Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

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501
UXUS97 KBOU 151249
SRGBOU

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
0649 MDT Sunday, September 15, 2024

This forecast is for Sunday, September 15, 2024:

If the trigger temperature of 83.1 F/28.4 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 888 ft/min (4.5 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 18531 ft MSL (13243 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 89.0 F/32.1 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1145 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1700 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast opaque middle
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 9696 ft MSL (4408 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 09/16....... Good

Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor
Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1800 MDT)......... No change
Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... None
Weak PVA/NVA (through 1800 MDT)................ Weak PVA
Potential height of wave....................... 17335 ft MSL (12047 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Monday 09/16.......... Fair

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:41:23 / 19:07:29 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 12 hr 26 min 5 sec (746 min 5 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:54:26 MDT... 52.82 degrees

Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 09/15/2024 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 15454 ft MSL (10166 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 16257 ft MSL (10969 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 16825 ft MSL (11538 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -2.7
K index......................... +22.3

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  -60.2 -76.4   245   29   15   1.5   0.8      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -58.0 -72.4   245   35   18   1.4   0.8      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -55.4 -67.7   220   22   11   6.4   3.5      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -51.9 -61.4   215   20   10   5.8   3.2      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -48.4 -55.1   210   18    9   5.9   3.2      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -44.2 -47.6   215   17    9   7.5   4.1      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -39.7 -39.5   220   18    9   7.5   4.1      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -35.0 -31.0   220   16    8   7.9   4.3   40.5 104.9     6.7      M    M
 29000  -32.1 -25.8   220   14    7   7.9   4.3   39.6 103.4     6.1      M    M
 28000  -29.7 -21.5   220   12    6   8.5   4.6   39.1 102.3     5.8      M    M
 27000  -27.1 -16.8   220   11    6   9.0   4.9   38.6 101.6     5.5      M    M
 26000  -24.4 -11.9   220   10    5   9.0   4.9   38.3 101.0     5.3      M    M
 25000  -21.7  -7.1   215    9    5   9.0   4.9   38.1 100.7     5.2      M    M
 24000  -19.3  -2.7   205    9    5   7.9   4.3   37.5  99.5     4.7      M    M
 23000  -16.9   1.6   195    9    5   7.9   4.3   36.8  98.2     4.2      M    M
 22000  -14.5   5.9   185   10    5   7.7   4.2   36.2  97.2     3.8      M    M
 21000  -12.6   9.3   190   10    5   6.2   3.4   35.0  95.0     2.7      M    M
 20000  -10.8  12.6   200   11    6   6.2   3.4   33.7  92.7     1.7      M    M
 19500   -9.9  14.2   200   11    6   6.2   3.4   33.2  91.7     1.2      M    M
 19000   -9.0  15.8   205   12    6   6.4   3.5   32.6  90.6     0.6      M    M
 18500   -8.1  17.4   205   14    7   6.6   3.6   32.0  89.6     0.0      M    M
 18000   -7.2  19.0   205   15    8   7.3   4.0   31.5  88.7    -0.5   1250  6.4
 17500   -6.0  21.2   200   16    8   9.2   5.0   31.3  88.3    -0.8   1199  6.1
 17000   -4.7  23.5   200   16    8   9.2   5.0   31.2  88.1    -1.0   1146  5.8
 16500   -3.4  25.9   200   16    8   9.5   5.2   31.1  88.0    -1.1   1091  5.5
 16000   -1.9  28.6   200   15    8   9.5   5.2   31.0  87.9    -1.1   1033  5.2
 15500   -0.5  31.1   200   14    7   9.7   5.3   31.0  87.9    -1.1    975  5.0
 15000    1.0  33.8   200   14    7   9.9   5.4   31.0  87.9    -1.1    915  4.6
 14500    3.2  37.8   200   13    7   9.7   5.3   31.1  88.0    -1.1    826  4.2
 14000    4.7  40.5   200   13    6   9.7   5.3   31.1  87.9    -1.1    768  3.9
 13500    6.1  43.0   200   12    6   9.4   5.2   31.1  87.9    -1.1    710  3.6
 13000    7.5  45.5   200   10    5   9.1   5.0   31.0  87.7    -1.3    655  3.3
 12500    8.8  47.8   200    9    5   9.1   5.0   30.9  87.6    -1.4    600  3.0
 12000   10.1  50.2   200    8    4   9.1   5.0   30.8  87.4    -1.5    546  2.8
 11500   11.4  52.5   200    8    4   8.9   4.9   30.7  87.2    -1.7    493  2.5
 11000   12.6  54.7   200    8    4   7.4   4.1   30.4  86.7    -2.0    443  2.2
 10500   13.7  56.7   210    7    4   3.9   2.1   30.1  86.1    -2.4    394  2.0
 10250   13.8  56.8   210    7    4   5.2   2.9   29.5  85.1    -2.9    382  1.9
 10000   14.6  58.3   215    7    4  11.0   6.0   29.5  85.1    -3.0    354  1.8
  9750   15.3  59.5   220    8    4   9.6   5.3   29.5  85.1    -3.0    325  1.7
  9500   16.0  60.8   225    8    4   9.2   5.1   29.5  85.1    -3.0    297  1.5
  9250   16.5  61.7   230    8    4   6.7   3.6   29.3  84.8    -3.2    272  1.4
  9000   17.0  62.6   230    8    4   6.9   3.8   29.1  84.4    -3.5    251  1.3
  8750   17.6  63.7   235    9    4   8.4   4.6   28.9  84.1    -3.6    227  1.2
  8500   18.1  64.6   240    9    5   7.0   3.9   28.8  83.8    -3.8    202  1.0
  8250   18.6  65.5   245    9    5   5.3   2.9   28.5  83.3    -4.1    182  0.9
  8000   18.9  66.0   250    9    4   4.0   2.2   28.1  82.6    -4.5    164  0.8
  7750   19.2  66.6   255    8    4   4.2   2.3   27.7  81.8    -5.0    149  0.8
  7500   19.4  66.9   260    8    4   0.3   0.2   27.2  80.9    -5.5    134  0.7
  7250   19.2  66.6   275    7    4  -4.2  -2.3   26.2  79.2    -6.4    133  0.7
  7000   18.9  66.0   285    7    4  -3.9  -2.1   25.2  77.3    -7.5    134  0.7
  6750   18.6  65.5   300    7    4  -4.2  -2.3   24.1  75.4    -8.5    136  0.7
  6500   18.2  64.8   310    8    4  -7.3  -4.0   23.0  73.4    -9.6    140  0.7
  6250   17.5  63.5   315    8    4  -9.3  -5.1   21.6  70.8   -11.1    154  0.8
  6000   16.8  62.2   320    8    4  -9.0  -4.9   20.1  68.3   -12.6    168  0.9
  5750   16.1  61.0   325    8    4  -8.5  -4.7   18.7  65.7   -14.1    183  0.9
  5500   15.5  59.9   320    6    3  -6.0  -3.3   17.5  63.4   -15.4    193  1.0

