4.7 14500 -3.9 25.0 320 8 4 8.3 4.6 | -3.2 26.2 295 8 4 8.5 4.6 14000 -2.6 27.3 315 7 4 8.7 4.8 | -1.9 28.6 295 7 4 9.1 5.0 13500 -1.3 29.7 315 7 3 8.7 4.8 | -0.5 31.1 295 7 3 9.1 5.0 13000 -0.0 32.0 310 6 3 8.8 4.8 | 0.8 33.4 290 6 3 9.3 5.1 12500 1.3 34.3 305 6 3 8.8 4.8 | 2.2 36.0 290 6 3 9.3 5.1 12000 2.6 36.7 305 6 3 8.9 4.9 | 3.6 38.5 290 6 3 9.2 5.1 11500 3.9 39.0 300 5 3 9.0 4.9 | 5.0 41.0 290 6 3 9.2 5.1 11000 5.2 41.4 295 5 3 7.9 4.3 | 6.3 43.3 290 5 3 8.3 4.5 10500 6.3 43.3 295 5 3 6.4 3.5 | 7.5 45.5 290 5 3 6.8 3.7 10250 6.9 44.4 290 5 2 11.7 6.4 | 8.1 46.6 290 5 3 12.0 6.6 10000 8.0 46.4 295 5 3 12.9 7.1 | 9.2 48.6 290 5 3 12.5 6.9 9750 8.6 47.5 295 5 2 8.2 4.5 | 9.8 49.6 290 5 3 7.7 4.2 9500 9.3 48.7 295 5 2 10.0 5.5 | 10.5 50.9 290 5 3 8.5 4.7 9250 10.0 50.0 290 5 2 7.5 4.1 | 11.1 52.0 290 5 3 9.9 5.4 9000 10.5 50.9 290 4 2 8.4 4.6 | 11.9 53.4 285 5 3 10.3 5.7 8750 12.0 53.6 290 4 2 10.7 5.9 | 13.3 55.9 285 5 3 9.5 5.2 8500 12.8 55.0 290 4 2 9.4 5.2 | 14.0 57.2 285 5 2 8.4 4.6 8250 13.4 56.1 290 4 2 8.9 4.9 | 14.6 58.3 285 5 2 8.6 4.7 8000 14.2 57.6 290 4 2 10.5 5.8 | 15.3 59.5 290 5 2 10.0 5.5 7750 15.0 59.0 290 4 2 11.3 6.2 | 16.0 60.8 285 5 2 10.5 5.8 7500 15.8 60.4 290 4 2 8.8 4.8 | 16.8 62.2 285 5 2 8.9 4.9 7250 16.3 61.3 290 4 2 7.2 3.9 | 17.4 63.3 290 5 2 7.6 4.2 7000 17.0 62.6 285 4 2 11.1 6.1 | 18.0 64.4 290 5 2 10.1 5.5 6750 17.9 64.2 290 4 2 12.5 6.8 | 18.9 66.0 290 5 2 11.3 6.2 6500 18.8 65.8 290 4 2 10.7 5.9 | 19.7 67.5 285 4 2 10.6 5.8 6250 19.6 67.3 285 4 2 10.8 6.0 | 20.5 68.9 290 4 2 10.9 6.0 6000 20.4 68.7 285 3 2 8.4 4.6 | 21.2 70.2 290 4 2 8.3 4.6 5750 21.0 69.8 285 3 2 13.4 7.3 | 21.8 71.2 285 4 2 9.3 5.1 5500 23.8 74.8 285 3 2 79.8 43.8 | 23.6 74.5 295 4 2 52.7 28.9 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