Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
544 UXUS97 KGJT 111307 SRGGJT Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado 707 AM MDT Saturday, May 11, 2024 This forecast is for Saturday, May 11, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 59.1 F/15.1 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 836 ft/min (4.2 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 16734 ft MSL (11895 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 70.0 F/21.6 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1400 MDT Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast thin middle Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 10460 ft MSL (5621 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 05/12....... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:03:57 / 20:17:04 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 13 min 7 sec (853 min 7 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:10:30 MDT... 68.91 degrees Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 05/11/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 11076 ft MSL (6237 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 13122 ft MSL (8283 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 13668 ft MSL (8829 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -3.9 K index......................... +17.6 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 -55.2 -67.4 275 15 8 1.4 0.8 108.8 227.8 50.0 M M 45000 -50.3 -58.5 275 13 7 3.6 2.0 90.9 195.6 42.7 M M 40000 -50.6 -59.1 255 28 14 2.5 1.4 67.5 153.5 30.3 M M 38000 -49.6 -57.3 245 21 11 2.3 1.3 60.2 140.3 26.2 M M 36000 -48.9 -56.0 235 25 13 -0.3 -0.1 52.6 126.7 21.7 M M 34000 -49.4 -56.9 225 31 16 -1.3 -0.7 43.6 110.5 15.9 M M 32000 -50.0 -58.0 220 37 19 2.0 1.1 33.5 92.3 9.0 M M 30000 -48.1 -54.6 210 51 26 7.2 4.0 28.2 82.8 5.3 M M 29000 -45.5 -49.9 210 47 24 9.0 5.0 27.8 82.0 5.0 M M 28000 -42.8 -45.0 210 37 19 9.0 4.9 27.5 81.5 4.9 M M 27000 -40.1 -40.2 215 39 20 9.0 4.9 27.2 81.0 4.7 M M 26000 -37.4 -35.3 210 30 15 9.0 4.9 26.9 80.5 4.6 M M 25000 -34.7 -30.5 200 25 13 9.0 4.9 26.6 79.8 4.3 M M 24000 -32.4 -26.3 205 18 9 7.8 4.3 25.8 78.4 3.7 M M 23000 -29.7 -21.5 205 14 7 8.4 4.6 25.5 77.8 3.5 M M 22000 -27.3 -17.1 205 23 12 8.2 4.5 24.9 76.9 3.1 M M 21000 -25.0 -13.0 215 22 11 7.5 4.1 24.2 75.5 2.5 M M 20000 -22.7 -8.9 205 20 10 8.1 4.4 23.4 74.2 1.9 M M 19500 -21.5 -6.7 200 20 10 8.0 4.4 23.1 73.6 1.6 M M 