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

           09/15/2024 at 0900 MDT          |       09/15/2024 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       -0.8        | CAPE...  +167.2    LI...       -0.5
CINH...     0.0    K Index... +21.3        | CINH...  -153.2    K Index... +13.8
                                           |
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 -59.6 -75.3  240  28 15   1.6   0.9 | -59.6 -75.3  245  32 17   1.6   0.9
 45000 -57.3 -71.1  245  33 17   1.1   0.6 | -57.1 -70.8  240  36 19   1.6   0.9
 40000 -55.4 -67.7  225  25 13   5.4   3.0 | -54.6 -66.3  230  35 18   4.5   2.5
 38000 -52.3 -62.1  225  24 12   5.1   2.8 | -52.0 -61.6  220  31 16   4.3   2.4
 36000 -49.3 -56.7  220  22 11   5.1   2.8 | -49.4 -56.9  210  28 14   4.4   2.4
 34000 -44.8 -48.6  220  21 11   8.5   4.6 | -45.0 -49.0  205  27 14   8.5   4.6
 32000 -39.7 -39.5  220  20 10   8.5   4.7 | -40.0 -40.0  205  26 14   8.5   4.6
 30000 -34.4 -29.9  215  20 10   7.6   4.2 | -34.5 -30.1  205  27 14   7.9   4.3
 29000 -32.1 -25.8  210  19 10   7.6   4.2 | -32.2 -26.0  200  27 14   7.9   4.3
 28000 -29.9 -21.8  205  19 10   8.2   4.5 | -29.8 -21.6  200  27 14   8.2   4.5
 27000 -27.2 -17.0  200  18  9   8.8   4.8 | -27.2 -17.0  195  26 13   8.5   4.7
 26000 -24.6 -12.3  190  17  9   8.8   4.8 | -24.7 -12.5  190  25 13   8.5   4.7
 25000 -21.9  -7.4  185  16  8   8.9   4.9 | -22.2  -8.0  185  24 12   8.7   4.8
 24000 -19.7  -3.5  180  16  8   7.1   3.9 | -20.1  -4.2  190  23 12   6.3   3.5
 23000 -17.6   0.3  180  17  9   7.1   3.9 | -18.2  -0.8  195  23 12   6.4   3.5
 22000 -15.4   4.3  180  18  9   7.1   3.9 | -16.3   2.7  205  23 12   6.5   3.6
 21000 -13.5   7.7  185  18  9   6.6   3.6 | -14.1   6.6  210  22 11   7.8   4.3
 20000 -11.6  11.1  190  18 10   6.7   3.7 | -11.8  10.8  215  20 10   7.8   4.3
 19500 -10.6  12.9  190  19 10   6.7   3.6 | -10.7  12.7  215  19 10   7.8   4.3
 19000  -9.6  14.7  190  18 10   8.4   4.6 |  -9.5  14.9  220  18  9   9.4   5.2
 18500  -8.3  17.1  190  18  9   8.5   4.7 |  -8.0  17.6  215  17  9   9.5   5.2
 18000  -7.0  19.4  185  18  9   8.7   4.8 |  -6.6  20.1  215  16  8   9.4   5.2
 17500  -5.7  21.7  185  17  9   9.2   5.1 |  -5.3  22.5  215  16  8   9.1   5.0
 17000  -4.4  24.1  185  16  8   9.2   5.1 |  -3.9  25.0  215  16  8   9.2   5.0
 16500  -3.0  26.6  185  15  8   9.3   5.1 |  -2.6  27.3  210  16  8   8.4   4.6
 16000  -1.7  28.9  185  15  8   9.3   5.1 |  -1.3  29.7  210  16  8   8.4   4.6
