Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
782 UXUS97 KPUB 151228 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0628 MDT Saturday, June 15, 2024 This forecast is for the Air Force Academy for Saturday, June 15, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 68.1 F/20.1 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1356 ft/min (6.9 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 23291 ft MSL (15666 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 87.0 F/31.0 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0745 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1500 MDT Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Overcast thin high Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 20809 ft MSL (13184 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 06/16....... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:33:11 / 20:26:45 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 53 min 35 sec (893 min 35 sec) Altitude of sun at 12:59:58 MDT... 74.37 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/15/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 14901 ft MSL (7276 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 15728 ft MSL (8103 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 19186 ft MSL (11561 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -5.2 K index......................... +21.8 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 -59.6 -75.3 270 32 17 2.8 1.5 M M M M M 45000 -55.0 -67.0 275 36 19 3.3 1.8 M M M M M 40000 -49.9 -57.8 275 31 16 4.6 2.5 M M M M M 38000 -47.2 -53.0 285 31 16 4.6 2.5 M M M M M 36000 -44.4 -47.9 290 33 17 4.6 2.5 M M M M M 34000 -40.5 -40.9 295 33 17 6.2 3.4 M M M M M 32000 -36.8 -34.2 295 33 17 6.2 3.4 M M M M M 30000 -32.2 -26.0 295 30 15 8.3 4.5 36.3 97.3 4.4 M M 29000 -29.7 -21.5 295 28 14 8.3 4.5 35.7 96.3 4.1 M M 28000 -27.3 -17.1 295 26 13 8.1 4.5 35.3 95.5 3.7 M M 27000 -25.0 -13.0 300 24 12 7.7 4.2 34.4 94.0 3.1 M M 26000 -22.7 -8.9 305 22 11 7.7 4.2 33.6 92.5 2.5 M M 25000 -20.4 -4.7 310 20 10 7.8 4.3 33.0 91.3 1.9 M M 24000 -18.5 -1.3 315 19 10 6.0 3.3 31.8 89.3 1.0 M M 23000 -16.7 1.9 315 18 10 6.0 3.3 30.4 86.8 -0.2 1439 7.3 22000 -14.9 5.2 315 18 9 6.1 3.3 29.2 84.5 -1.4 1357 6.9 21000 -12.8 9.0 320 18 9 5.9 3.2 27.5 81.5 -2.9 1255 6.4 20000 -11.1 12.0 325 18 9 5.9 3.2 26.2 79.1 -4.1 1174 6.0 19500 -10.2 13.6 330 18 9 5.8 3.2 25.6 78.0 -4.7 1134 5.8 19000 -9.3 15.3 330 18 9 6.7 3.7 25.0 77.0 -5.3 1092 5.5 18500 -8.4 16.9 335 18 9 6.7 3.7 24.5 76.0 -5.8 1049 5.3 18000 -7.4 18.7 345 18 9 7.1 3.9 24.0 75.1 -6.4 1005 5.1 17500 -6.3 20.7 345 18 9 7.7 4.2 23.6 74.5 -6.8 957 4.9 17000 -5.2 22.6 350 18 9 7.7 4.2 23.3 73.9 -7.1 909 4.6 16500 -4.0 24.8 350 18 9 8.5 4.7 23.0 73.4 -7.5 859 4.4 16000 -2.8 27.0 350 18 9 8.4 4.6 22.8 73.0 -7.7 807 4.1 15500 -1.5 29.3 355 17 9 