19000 -20.3 -4.5 215 15 8 8.1 4.4 22.8 73.1 1.4 M M 18500 -19.2 -2.6 220 13 6 8.0 4.4 22.5 72.6 1.1 M M 18000 -18.0 -0.4 225 14 7 8.0 4.4 22.2 72.0 0.8 M M 17500 -16.2 2.8 235 15 8 8.0 4.4 21.8 71.2 0.4 M M 17000 -15.0 5.0 235 16 8 8.1 4.4 21.5 70.7 0.1 M M 16500 -13.9 7.0 230 15 8 8.5 4.7 21.2 70.1 -0.2 1002 5.1 16000 -12.5 9.5 230 15 8 8.9 4.9 21.1 69.9 -0.3 947 4.8 15500 -11.2 11.8 245 12 6 8.9 4.9 20.9 69.7 -0.4 891 4.5 15000 -9.8 14.4 260 11 6 8.9 4.9 20.8 69.5 -0.5 836 4.2 14500 -8.5 16.7 250 10 5 8.9 4.9 20.7 69.2 -0.6 781 4.0 14000 -7.1 19.2 250 4 2 8.9 4.9 20.6 69.0 -0.7 726 3.7 13500 -5.8 21.6 285 3 2 8.9 4.9 20.4 68.7 -0.9 671 3.4 13000 -4.5 23.9 325 2 1 8.8 4.8 20.2 68.4 -1.0 616 3.1 12500 -3.2 26.2 140 3 2 8.0 4.4 20.0 68.0 -1.3 565 2.9 12000 -2.1 28.2 185 6 3 8.1 4.5 19.7 67.5 -1.6 516 2.6 11500 -0.9 30.4 170 7 4 8.2 4.5 19.5 67.1 -1.9 466 2.4 11000 0.2 32.4 160 9 5 8.4 4.6 19.2 66.6 -2.2 417 2.1 10500 1.1 34.0 145 13 7 -1.5 -0.8 18.7 65.6 -2.8 376 1.9 10250 0.6 33.1 140 15 8 -4.8 -2.6 17.5 63.5 -4.0 382 1.9 10000 0.7 33.3 140 15 8 5.5 3.0 16.7 62.1 -4.7 374 1.9 9750 1.3 34.3 135 11 6 8.9 4.9 16.6 61.9 -4.9 348 1.8 9500 1.9 35.4 125 8 4 8.4 4.6 16.5 61.7 -5.0 323 1.6 9250 2.5 36.5 100 5 2 6.9 3.8 16.4 61.5 -5.1 297 1.5 9000 2.9 37.2 045 4 2 5.4 3.0 16.1 60.9 -5.5 278 1.4 8750 3.2 37.8 050 4 2 3.2 1.7 15.7 60.2 -5.9 260 1.3 8500 3.3 37.9 070 5 2 0.8 0.4 15.0 59.1 -6.6 250 1.3 8250 3.5 38.3 075 4 2 5.0 2.7 14.5 58.0 -7.1 237 1.2 8000 4.0 39.2 070 5 3 7.4 4.0 14.3 57.7 -7.3 215 1.1 7750 4.5 40.1 070 5 3 6.7 3.7 14.0 57.3 -7.6 192 1.0 7500 5.0 41.0 065 6 3 6.9 3.8 13.8 56.9 -7.8 170 0.9 7250 5.5 41.9 060 6 3 6.9 3.8 13.6 56.5 -8.1 147 0.7 7000 6.0 42.8 065 4 2 6.9 3.8 13.4 56.1 -8.3 125 0.6 6750 6.5 43.7 055 5 2 6.9 3.8 13.1 55.7 -8.6 102 0.5 6500 7.0 44.6 040 7 4 6.7 3.7 12.9 55.3 -8.8 80 0.4 6250 7.5 45.5 050 7 4 7.7 4.2 12.7 54.9 -9.1 57 0.3 6000 8.2 46.8 070 7 4 9.6 5.2 12.6 54.7 -9.2 31 0.2 5750 8.8 47.8 080 8 4 7.6 4.2 12.6 54.6 -9.3 4 0.0 5500 9.3 48.7 095 9 5 6.3 3.4 12.3 54.2 -9.6 M M 5250 9.6 49.3 110 10 5 2.1 1.2 12.0 53.6 -10.0 M M 5000 9.3 48.7 120 12 6 -13.9 -7.6 10.9 51.6 -11.1 M M * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 05/11/2024 at 0900 MDT | 05/11/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +17.7 LI... -0.5 | CAPE... +109.9 LI... -0.4 CINH... -55.2 K Index... +24.4 | CINH... -13.7 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 -54.7 -66.5 275 18 9 