 15500  -0.3  31.5  185  15  8   9.4   5.2 |  -0.1  31.8  205  16  8   8.7   4.8
 15000   1.1  34.0  185  14  7   9.5   5.2 |   1.3  34.3  205  16  8   8.9   4.9
 14500   3.2  37.8  185  13  7   9.4   5.2 |   3.3  37.9  200  17  9   9.1   5.0
 14000   4.6  40.3  190  13  6   9.4   5.1 |   4.6  40.3  200  17  9   9.2   5.0
 13500   6.0  42.8  190  12  6   9.1   5.0 |   5.9  42.6  200  17  8   9.2   5.1
 13000   7.3  45.1  190  11  6   8.9   4.9 |   7.3  45.1  200  16  8   9.3   5.1
 12500   8.6  47.5  190  10  5   8.8   4.8 |   8.7  47.7  200  15  8   9.3   5.1
 12000   9.8  49.6  190   9  5   8.5   4.7 |  10.0  50.0  195  14  7   9.2   5.1
 11500  11.0  51.8  190   8  4   8.2   4.5 |  11.4  52.5  195  12  6   8.8   4.8
 11000  12.1  53.8  195   6  3   6.9   3.8 |  12.4  54.3  195  10  5   6.7   3.7
 10500  13.2  55.8  205   4  2   3.8   2.1 |  13.4  56.1  190   8  4   3.8   2.1
 10250  13.3  55.9  210   4  2   4.6   2.5 |  13.6  56.5  190   7  4   4.1   2.3
 10000  14.0  57.2  220   4  2   9.9   5.4 |  14.1  57.4  195   6  3   8.6   4.7
  9750  14.7  58.5  235   3  2   9.3   5.1 |  14.6  58.3  195   5  3   7.6   4.1
  9500  15.3  59.5  255   3  2   8.6   4.7 |  15.2  59.4  200   4  2   7.2   4.0
  9250  15.9  60.6  270   3  2   6.4   3.5 |  15.6  60.1  210   3  2   6.0   3.3
  9000  16.4  61.5  285   3  2   6.3   3.4 |  16.1  61.0  215   2  1   6.9   3.8
  8750  16.9  62.4  300   4  2   7.3   4.0 |  16.7  62.1  225   2  1   8.0   4.4
  8500  17.4  63.3  310   4  2   5.7   3.1 |  17.3  63.1  255   1  0   7.1   3.9
  8250  17.8  64.0  320   5  2   3.8   2.1 |  17.8  64.0  310   1  1   6.4   3.5
  8000  18.0  64.4  325   5  3   2.7   1.5 |  18.2  64.8  335   2  1   5.7   3.1
  7750  18.2  64.8  330   6  3   2.2   1.2 |  18.6  65.5  340   2  1   4.9   2.7
  7500  18.3  64.9  330   7  4  -0.1  -0.0 |  19.0  66.2  345   3  2   5.3   2.9
  7250  18.1  64.6  330   7  4  -2.1  -1.1 |  19.4  66.9  335   3  1   5.6   3.1
  7000  17.9  64.2  330   7  4  -1.8  -1.0 |  19.7  67.5  330   3  1   6.0   3.3
  6750  17.6  63.7  325   8  4  -3.7  -2.1 |  20.2  68.4  325   3  1   8.3   4.5
  6500  17.3  63.1  325   7  4  -3.0  -1.7 |  20.8  69.4  320   3  1  10.6   5.8
  6250  17.1  62.8  315   6  3  -0.8  -0.4 |  21.6  70.9  315   3  1  11.6   6.4
  6000  16.9  62.4  305   5  3  -3.4  -1.8 |  22.5  72.5  315   3  1  10.1   5.5
  5750  16.8  62.2  295   5  2   3.7   2.0 |  23.2  73.8  315   3  1  13.8   7.6
  5500  17.8  64.0  275   4  2  22.6  12.4 |  24.7  76.5  315   3  1  25.6  14.1

