Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO

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UXUS97 KGJT 181307
SRGGJT

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
707 AM MDT Saturday, May 18, 2024

This forecast is for Saturday, May 18, 2024:

If the trigger temperature of 75.8 F/24.4 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 1632 ft/min (8.3 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 21593 ft MSL (16754 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 86.0 F/30.5 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 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................. 15715 ft MSL (10875 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 05/19....... Excellent

Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:57:48 / 20:23:26 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 25 min 39 sec (865 min 39 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:10:37 MDT... 70.53 degrees

Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 05/18/2024 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 13483 ft MSL (8644 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 16881 ft MSL (12042 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 18094 ft MSL (13255 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -2.5
K index......................... +21.1

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  -58.3 -72.9   260   46   24   5.1   2.8  101.3 214.3    40.9      M    M
 45000  -58.5 -73.3   245   38   20  -3.6  -2.0   75.3 167.5    27.9      M    M
 40000  -57.6 -71.7   240   43   22   6.3   3.5   53.6 128.5    15.6      M    M
 38000  -54.0 -65.2   250   49   25   5.9   3.3   50.3 122.6    13.8      M    M
 36000  -51.5 -60.7   255   49   25   4.1   2.2   45.5 113.8    10.8      M    M
 34000  -48.2 -54.8   260   47   24   6.3   3.5   41.8 107.2     8.4      M    M
 32000  -42.9 -45.2   250   45   23   9.1   5.0   41.1 106.0     8.1      M    M
 30000  -37.4 -35.3   265   48   25   8.2   4.5   39.6 103.2     7.2      M    M
 29000  -34.7 -30.5   265   47   24   9.0   4.9   39.2 102.6     7.0      M    M
 28000  -32.4 -26.3   260   43   22   7.3   4.0   38.5 101.2     6.5      M    M
 27000  -30.1 -22.2   265   41   21   8.2   4.5   37.7  99.9     6.0      M    M
 26000  -27.6 -17.7   260   46   24   8.2   4.5   37.2  98.9     5.6      M    M
 25000  -25.1 -13.2   260   45   23   8.4   4.6   36.6  97.8     5.2      M    M
 24000  -24.3 -11.7   265   42   22  -1.8  -1.0   34.1  93.3     3.2      M    M
 23000  -22.7  -8.9   270   38   20   5.5   3.0   32.4  90.3     1.9      M    M
 22000  -21.1  -6.0   260   34   18   5.6   3.0   30.9  87.6     0.6      M    M
 21000  -19.4  -2.9   270   30   16   7.7   4.2   29.5  85.1    -0.6   1587  8.1
 20000  -17.0   1.4   280   30   15   8.4   4.6   29.0  84.3    -1.1   1483  7.5
 19500  -15.7   3.7   275   30   16   8.4   4.6   28.8  83.8    -1.3   1431  7.3
 19000  -14.5   5.9   270   31   16   8.4   4.6   28.5  83.4    -1.5   1379  7.0
 18500  -13.3   8.1   280   32   17   8.3   4.6   28.3  82.9    -1.8   1328  6.7
 18000  -12.0  10.4   280   32   16   8.3   4.6   28.1  82.5    -2.0   1276  6.5
 17500  -10.8  12.6   280   31   16   8.5   4.7   27.8  82.0    -2.3   1225  6.2
 17000   -9.5  14.9   275   29   15   8.9   4.9   27.7  81.8    -2.4   1171  5.9
 16500   -7.5  18.5   285   28   14   9.0   4.9   27.4  81.4    -2.7   1090  5.5
 16000   -6.3  20.7   275   23   12   8.2   4.5   27.2  81.0    -2.9   1037  5.3
 15500   -5.1  22.8   270   19   10   8.6   4.7   27.0  80.6    -3.2    987  5.0
 15000   -3.8  25.2   270   19   10   8.7   4.8   26.9  80.4    -3.3    933  4.7
 14500   -2.5  27.5   275   17    9   8.7   4.8   26.7  80.1    -3.5    879  4.5
 14000   -1.2  29.8   270   16    8   8.7   4.8   26.6  79.8    -3.6    825  4.2
 13500    0.1  32.2   270   14    7   8.7   4.8   26.4  79.5    -3.8    771  3.9
 13000    1.4  34.5   295   13    7   8.7   4.8   26.2  79.2    -4.0    718  3.6
 12500    2.7  36.9   295   13    7   8.7   4.8   26.0  78.9    -4.2    664  3.4
 12000    4.0  39.2   290   12    6   8.7   4.8   25.9  78.5    -4.4    610  3.1
 11500    5.3  41.5   290   10    5   9.0   5.0   25.7  78.2    -4.6    556  2.8
 11000    6.8  44.2   295   11    6  10.1   5.5   25.7  78.2    -4.6    498  2.5
 10500    8.3  46.9   295    9    5   9.7   5.3   25.7  78.3    -4.6    439  2.2
 10250    8.9  48.0   300    9    5   8.2   4.5   25.7  78.2    -4.7    412  2.1
 10000    9.5  49.1   295    8    4   7.9   4.3   25.5  77.9    -4.9    387  2.0
  9750   10.1  50.2   295    8    4   8.4   4.6   25.4  77.7    -5.0    361  1.8
  9500   10.7  51.3   295    8    4   8.3   4.5   25.3  77.5    -5.1    336  1.7
  9250   11.3  52.3   295    9    4   8.3   4.6   25.2  77.3    -5.2    310  1.6
  9000   12.0  53.6   295    9    5   8.3   4.5   25.1  77.1    -5.3    284  1.4
  8750   12.6  54.7   295    8    4   8.3   4.6   25.0  76.9    -5.5    258  1.3
  8500   13.2  55.8   295    7    4   8.3   4.6   24.9  76.7    -5.6    232  1.2
  8250   13.8  56.8   300    6    3   8.3   4.6   24.7  76.5    -5.7    206  1.0
  8000   14.4  57.9   325    6    3   8.3   4.5   24.6  76.3    -5.8    180  0.9
  7750   15.0  59.0   330    7    4   8.3   4.6   24.5  76.1    -6.0    154  0.8
  7500   15.7  60.3   325    6    3   8.2   4.5   24.4  75.9    -6.1    128  0.7
  7250   16.3  61.3   330    7    4   8.6   4.7   24.3  75.7    -6.2    102  0.5
  7000   16.9  62.4   340    7    3   7.3   4.0   24.2  75.5    -6.4     77  0.4
  6750   17.3  63.1   355    6    3   4.2   2.3   23.8  74.9    -6.7     57  0.3
  6500   17.5  63.5   350    5    2   3.2   1.7   23.4  74.0    -7.2     42  0.2
  6250   17.8  64.0   305    5    2   3.5   1.9   22.9  73.2    -7.7     28  0.1
  6000   18.0  64.4   285    6    3   3.5   1.9   22.4  72.3    -8.2     13  0.1
  5750   18.2  64.8   285    5    3   2.9   1.6   21.9  71.5    -8.7      M    M
  5500   18.5  65.3   280    4    2   5.3   2.9   21.4  70.6    -9.3      M    M
  5250   18.7  65.7   265    2    1  -3.6  -2.0   21.0  69.7    -9.8      M    M
  5000   17.5  63.5   000    0    0 -29.6 -16.2   19.0  66.2   -11.7      M    M

 * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *

           05/18/2024 at 0900 MDT          |       05/18/2024 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +1.2        | CAPE...   +29.3    LI...       +0.3
CINH...    -0.0    K Index... +22.1        | CINH...   -28.0    K Index... +23.6
                                           |
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 -57.7 -71.9  250  33 17   1.0   0.6 | -57.2 -71.0  245  36 19   1.3   0.7
 45000 -56.6 -69.9  245  34 17  -1.3  -0.7 | -55.9 -68.6  240  39 20  -2.0  -1.1
 40000 -58.7 -73.7  235  45 23  -2.3  -1.3 | -58.8 -73.8  240  43 22  -2.6  -1.4
 38000 -55.4 -67.7  240  45 23   6.6   3.6 | -56.1 -69.0  240  43 22   5.7   3.1
 36000 -51.5 -60.7  245  45 23   6.6   3.6 | -52.7 -62.9  235  42 22   5.7   3.1
 34000 -47.5 -53.5  245  44 23   6.9   3.8 | -48.7 -55.7  240  41 21   7.6   4.2
 32000 -43.3 -45.9  250  42 21   6.9   3.8 | -44.1 -47.4  245  40 21   7.6   4.2
 30000 -38.8 -37.8  255  41 21   8.0   4.4 | -39.4 -38.9  245  39 20   8.0   4.4
 29000 -36.4 -33.5  255  41 21   8.0   4.4 | -37.0 -34.6  245  39 20   8.0   4.4
 28000 -34.0 -29.2  255  42 22   8.0   4.4 | -34.6 -30.3  250  39 20   8.0   4.4
 27000 -31.7 -25.1  255  42 21   7.1   3.9 | -31.7 -25.1  250  39 20   7.6   4.2
 26000 -29.0 -20.2  255  40 21   7.2   3.9 | -29.4 -20.9  250  38 20   7.6   4.2
 25000 -26.9 -16.4  255  39 20   7.2   3.9 | -27.2 -17.0  255  38 19   7.6   4.2
 24000 -24.8 -12.6  255  37 19   6.6   3.6 | -25.0 -13.0  255  36 19   6.6   3.6
 23000 -22.9  -9.2  255  35 18   6.6   3.6 | -23.1  -9.6  250  35 18   6.7   3.7
 22000 -21.0  -5.8  255  32 17   6.7   3.7 | -21.1  -6.0  250  33 17   6.7   3.7
 21000 -18.8  -1.8  255  31 16   8.1   4.4 | -18.9  -2.0  250  31 16   8.0   4.4
 20000 -16.4   2.5  255  30 15   8.1   4.5 | -16.6   2.1  250  31 16   8.0   4.4
 19500 -15.2   4.6  255  29 15   8.1   4.5 | -15.4   4.3  250  30 16   8.0   4.4
 19000 -14.0   6.8  255  28 15   7.8   4.3 | -14.2   6.4  250  30 15   8.0   4.4
 18500 -12.9   8.8  255  28 14   7.3   4.0 | -13.0   8.6  250  29 15   7.9   4.3
 18000 -11.8  10.8  255  27 14   7.3   4.0 | -11.9  10.6  245  28 14   7.9   4.3
 17500 -10.7  12.7  255  26 13   7.6   4.2 | -10.7  12.7  245  27 14   7.7   4.2
 17000  -9.6  14.7  250  25 13   7.6   4.2 |  -9.6  14.7  245  26 13   7.8   4.3
 16500  -8.5  16.7  250  25 13   7.6   4.2 |  -8.5  16.7  245  25 13   7.9   4.3
 16000  -7.4  18.7  250  24 12   7.6   4.2 |  -7.3  18.9  245  24 12   7.9   4.4