1.7 1.0 | -54.7 -66.5 270 17 9 1.6 0.9 45000 -52.0 -61.6 265 15 8 1.4 0.8 | -52.2 -62.0 270 17 9 1.2 0.7 40000 -49.9 -57.8 250 18 9 1.4 0.8 | -50.4 -58.7 235 18 9 1.2 0.7 38000 -49.0 -56.2 245 20 11 1.8 1.0 | -49.3 -56.7 225 18 9 2.2 1.2 36000 -47.9 -54.2 240 24 12 1.8 1.0 | -48.0 -54.4 215 19 10 2.2 1.2 34000 -47.1 -52.8 230 28 14 -1.4 -0.8 | -46.9 -52.4 200 20 10 -0.6 -0.3 32000 -47.9 -54.2 205 29 15 -1.3 -0.7 | -47.2 -53.0 180 22 11 -0.5 -0.3 30000 -47.5 -53.5 190 33 17 8.9 4.9 | -46.5 -51.7 165 25 13 8.3 4.5 29000 -44.9 -48.8 185 31 16 8.6 4.7 | -44.1 -47.4 165 24 12 8.0 4.4 28000 -42.3 -44.1 185 29 15 8.6 4.7 | -41.7 -43.1 160 24 12 8.0 4.4 27000 -39.8 -39.6 180 28 14 8.7 4.8 | -39.3 -38.7 160 23 12 8.2 4.5 26000 -37.1 -34.8 180 27 14 8.9 4.9 | -36.8 -34.2 160 23 12 8.5 4.6 25000 -34.5 -30.1 185 27 14 8.9 4.9 | -34.3 -29.7 165 22 12 8.5 4.6 24000 -31.8 -25.2 185 26 13 8.8 4.8 | -31.7 -25.1 170 22 11 8.4 4.6 23000 -29.4 -20.9 185 25 13 8.2 4.5 | -29.3 -20.7 170 21 11 8.1 4.4 22000 -26.9 -16.4 190 23 12 8.2 4.5 | -26.9 -16.4 175 21 11 8.1 4.5 21000 -24.0 -11.2 190 21 11 7.0 3.8 | -23.9 -11.0 180 20 10 7.4 4.1 20000 -21.9 -7.4 195 18 9 7.1 3.9 | -21.7 -7.1 180 18 9 7.5 4.1 19500 -20.8 -5.4 200 17 9 7.1 3.9 | -20.6 -5.1 180 17 9 7.5 4.1 19000 -19.8 -3.6 200 15 8 7.1 3.9 | -19.5 -3.1 180 17 9 7.5 4.1 18500 -18.7 -1.7 205 14 7 7.0 3.9 | -18.4 -1.1 180 15 8 7.3 4.0 18000 -17.7 0.1 205 12 6 7.0 3.9 | -17.3 0.9 180 14 7 7.3 4.0 17500 -16.6 2.1 210 10 5 7.2 3.9 | -16.3 2.7 180 12 6 7.3 4.0 17000 -15.5 4.1 210 8 4 7.4 4.1 | -15.2 4.6 180 10 5 7.2 3.9 16500 -14.5 5.9 210 6 3 7.4 4.1 | -14.1 6.6 180 8 4 7.2 3.9 16000 -13.3 8.1 210 4 2 8.0 4.4 | -13.1 8.4 175 7 3 7.5 4.1 15500 -12.2 10.0 210 2 1 8.0 4.4 | -12.0 10.4 170 5 3 7.5 4.1 15000 -11.0 12.2 195 1 0 8.0 4.4 | -10.9 12.4 155 3 2 7.7 4.2 14500 -9.8 14.4 085 1 0 8.1 4.4 | -9.7 14.5 125 3 1 7.7 4.2 14000 -8.6 16.5 070 2 1 8.2 4.5 | -8.6 16.5 090 3 1 7.8 4.3 13500 -7.4 18.7 070 4 2 8.3 4.6 | -7.4 18.7 070 4 2 7.9 4.3 13000 -6.2 20.8 070 5 3 8.4 4.6 | -6.3 20.7 065 5 3 8.0 4.4 12500 -5.0 23.0 070 7 4 8.5 4.7 | -5.1 22.8 065 6 3 8.1 4.4 12000 -3.7 25.3 075 8 4 8.3 4.5 | -3.9 25.0 060 7 4 8.1 4.5 11500 -2.6 27.3 075 9 5 7.9 4.4 | -2.7 27.1 065 7 4 8.2 4.5 11000 -1.4 29.5 080 10 5 7.3 4.0 | -1.5 29.3 065 7 4 7.8 4.3 10500 -0.4 31.3 085 10 5 5.9 3.2 | -0.4 31.3 070 7 4 6.6 3.6 10250 0.0 32.0 085 10 5 8.9 4.9 | 0.1 32.2 075 7 4 9.2 5.0 10000 0.8 33.4 085 10 5 9.4 5.1 | 0.9 33.6 075 7 4 10.1 5.5 9750 1.3 34.3 085 10 5 6.3 3.4 | 1.5 34.7 075 7 3 7.6 4.2 9500 1.8 35.2 090 10 5 6.8 3.7 | 2.0 35.6 075 6 3 7.9 4.3 9250 2.3 36.1 090 9 5 6.7 3.7 | 2.6 36.7 075 6 3 7.3 4.0 9000 2.8 37.0 095 9 5 6.1 3.3 | 3.1 37.6 080 6 3 6.9 3.8 8750 3.2 37.8 100 9 5 5.6 3.1 | 3.7 38.7 085 5 3 8.0 4.4 8500 3.6 38.5 100 9 4 5.9 3.2 | 4.3 39.7 085 5 2 8.6 4.7 8250 4.0 39.2 100 8 4 5.4 2.9 | 5.5 41.9 090 4 2 8.2 4.5 8000 4.7 40.5 110 8 4 5.3 2.9 | 6.1 43.0 095 3 2 8.8 4.8 7750 5.2 41.4 110 8 4 6.4 3.5 | 6.8 44.2 095 3 2 9.5 5.2 7500 5.6 42.1 105 7 4 5.1 2.8 | 7.5 45.5 095 3 2 8.3 4.6 7250 5.9 42.6 115 8 4 3.6 2.0 | 8.0 46.4 100 3 1 6.9 3.8 7000 6.2 43.2 120 8 4 6.0 3.3 | 8.5 47.3 110 2 1 8.8 4.9 6750 6.7 44.1 115 7 3 7.2 4.0 | 9.3 48.7 105 2 1 10.0 5.5 6500 7.2 45.0 115 6 3 5.3 2.9 | 9.9 49.8 110 2 1 8.2 4.5 6250 7.5 45.5 120 6 3 4.5 2.5 | 10.5 50.9 120 2 1 8.1 4.4 6000 7.9 46.2 130 7 3 5.6 3.1 | 11.1 52.0 130 2 1 6.0 3.3 5750 8.4 47.1 115 5 3 10.9 6.0 | 11.5 52.7 115 2 1 8.7 4.8 5500 9.7 49.5 125 5 3 24.9 13.6 | 13.5 56.3 145 2 1 60.7 33.3 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 05/11/2024 at 1500 MDT | 05/11/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +178.6 LI... -0.9 | CAPE... +138.3 LI... -0.7 CINH... -27.4 K Index... +21.3 | CINH... -12.0 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 -54.8 -66.6 275 17 9 1.9 1.1 | -54.8 -66.6 285 18 9 1.5 0.8 45000 -52.0 -61.6 270 15 7 1.4 0.8 | -52.5 -62.5 275 15 8 2.0 1.1 40000 -49.8 -57.6 245 17 9 1.5 0.8 | -49.6 -57.3 270 14 7 1.9 1.1 38000 -48.8 -55.8 235 16 8 1.7 0.9 | -49.0 -56.2 265 11 6 0.2 0.1 36000 -47.7 -53.9 210 14 7 1.7 0.9 | -48.8 -55.8 250 5 2 0.2 0.1 34000 -46.9 -52.4 185 15 7 -0.1 -0.1 | -48.5 -55.3 140 3 2 1.5 0.8 32000 -47.0 -52.6 160 20 10 -0.1 -0.1 | -47.6 -53.7 105 11 6 1.5 0.8 30000 -46.0 -50.8 150 26 13 8.2 4.5 | -45.7 -50.3 095 17 9 9.0 5.0 29000 -43.6 -46.5 150 24 12 8.1 4.5 | -42.9 -45.2 095 14 7 9.1 5.0 28000 -41.2 -42.2 150 22 11 8.1 4.5 | -40.2 -40.4 095 12 6 9.1 5.0 27000 -38.8 -37.8 150 21 11 8.3 4.5 | -37.5 -35.5 095 10 5 8.8 4.8 26000 -36.2 -33.2 145 19 10 8.5 4.7 | -35.0 -31.0 085 8 4 8.4 4.6 25000 -33.7 -28.7 145 17 9 8.5 4.7 | -32.5 -26.5 080 7 4 8.5 4.6 24000 -31.2 -24.2 145 15 8 8.5 4.6 | -30.0 -22.0 070 6 3 8.4 4.6 23000 -28.8 -19.8 150 13 7 8.0 4.4 | -27.7 -17.9 055 6 3 7.5 4.1 22000 -25.8 -14.4 155 10 5 8.0 4.4 | -24.9 -12.8 045 6 3 7.6 4.2 21000 -23.4 -10.1 160 8 4 7.5 4.1 | -22.7 -8.9 035 6 3 7.1 3.9 20000 -21.2 -6.2 165 6 3 7.6 4.2 | -20.5 -4.9 035 7 3 7.1 3.9 19500 -20.1 -4.2 170 5 3 7.6 4.2 | -19.5 -3.1 035 7 4 7.1 3.9 19000 -18.9 -2.0 180 4 2 7.6 4.2 | -18.4 -1.1 035 7 4 7.1 3.9 18500 -17.8 -0.0 190 4 2 7.3 4.0 | -17.3 0.9 035 7 4 7.5 4.1 18000 -16.7 1.9 200 3 2 7.3 4.0 | -16.2 2.8 035 7 4 7.6 4.2 17500 -15.7 3.7 215 3 1 7.4 4.1 | -15.1 4.8 040 7 4 7.5 4.1 17000 -14.6 5.7 230 3 1 7.6 4.2 | -14.0 6.8 035 7 4 7.2 4.0 16500 -13.4 7.9 250 3 1 7.6 4.1 | -13.0 8.6 030 7 4 7.3 4.0 16000 -12.3 9.9 265 3 1 8.3 4.6 | -11.9 10.6 030 7 4 6.7 3.7 15500 -11.1 12.0 280 3 1 8.3 4.5 | -11.0 12.2 030 7 4 6.8 3.7 15000 -9.8 14.4 295 3 1 8.2 4.5 | -10.0 14.0 030 8 4 7.0 3.8 14500 -8.7 16.3 315 3 1 8.1 4.5 | -8.9 16.0 035 8 4 7.1 3.9 14000 -7.5 18.5 330 3 2 8.1 4.4 | -7.9 17.8 040 8 4 7.3 4.0 13500 -6.3 20.7 350 3 2 8.0 4.4 | -6.8 19.8 045 8 4 7.5 4.1 13000 -5.1 22.8 005 4 2 7.9 4.3 | -5.7 21.7 050 8 4 7.6 4.2 12500 -4.0 24.8 015 4 2 7.8 4.3 | -4.6 23.7 050 7 4 7.8 4.3 12000 -2.9 26.8 025 5 2 7.8 4.3 | -3.4 25.9 055 7 3 7.9 4.4 11500 -1.7 28.9 035 5 3 7.9 4.3 | -2.3 27.9 060 6 3 8.2 4.5 11000 -0.5 31.1 040 6 3 7.6 4.2 | -1.1 30.0 065 5 3 7.9 4.3 10500 0.5 32.9 045 7 4 6.5 3.6 | 0.0 32.0 075 5 3 6.7 3.7 10250 1.0 33.8 050 8 4 8.9 4.9 | 0.5 32.9 080 5 3 8.9 4.9 10000 1.8 35.2 050 7 4 10.7 5.9 | 1.3 34.3 085 5 2 10.8 5.9 9750 2.5 36.5 055 7 3 8.7 4.8 | 2.0 35.6 090 4 2 8.8 4.9 9500 3.1 37.6 060 7 3 8.2 4.5 | 2.6 36.7 095 5 2 8.2 4.5 9250 3.7 38.7 060 7 4 8.6 4.7 | 3.3 37.9 100 5 3 8.2 4.5 9000 4.3 39.7 065 7 4 7.5 4.1 | 3.9 39.0 105 5 3 9.0 4.9 8750 4.9 40.8 065 8 4 7.9 4.3 | 4.6 40.3 105 4 2 9.0 5.0 8500 5.5 41.9 070 7 4 9.4 5.2 | 5.2 41.4 110 4 2 8.2 4.5 8250 6.8 44.2 075 7 4 8.3 4.6 | 6.5 43.7 120 5 3 9.5 5.2 8000 7.4 45.3 080 7 4 9.1 5.0 | 7.2 45.0 125 5 3 8.8 4.8 7750 8.1 46.6 085 7 4 10.1 5.6 | 7.7 45.9 125 5 3 7.8 4.3 7500 8.9 48.0 085 7 3 9.0 4.9 | 8.3 46.9 125 5 2 8.4 4.6 7250 9.5 49.1 095 7 4 7.5 4.1 | 9.0 48.2 125 5 3 9.1 5.0 7000 10.1 50.2 105 7 4 9.8 5.4 | 9.7 49.5 125 5 3 8.9 4.9 6750 10.9 51.6 100 7 3 11.7 6.4 | 10.3 50.5 125 5 2 8.4 4.6 6500 11.7 53.1 100 6 3 10.4 5.7 | 10.9 51.6 120 4 2 9.7 5.3 6250 12.5 54.5 115 7 4 10.5 5.7 | 11.7 53.1 120 5 2 11.7 6.4 6000 13.2 55.8 125 8 4 8.4 4.6 | 12.5 54.5 120 5 3 7.6 4.2 5750 13.9 57.0 110 6 3 13.5 7.4 | 12.9 55.2 120 4 2 6.9 3.8 5500 16.6 61.9 125 7 3 76.3 41.9 | 14.8 58.6 115 4 2 57.2 31.4 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