           09/15/2024 at 1500 MDT          |       09/15/2024 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...  +537.6    LI...       -2.1        | CAPE...  +267.2    LI...       -1.6
CINH...   -27.5    K Index... +28.3        | CINH...  -226.0    K Index... +24.6
                                           |
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 -59.4 -74.9  255  35 18   1.8   1.0 | -59.3 -74.7  265  37 19   2.0   1.1
 45000 -56.4 -69.5  250  42 22   2.1   1.2 | -56.3 -69.3  270  46 24   1.7   1.0
 40000 -53.3 -63.9  235  47 24   2.7   1.5 | -53.5 -64.3  270  49 25   4.0   2.2
 38000 -51.6 -60.9  225  40 21   2.8   1.5 | -51.2 -60.2  260  36 19   3.9   2.1
 36000 -49.9 -57.8  210  35 18   2.9   1.6 | -48.8 -55.8  240  25 13   3.9   2.2
 34000 -45.6 -50.1  205  33 17   9.1   5.0 | -44.8 -48.6  230  24 12   8.1   4.5
 32000 -40.2 -40.4  210  31 16   9.1   5.0 | -39.9 -39.8  230  26 13   8.1   4.5
 30000 -34.3 -29.7  210  30 15   8.5   4.7 | -33.9 -29.0  225  25 13   9.1   5.0
 29000 -31.8 -25.2  210  30 15   8.6   4.7 | -31.2 -24.2  220  24 12   9.1   5.0
 28000 -29.2 -20.6  210  29 15   8.0   4.4 | -28.4 -19.1  215  23 12   8.5   4.7
 27000 -27.1 -16.8  210  28 14   7.0   3.9 | -26.3 -15.3  215  24 12   7.2   4.0
 26000 -25.0 -13.0  210  27 14   7.1   3.9 | -24.1 -11.4  220  25 13   7.3   4.0
 25000 -22.9  -9.2  210  26 13   7.1   3.9 | -21.9  -7.4  220  26 13   7.4   4.1
 24000 -20.9  -5.6  215  25 13   6.9   3.8 | -19.8  -3.6  215  27 14   7.1   3.9
 23000 -18.9  -2.0  215  24 12   6.9   3.8 | -17.7   0.1  215  27 14   7.1   3.9
 22000 -16.8   1.8  220  23 12   7.0   3.8 | -15.6   3.9  210  28 14   7.1   3.9
 21000 -14.5   5.9  215  20 10   8.2   4.5 | -13.6   7.5  205  28 14   6.8   3.7
 20000 -12.1  10.2  210  16  8   8.2   4.5 | -11.7  10.9  200  28 14   6.9   3.8
 19500 -10.9  12.4  205  14  7   8.2   4.5 | -10.7  12.7  195  28 15   6.9   3.8
 19000  -9.7  14.5  205  13  7   8.5   4.7 |  -9.7  14.5  195  28 15   7.6   4.2
 18500  -8.5  16.7  200  13  7   8.6   4.7 |  -8.5  16.7  190  28 14   7.9   4.3
 18000  -7.2  19.0  200  13  7   8.6   4.7 |  -7.4  18.7  190  27 14   8.0   4.4
 17500  -5.9  21.4  195  13  7   8.7   4.8 |  -6.2  20.8  185  27 14   8.7   4.8
 17000  -4.7  23.5  195  14  7   8.7   4.8 |  -4.9  23.2  180  28 14   8.6   4.7
 16500  -3.4  25.9  195  14  7   8.9   4.9 |  -3.7  25.3  175  28 15   9.2   5.0
 16000  -2.1  28.2  195  14  7   8.9   4.9 |  -1.6  29.1  170  30 15   9.4   5.1
 15500  -0.8  30.6  195  15  8   9.0   4.9 |  -0.2  31.6  170  30 15   9.5   5.2
