Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
272 UXUS97 KPUB 191203 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0603 MDT Thursday, September 19, 2024 This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Thursday, September 19, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 55.7 F/13.2 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good Maximum rate of lift........................ 541 ft/min (2.7 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 16386 ft MSL (7412 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 72.0 F/22.7 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0900 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................. 15025 ft MSL (6051 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Friday 09/20....... Good Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:49:30 / 19:04:42 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 12 hr 15 min 12 sec (735 min 12 sec) Altitude of sun at 12:57:06 MDT... 52.79 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 09/19/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 16088 ft MSL (7114 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 21438 ft MSL (12464 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 19522 ft MSL (10548 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... +2.1 K index......................... -26.8 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 -64.7 -84.5 250 60 31 3.3 1.8 M M M M M 45000 -58.6 -73.5 250 81 42 5.7 3.1 M M M M M 40000 -49.9 -57.8 250 96 50 6.2 3.4 M M M M M 38000 -46.2 -51.2 250 92 47 6.3 3.4 M M M M M 36000 -42.4 -44.3 250 87 45 6.3 3.4 M M M M M 34000 -38.5 -37.3 250 81 42 6.5 3.6 M M M M M 32000 -34.1 -29.4 255 75 38 6.4 3.5 M M M M M 30000 -29.7 -21.5 250 65 33 7.5 4.1 34.7 94.5 9.9 M M 29000 -27.4 -17.3 250 60 31 7.5 4.1 33.9 93.0 9.4 M M 28000 -25.2 -13.4 250 54 28 7.3 4.0 33.2 91.8 8.9 M M 27000 -23.1 -9.6 250 51 26 7.1 3.9 32.1 89.8 8.1 M M 26000 -20.9 -5.6 245 47 24 7.1 3.9 31.1 88.0 7.4 M M 25000 -18.8 -1.8 245 43 22 6.9 3.8 30.2 86.4 6.7 M M 24000 -16.4 2.5 245 41 21 8.3 4.5 29.5 85.2 6.2 M M 23000 -14.0 6.8 245 40 21 8.3 4.5 29.0 84.2 5.8 M M 22000 -11.5 11.3 245 39 20 8.5 4.6 28.5 83.4 5.5 M M 21000 -9.4 15.1 245 37 19 6.7 3.7 27.6 81.6 4.7 M M 20000 -7.4 18.7 245 35 18 6.7 3.7 26.5 79.8 3.8 M M 19500 -6.3 20.7 245 34 18 6.7 3.7 26.0 78.9 3.4 M M 19000 -5.4 22.3 245 33 17 5.9 3.2 25.6 78.0 3.0 M M 18500 -4.6 23.7 245 32 16 5.4 3.0 24.8 76.7 2.3 M M 18000 -3.8 25.2 245 31 16 5.2 2.8 24.1 75.4 1.7 M M 17500 -2.8 27.0 245 29 15 7.4 4.0 23.5 74.3 1.2 M M 17000 -1.7 28.9 245 28 14 7.2 3.9 23.1 73.6 0.8 M M 16500 -0.7 30.7 245 26 13 5.4 3.0 22.7 72.8 0.4 M M 16000 -0.0 32.0 250 26 13 4.2 2.3 21.7 71.1 -0.5 523 2.7 15500 0.8 33.4 250 27 14 0.7 0.4 20.2 68.4 -1.9 477 2.4 15000 0.7 33.3 255 28 14 -0.1 -0.0 18.6 65.5 -3.4 465 2.4 14500 0.6 33.1 255 29 15 0.1 0.1 17.1 62.7 -5.0 452 2.3 14000 0.6 33.1 255 27 14 1.7 0.9 15.6 60.1 -6.5 437 2.2 13500 0.7 33.3 255 25 13 2.3 1.3 14.4 57.9 -7.9 420 2.1 13000 1.4 34.5 260 21 11 8.6 4.7 13.7 56.7 -8.7 384 2.0 12500 2.5 36.5 260 18 9 8.6 4.7 13.5 56.4 -9.1 334 1.7 12000 3.7 38.7 265 16 8 8.9 4.9 13.3 56.0 -9.4 284 1.4 11750 4.5 40.1 265 15 8 10.2 5.6 13.3 56.0 -9.4 254 1.3 11500 5.2 41.4 265 14 7 10.1 5.6 13.3 56.0 -9.4 224 1.1 11250 6.0 42.8 265 14 7 8.3 4.6 13.3 56.0 -9.4 195 1.0 11000 6.5 43.7 265 13 7 6.7 3.7 13.1 55.6 -9.6 171 0.9 10750 7.1 44.8 265 12 6 7.9 4.4 12.9 55.3 -9.8 147 0.7 10500 7.7 45.9 265 11 6 8.6 4.7 12.8 55.1 -9.9 120 0.6 10250 8.3 46.9 265 11 5 4.7 2.6 12.6 54.8 -10.1 96 0.5 10000 8.5 47.3 265 10 5 1.5 0.8 12.1 53.8 -10.7 83 0.4 9750 8.7 47.7 265 9 5 4.4 2.4 11.5 52.8 -11.3 69 0.4 9500 9.0 48.2 265 8 4 0.5 0.3 11.1 52.0 -11.7 53 0.3 9250 8.3 46.9 260 6 3 -22.9 -12.5 9.7 49.4 -13.2 67 0.3 9000 5.3 41.5 245 4 2 -57.4 -31.5 5.9 42.7 -17.0 150 0.8 8750 M M M M M M M M M M M M 8500 M M M M M M M M M M M M 8250 M M M M M M M M M M M M 8000 M M M M M M M M M M M M * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 09/19/2024 at 0900 MDT | 09/19/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +3.1 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +3.0 CINH... 0.0 K Index... -22.4 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... -23.2 | 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 -64.5 -84.1 250 63 32 2.3 1.3 | -64.5 -84.1 255 55 28 2.5 1.4 45000 -59.3 -74.7 250 83 43 6.0 3.3 | -59.3 -74.7 250 83 43 5.8 3.2 40000 -50.3 -58.5 250 96 49 6.3 3.5 | -50.1 -58.2 250 94 48 6.4 3.5 38000 -46.5 -51.7 250 94 48 6.3 3.5 | -46.2 -51.2 250 92 47 6.4 3.5 36000 -42.7 -44.9 250 91 47 6.3 3.5 | -42.4 -44.3 245 90 46 6.4 3.5 34000 -38.8 -37.8 250 85 44 6.5 3.6 | -38.4 -37.1 250 84 43 6.7 3.7 32000 -34.4 -29.9 250 76 39 6.4 3.5 | -34.4 -29.9 250 78 40 6.6 3.6 30000 -29.8 -21.6 250 67 35 7.9 4.3 | -29.9 -21.8 250 70 36 7.8 4.3 29000 -27.4 -17.3 250 63 32 7.9 4.3 | -27.5 -17.5 250 66 34 7.8 4.3 28000 -25.0 -13.0 250 58 30 7.3 4.0 | -25.2 -13.4 250 61 32 7.6 4.2 27000 -23.0 -9.4 250 54 28 6.7 3.7 | -22.7 -8.9 250 57 29 6.7 3.7 26000 -21.0 -5.8 250 49 25 6.7 3.7 | -20.6 -5.1 250 53 27 6.7 3.7 25000 -18.9 -2.0 245 45 23 6.5 3.6 | -18.6 -1.5 250 49 25 6.8 3.7 24000 -16.6 2.1 245 42 22 8.0 4.4 | -16.4 2.5 250 46 23 7.4 4.1 23000 -14.2 6.4 245 40 20 8.0 4.4 | -14.2 6.4 245 42 22 7.4 4.1 22000 -11.8 10.8 245 38 19 8.1 4.5 | -12.0 10.4 245 39 20 7.4 4.0 21000 -9.7 14.5 