 15500  -6.3  20.7  250  23 12   7.6   4.2 |  -6.1  21.0  245  23 12   8.0   4.4
 15000  -5.1  22.8  255  22 11   7.9   4.3 |  -4.9  23.2  245  22 11   8.4   4.6
 14500  -3.9  25.0  255  20 10   7.8   4.3 |  -3.7  25.3  245  20 10   8.4   4.6
 14000  -2.7  27.1  255  19 10   8.7   4.8 |  -2.4  27.7  245  19 10   8.8   4.8
 13500  -1.4  29.5  260  18  9   8.6   4.7 |  -1.1  30.0  245  17  9   8.8   4.8
 13000  -0.1  31.8  260  17  9   8.7   4.8 |   0.2  32.4  245  16  8   8.8   4.8
 12500   1.2  34.2  265  16  8   8.8   4.8 |   1.6  34.9  245  15  8   8.8   4.8
 12000   2.6  36.7  265  15  8   8.6   4.7 |   2.9  37.2  245  14  7   8.7   4.8
 11500   3.9  39.0  270  14  7   8.6   4.7 |   4.2  39.6  245  13  7   8.8   4.8
 11000   5.1  41.2  270  13  7   7.7   4.2 |   5.4  41.7  250  12  6   7.3   4.0
 10500   6.2  43.2  275  12  6   6.9   3.8 |   6.5  43.7  250  11  5   5.9   3.2
 10250   6.8  44.2  275  11  6   9.5   5.2 |   7.0  44.6  250  10  5  11.9   6.5
 10000   7.6  45.7  275  11  5   9.7   5.3 |   8.2  46.8  255   9  5  13.2   7.2
  9750   8.2  46.8  275  10  5   7.1   3.9 |   8.9  48.0  255   9  5   7.7   4.2
  9500   8.8  47.8  275   9  5   8.0   4.4 |   9.5  49.1  255   8  4  10.1   5.5
  9250   9.3  48.7  280   8  4   6.8   3.7 |  10.2  50.4  255   8  4   6.1   3.3
  9000  10.4  50.7  280   7  3   8.8   4.8 |  10.6  51.1  260   7  3   6.9   3.8
  8750  11.1  52.0  275   6  3   9.0   4.9 |  12.1  53.8  260   6  3  10.6   5.8
  8500  11.7  53.1  275   5  2   6.9   3.8 |  12.9  55.2  260   5  3   7.4   4.1
  8250  12.1  53.8  270   4  2   5.5   3.0 |  13.3  55.9  275   4  2   6.2   3.4
  8000  12.6  54.7  265   3  2   7.8   4.3 |  13.9  57.0  275   3  2  10.2   5.6
  7750  13.2  55.8  260   2  1   8.2   4.5 |  14.7  58.5  275   3  2  10.7   5.9
  7500  13.7  56.7  250   1  1   5.5   3.0 |  15.4  59.7  270   3  1   7.2   4.0
  7250  14.0  57.2  230   1  0   3.8   2.1 |  15.8  60.4  285   2  1   5.4   2.9
  7000  14.4  57.9  180   1  0   7.4   4.0 |  16.4  61.5  295   2  1  11.1   6.1
  6750  15.0  59.0  135   1  0   8.0   4.4 |  17.3  63.1  285   2  1  11.4   6.3
  6500  15.5  59.9  115   1  1   5.7   3.1 |  17.9  64.2  290   1  1   6.7   3.7
  6250  15.9  60.6  105   2  1   5.2   2.9 |  18.4  65.1  310   1  1   5.8   3.2
  6000  16.3  61.3  100   2  1   6.6   3.6 |  18.8  65.8  335   1  0   7.1   3.9
  5750  17.0  62.6  115   2  1  11.3   6.2 |  19.5  67.1  000   0  0  14.3   7.8
  5500  17.9  64.2  095   2  1  15.7   8.6 |  21.3  70.3  005   1  0  38.2  21.0
  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