 15000   1.3  34.3  195  15  8   9.1   5.0 |   1.2  34.2  170  30 15   9.5   5.2
 14500   2.6  36.7  195  15  8   9.2   5.0 |   2.6  36.7  170  30 15   9.4   5.2
 14000   4.0  39.2  190  15  8   9.2   5.0 |   4.0  39.2  170  29 15   9.4   5.1
 13500   5.4  41.7  185  15  8   9.0   4.9 |   5.4  41.7  170  28 14   9.1   5.0
 13000   6.7  44.1  180  14  7   8.7   4.8 |   6.7  44.1  170  26 13   8.3   4.6
 12500   8.0  46.4  175  13  7   8.9   4.9 |   7.9  46.2  170  23 12   8.1   4.5
 12000   9.4  48.9  170  11  6   9.6   5.3 |   9.0  48.2  170  20 10   6.4   3.5
 11500  10.8  51.4  165   9  5   9.4   5.1 |   9.9  49.8  170  17  9   6.4   3.5
 11000  12.1  53.8  160   7  4   7.9   4.4 |  10.7  51.3  170  12  6   4.9   2.7
 10500  13.3  55.9  150   5  3   4.9   2.7 |  11.4  52.5  175   8  4   3.8   2.1
 10250  13.5  56.3  150   5  2   5.8   3.2 |  11.6  52.9  175   6  3   4.1   2.2
 10000  14.2  57.6  150   4  2  10.7   5.9 |  12.0  53.6  180   3  2   6.4   3.5
  9750  14.9  58.8  150   4  2   9.7   5.3 |  12.5  54.5  000   0  0   6.3   3.4
  9500  15.6  60.1  150   3  2   9.0   5.0 |  12.9  55.2  345   3  2   6.3   3.5
  9250  16.2  61.2  150   3  1   7.8   4.3 |  13.4  56.1  345   6  3   6.4   3.5
  9000  16.8  62.2  150   3  1   9.9   5.4 |  13.9  57.0  345   9  5   6.9   3.8
  8750  17.6  63.7  155   3  1  11.3   6.2 |  14.4  57.9  345  11  6   7.1   3.9
  8500  18.4  65.1  155   2  1  10.6   5.8 |  14.9  58.8  345  14  7   7.1   3.9
  8250  19.2  66.6  160   2  1  10.1   5.5 |  15.4  59.7  340  16  8   7.6   4.2
  8000  20.0  68.0  160   2  1   9.8   5.4 |  16.0  60.8  335  18  9   6.8   3.7
  7750  20.7  69.3  165   2  1   9.8   5.4 |  16.4  61.5  335  20 10   5.4   3.0
  7500  21.4  70.5  170   2  1   9.7   5.3 |  16.8  62.2  330  21 11   5.1   2.8
  7250  22.1  71.8  175   2  1   9.6   5.2 |  17.1  62.8  325  21 11   5.0   2.7
  7000  22.9  73.2  180   2  1   9.7   5.3 |  17.4  63.3  320  21 11   4.9   2.7
  6750  23.6  74.5  185   2  1  10.2   5.6 |  17.7  63.9  315  22 11   2.7   1.5
  6500  24.4  75.9  190   2  1  10.6   5.8 |  17.9  64.2  310  21 11   6.2   3.4
  6250  25.2  77.4  200   1  1  10.9   6.0 |  18.6  65.5  310  20 10  10.5   5.7
  6000  26.0  78.8  205   1  1  10.0   5.5 |  19.2  66.6  315  19 10   8.8   4.8
  5750  26.8  80.2  215   1  1  13.1   7.2 |  19.9  67.8  315  18  9  10.8   5.9
  5500  28.1  82.6  220   1  1  23.0  12.6 |  20.9  69.6  315  16  8  16.2   8.9
________________________________________________________________________________

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