245 36 18 6.5 3.6 | -9.9 14.2 245 37 19 7.1 3.9 20000 -7.8 18.0 245 34 17 6.6 3.6 | -7.7 18.1 245 35 18 7.1 3.9 19500 -6.8 19.8 245 33 17 6.6 3.6 | -6.7 19.9 245 34 18 7.2 3.9 19000 -5.8 21.6 245 32 16 6.1 3.4 | -5.7 21.7 245 33 17 6.1 3.3 18500 -4.9 23.2 245 30 15 5.9 3.2 | -4.8 23.4 245 32 17 6.0 3.3 18000 -4.1 24.6 245 29 15 5.9 3.2 | -3.9 25.0 240 31 16 6.2 3.4 17500 -3.1 26.4 245 27 14 7.2 3.9 | -2.9 26.8 240 30 16 7.4 4.1 17000 -2.0 28.4 245 26 13 7.1 3.9 | -1.8 28.8 240 30 15 7.5 4.1 16500 -1.0 30.2 245 25 13 5.6 3.0 | -0.7 30.7 240 29 15 5.3 2.9 16000 -0.2 31.6 245 25 13 4.8 2.6 | -0.0 32.0 240 28 14 4.9 2.7 15500 0.6 33.1 245 25 13 0.1 0.1 | 0.7 33.3 245 27 14 4.1 2.3 15000 0.5 32.9 250 25 13 -0.5 -0.3 | 1.2 34.2 245 26 13 2.9 1.6 14500 0.4 32.7 250 24 13 -0.1 -0.1 | 1.6 34.9 245 25 13 3.1 1.7 14000 0.3 32.5 250 21 11 1.0 0.6 | 1.8 35.2 245 19 10 1.0 0.5 13500 0.3 32.5 250 19 10 2.6 1.4 | 1.7 35.1 240 15 8 2.0 1.1 13000 1.0 33.8 250 15 8 7.8 4.3 | 2.3 36.1 230 11 6 7.2 3.9 12500 2.1 35.8 245 12 6 7.8 4.3 | 3.2 37.8 220 9 5 7.3 4.0 12000 3.1 37.6 250 10 5 7.7 4.2 | 4.3 39.7 215 8 4 8.9 4.9 11750 3.7 38.7 250 10 5 9.7 5.3 | 5.1 41.2 215 8 4 10.7 5.9 11500 4.5 40.1 255 10 5 9.5 5.2 | 5.8 42.4 215 8 4 10.3 5.6 11250 5.1 41.2 255 9 5 8.4 4.6 | 6.6 43.9 210 8 4 10.0 5.5 11000 5.7 42.3 260 9 5 7.5 4.1 | 7.3 45.1 210 8 4 9.6 5.3 10750 6.3 43.3 260 9 5 9.0 4.9 | 8.0 46.4 210 8 4 10.5 5.8 10500 7.0 44.6 260 9 4 9.4 5.2 | 8.8 47.8 210 8 4 11.1 6.1 10250 7.6 45.7 260 8 4 6.3 3.5 | 9.6 49.3 210 8 4 10.3 5.7 10000 8.0 46.4 255 7 4 5.2 2.8 | 10.4 50.7 210 8 4 10.5 5.7 9750 8.5 47.3 245 7 4 4.9 2.7 | 11.2 52.2 210 8 4 9.6 5.2 9500 8.8 47.8 240 7 3 6.3 3.4 | 12.0 53.6 210 7 4 14.7 8.1 9250 9.5 49.1 230 6 3 12.2 6.7 | 13.5 56.3 210 7 4 28.2 15.5 9000 10.4 50.7 225 4 2 10.9 6.0 | 15.5 59.9 210 7 4 19.1 10.5 8750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 09/19/2024 at 1500 MDT | 09/19/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +3.8 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +3.9 CINH... 0.0 K Index... -19.0 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... -18.4 | 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 -64.4 -83.9 250 53 27 2.2 1.2 | -64.6 -84.3 250 55 28 1.9 1.0 45000 -59.4 -74.9 250 86 44 5.9 3.2 | -59.8 -75.6 255 85 44 6.0 3.3 40000 -50.0 -58.0 250 94 48 6.4 3.5 | -50.2 -58.4 250 95 49 6.8 3.7 38000 -46.2 -51.2 250 93 48 6.5 3.5 | -46.1 -51.0 250 92 47 6.8 3.7 36000 -42.3 -44.1 245 91 47 6.4 3.5 | -42.0 -43.6 245 90 46 6.8 3.7 34000 -38.4 -37.1 245 85 44 6.6 3.6 | -38.0 -36.4 245 83 43 6.6 3.6 32000 -34.4 -29.9 245 78 40 6.5 3.5 | -34.1 -29.4 245 77 39 6.3 3.4 30000 -29.9 -21.8 250 71 37 7.7 4.2 | -29.7 -21.5 245 