           05/18/2024 at 1500 MDT          |       05/18/2024 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...   +80.3    LI...       -0.7        | CAPE...   +76.4    LI...       -0.3
CINH...    -3.9    K Index... +23.9        | CINH...   -41.4    K Index... +26.5
                                           |
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 -57.0 -70.6  250  40 21   1.6   0.9 | -56.7 -70.1  255  43 22   1.5   0.8
 45000 -55.2 -67.4  245  42 22  -2.3  -1.3 | -55.2 -67.4  250  46 24  -2.8  -1.5
 40000 -58.7 -73.7  240  42 21  -2.9  -1.6 | -59.5 -75.1  245  44 23  -3.0  -1.6
 38000 -56.3 -69.3  240  42 22   5.3   2.9 | -57.2 -71.0  245  43 22   5.7   3.1
 36000 -53.2 -63.8  240  42 22   5.3   2.9 | -53.8 -64.8  245  42 22   5.7   3.1
 34000 -49.3 -56.7  240  42 21   7.7   4.2 | -49.1 -56.4  245  41 21   8.4   4.6
 32000 -44.7 -48.5  240  40 21   7.7   4.2 | -44.1 -47.4  245  39 20   8.4   4.6
 30000 -39.8 -39.6  240  39 20   8.3   4.6 | -39.1 -38.4  240  36 19   8.3   4.6
 29000 -37.3 -35.1  245  39 20   8.3   4.6 | -36.6 -33.9  240  35 18   8.3   4.6
 28000 -34.8 -30.6  245  39 20   8.3   4.6 | -34.1 -29.4  240  34 18   8.3   4.6
 27000 -31.8 -25.2  245  38 20   7.8   4.3 | -31.7 -25.1  240  33 17   8.0   4.4
 26000 -29.5 -21.1  245  37 19   7.8   4.3 | -29.3 -20.7  240  32 17   8.0   4.4
 25000 -27.1 -16.8  245  36 18   7.8   4.3 | -26.9 -16.4  235  31 16   8.0   4.4
 24000 -24.9 -12.8  245  35 18   7.1   3.9 | -24.6 -12.3  235  30 15   7.6   4.2
 23000 -22.8  -9.0  245  33 17   7.1   3.9 | -22.4  -8.3  230  29 15   7.7   4.2
 22000 -20.7  -5.3  245  31 16   7.1   3.9 | -20.1  -4.2  230  28 14   7.7   4.2
 21000 -18.4  -1.1  245  30 15   8.0   4.4 | -17.3   0.9  225  27 14   7.7   4.2
 20000 -16.1   3.0  240  29 15   8.0   4.4 | -15.0   5.0  225  26 13   7.8   4.3
 19500 -14.9   5.2  240  28 15   8.0   4.4 | -13.9   7.0  225  26 13   7.8   4.3
 19000 -13.7   7.3  240  28 14   8.1   4.5 | -12.7   9.1  225  25 13   7.8   4.3
 18500 -12.5   9.5  240  27 14   8.2   4.5 | -11.6  11.1  225  24 13   7.8   4.3
 18000 -11.3  11.7  240  27 14   8.3   4.5 | -10.5  13.1  225  24 12   7.9   4.3
 17500 -10.1  13.8  240  26 13   8.1   4.5 |  -9.3  15.3  225  23 12   7.7   4.2
 17000  -8.9  16.0  240  25 13   8.2   4.5 |  -8.2  17.2  225  23 12   7.7   4.2
 16500  -7.7  18.1  245  24 13   8.5   4.6 |  -7.1  19.2  230  22 11   7.7   4.2
 16000  -6.4  20.5  245  24 12   8.7   4.7 |  -6.0  21.2  230  22 11   7.6   4.2
 15500  -5.1  22.8  245  23 12   8.8   4.8 |  -4.8  23.4  230  21 11   7.8   4.3
 15000  -3.8  25.2  245  22 12   9.4   5.1 |  -3.7  25.3  235  21 11   8.2   4.5
 14500  -2.4  27.7  245  22 11   9.4   5.1 |  -2.5  27.5  235  20 10   8.1   4.5
 14000  -1.0  30.2  245  21 11   9.2   5.1 |  -1.2  29.8  235  20 10   8.6   4.7
 13500   0.4  32.7  245  21 11   9.2   5.1 |   0.0  32.0  235  19 10   8.5   4.7
 13000   1.8  35.2  250  20 10   9.4   5.2 |   1.3  34.3  240  19 10   9.1   5.0
 12500   3.2  37.8  250  20 10   9.4   5.2 |   2.7  36.9  240  18  9   9.1   5.0
 12000   4.6  40.3  250  19 10   9.4   5.2 |   4.1  39.4  240  18  9   9.0   4.9
 11500   6.0  42.8  250  18  9   9.5   5.2 |   5.4  41.7  240  17  9   9.0   4.9
 11000   7.3  45.1  250  17  9   8.1   4.4 |   6.7  44.1  240  16  8   8.2   4.5
 10500   8.5  47.3  250  16  8   6.7   3.7 |   7.9  46.2  240  15  8   7.3   4.0
 10250   9.1  48.4  250  16  8  11.7   6.4 |   8.5  47.3  240  15  7  10.8   5.9
 10000  10.2  50.4  250  15  7  12.6   6.9 |   9.4  48.9  240  14  7  11.2   6.1
  9750  10.8  51.4  250  14  7   8.0   4.4 |  10.0  50.0  240  14  7   8.0   4.4
  9500  11.5  52.7  250  13  7   9.8   5.4 |  10.7  51.3  240  13  7   9.0   4.9
  9250  12.7  54.9  255  12  6   7.7   4.2 |  11.3  52.3  240  13  6   8.1   4.5
  9000  13.4  56.1  255  11  6  10.1   5.6 |  11.9  53.4  240  11  6   8.0   4.4
  8750  14.1  57.4  255  10  5   9.9   5.4 |  12.5  54.5  240  11  5   8.5   4.6
  8500  14.8  58.6  255  10  5   8.3   4.6 |  13.1  55.6  235  10  5   8.4   4.6
  8250  15.4  59.7  260   9  5   7.6   4.2 |  14.3  57.7  235   8  4   7.9   4.3
  8000  16.1  61.0  260   8  4   9.3   5.1 |  14.9  58.8  235   7  4   8.0   4.4
  7750  16.8  62.2  260   7  4   9.7   5.3 |  15.5  59.9  235   7  3   8.3   4.5
  7500  17.5  63.5  255   6  3   8.2   4.5 |  16.1  61.0  230   6  3   7.5   4.1
  7250  18.0  64.4  260   6  3   7.5   4.1 |  16.6  61.9  235   5  3   7.0   3.8
  7000  18.7  65.7  265   6  3  10.5   5.7 |  17.1  62.8  235   5  3   8.2   4.5
  6750  19.5  67.1  260   5  2  11.6   6.4 |  17.8  64.0  225   5  2   8.9   4.9
  6500  20.4  68.7  255   4  2  10.6   5.8 |  18.4  65.1  225   4  2   9.3   5.1
  6250  21.2  70.2  265   4  2  11.1   6.1 |  19.1  66.4  225   4  2  10.2   5.6
  6000  22.0  71.6  265   4  2   8.0   4.4 |  19.8  67.6  225   3  2   7.2   4.0
  5750  22.5  72.5  255   3  2  12.1   6.6 |  20.2  68.4  215   4  2   7.6   4.2
  5500  25.3  77.5  270   3  2  80.9  44.4 |  21.9  71.4  220   2  1  49.7  27.3
  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