70 36 7.7 4.2 29000 -27.6 -17.7 250 67 35 7.7 4.2 | -27.4 -17.3 245 67 34 7.7 4.2 28000 -24.7 -12.5 250 63 32 7.6 4.2 | -24.5 -12.1 245 62 32 7.8 4.3 27000 -22.4 -8.3 250 59 30 7.5 4.1 | -22.1 -7.8 245 60 31 7.8 4.3 26000 -20.2 -4.4 250 56 29 7.6 4.1 | -19.8 -3.6 245 58 30 7.8 4.3 25000 -17.9 -0.2 245 52 27 7.4 4.1 | -17.4 0.7 245 56 29 7.7 4.2 24000 -15.9 3.4 245 48 24 6.5 3.6 | -15.3 4.5 245 52 27 6.9 3.8 23000 -13.9 7.0 245 43 22 6.5 3.6 | -13.2 8.2 245 47 24 6.9 3.8 22000 -12.0 10.4 240 38 20 6.7 3.7 | -11.1 12.0 245 43 22 6.8 3.7 21000 -9.7 14.5 240 36 18 7.6 4.2 | -9.2 15.4 240 39 20 6.2 3.4 20000 -7.5 18.5 245 34 17 7.7 4.2 | -7.4 18.7 240 35 18 6.2 3.4 19500 -6.3 20.7 245 33 17 7.7 4.2 | -6.5 20.3 240 33 17 6.2 3.4 19000 -5.2 22.6 245 32 16 6.3 3.5 | -5.5 22.1 240 31 16 6.1 3.3 18500 -4.3 24.3 245 31 16 6.2 3.4 | -4.6 23.7 240 30 16 6.0 3.3 18000 -3.4 25.9 245 31 16 6.2 3.4 | -3.7 25.3 240 29 15 5.8 3.2 17500 -2.5 27.5 245 30 15 6.1 3.4 | -3.0 26.6 240 28 14 4.6 2.5 17000 -1.6 29.1 245 29 15 6.3 3.4 | -2.3 27.9 240 26 13 4.7 2.6 16500 -0.8 30.6 245 28 14 4.0 2.2 | -1.6 29.1 240 24 12 5.4 3.0 16000 -0.3 31.5 245 26 13 3.7 2.0 | -0.9 30.4 240 22 11 5.6 3.1 15500 0.3 32.5 245 25 13 3.3 1.8 | -0.1 31.8 240 20 10 6.1 3.3 15000 0.6 33.1 245 22 11 2.7 1.5 | 0.9 33.6 240 18 9 6.7 3.7 14500 1.1 34.0 240 16 8 5.8 3.2 | 2.3 36.1 235 16 8 6.6 3.6 14000 1.9 35.4 235 14 7 5.8 3.2 | 3.2 37.8 225 15 8 6.6 3.6 13500 2.7 36.9 225 12 6 6.0 3.3 | 4.1 39.4 215 14 7 5.8 3.2 13000 3.7 38.7 215 11 6 8.2 4.5 | 5.0 41.0 205 14 7 7.7 4.2 12500 4.9 40.8 210 11 6 8.2 4.5 | 6.1 43.0 195 15 8 7.6 4.2 12000 6.1 43.0 210 11 6 9.6 5.3 | 7.2 45.0 190 16 8 8.5 4.7 11750 6.9 44.4 205 11 6 11.3 6.2 | 7.9 46.2 185 16 8 9.1 5.0 11500 7.7 45.9 205 11 6 10.5 5.8 | 8.5 47.3 180 17 9 8.8 4.8 11250 8.4 47.1 205 11 6 9.7 5.3 | 9.2 48.6 180 17 9 8.0 4.4 11000 9.1 48.4 205 11 6 9.1 5.0 | 9.7 49.5 180 16 8 7.4 4.1 10750 9.8 49.6 205 11 6 10.2 5.6 | 10.2 50.4 180 15 8 8.0 4.4 10500 10.6 51.1 205 11 6 11.1 6.1 | 10.8 51.4 180 14 7 8.6 4.7 10250 11.5 52.7 205 11 6 10.7 5.9 | 11.5 52.7 185 13 7 9.3 5.1 10000 12.3 54.1 205 11 6 11.0 6.0 | 12.2 54.0 185 13 7 9.7 5.3 9750 13.1 55.6 205 11 6 9.9 5.4 | 12.9 55.2 185 12 6 9.7 5.3 9500 13.8 56.8 205 11 5 13.3 7.3 | 13.6 56.5 185 11 6 10.2 5.6 9250 15.2 59.4 205 10 5 25.7 14.1 | 14.4 57.9 185 10 5 10.6 5.8 9000 17.3 63.1 200 9 5 27.3 15.0 | 15.1 59.2 185 7 4 9.8 5.4 8750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8000 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 Villa Grove, Colorado at: North Latitude: 38 deg 16 min 03 sec West Longitude: 105 deg 53 min 37 sec Elevation: 7986 feet (2434 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