8.7 4.8 22.6 72.6 -8.0 755 3.8 15000 -0.2 31.6 350 17 9 8.9 4.9 22.4 72.3 -8.2 701 3.6 14500 1.1 34.0 350 16 8 8.8 4.8 22.3 72.1 -8.4 648 3.3 14000 2.3 36.1 350 15 8 8.6 4.7 22.1 71.8 -8.6 595 3.0 13500 3.6 38.5 345 14 7 8.7 4.8 21.9 71.5 -8.9 543 2.8 13000 4.9 40.8 340 13 7 9.0 4.9 21.8 71.3 -9.0 488 2.5 12500 6.1 43.0 335 13 6 7.4 4.0 21.5 70.8 -9.4 439 2.2 12000 7.2 45.0 330 12 6 7.9 4.3 21.2 70.2 -9.8 391 2.0 11750 7.8 46.0 330 12 6 7.9 4.4 21.1 69.9 -10.0 366 1.9 11500 8.3 46.9 330 12 6 8.6 4.7 21.0 69.7 -10.1 341 1.7 11250 9.0 48.2 330 12 6 8.2 4.5 20.9 69.6 -10.2 315 1.6 11000 9.5 49.1 325 12 6 7.5 4.1 20.7 69.3 -10.5 291 1.5 10750 10.0 50.0 325 13 7 7.0 3.9 20.5 68.9 -10.7 268 1.4 10500 10.6 51.1 325 13 7 9.1 5.0 20.4 68.6 -10.9 244 1.2 10250 11.3 52.3 325 13 7 10.4 5.7 20.4 68.7 -10.9 215 1.1 10000 12.0 53.6 325 14 7 8.6 4.7 20.4 68.7 -11.0 187 1.0 9750 12.6 54.7 325 14 7 8.3 4.6 20.3 68.5 -11.1 161 0.8 9500 13.2 55.8 325 15 7 8.9 4.9 20.2 68.3 -11.3 136 0.7 9250 13.8 56.8 325 15 8 7.0 3.8 20.1 68.2 -11.4 110 0.6 9000 14.3 57.7 325 15 8 5.8 3.2 19.8 67.6 -11.7 90 0.5 8750 14.7 58.5 325 14 7 6.5 3.6 19.5 67.2 -12.0 69 0.3 8500 15.2 59.4 320 14 7 7.3 4.0 19.3 66.7 -12.3 47 0.2 8250 15.7 60.3 320 13 7 2.4 1.3 19.0 66.3 -12.6 26 0.1 8000 15.2 59.4 315 12 6 -15.8 -8.7 17.9 64.1 -13.8 32 0.2 7750 13.4 56.1 300 9 5 -31.2 -17.1 15.2 59.4 -16.4 80 0.4 7500 M M M M M M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M M M M M M 6750 M M M M M M M M M M M M * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 06/15/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/15/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +348.3 LI... -1.8 | CAPE... +309.9 LI... -1.9 CINH... -28.4 K Index... +12.9 | CINH... -2.4 K Index... +18.9 | 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 -74.9 260 36 18 3.0 1.7 | -59.7 -75.5 255 34 18 3.0 1.7 45000 -54.6 -66.3 265 40 21 3.0 1.7 | -54.9 -66.8 260 39 20 3.1 1.7 40000 -50.0 -58.0 275 35 18 3.8 2.1 | -50.1 -58.2 265 39 20 3.9 2.2 38000 -47.8 -54.0 280 33 17 3.7 2.0 | -47.8 -54.0 265 36 18 3.9 2.1 36000 -45.6 -50.1 280 31 16 3.8 2.1 | -45.5 -49.9 265 33 17 4.0 2.2 34000 -41.1 -42.0 285 30 16 7.5 4.1 | -42.0 -43.6 265 31 16 6.5 3.6 32000 -36.6 -33.9 290 30 15 7.5 4.1 | -37.6 -35.7 270 29 15 6.4 3.5 30000 -31.8 -25.2 290 29 15 8.4 4.6 | -32.8 -27.0 275 30 15 8.4 4.6 29000 -29.2 -20.6 295 29 15 8.4 4.6 | -30.3 -22.5 275 31 16 8.4 4.6 28000 -26.7 -16.1 295 29 15 8.1 4.4 | -27.8 -18.0 275 32 16 8.6 4.7 27000 -24.5 -12.1 295 26 14 7.3 4.0 | -25.1 -13.2 280 30 15 8.8 4.8 26000 -22.4 -8.3 295 24 12 7.3 4.0 | -22.5 -8.5 280 28 15 8.8 4.8 25000 -20.2 -4.4 295 21 11 7.4 4.1 | -19.8 -3.6 285 27 14 9.2 5.0 24000 -18.4 -1.1 300 19 10 5.5 3.0 | -17.9 -0.2 290 23 12 5.3 2.9 23000 -16.8 1.8 310 18 9 5.6 3.0 | -16.4 2.5 290 20 10 5.3 2.9 22000 -15.1 4.8 315 17 9 5.5 3.0 | -14.8 5.4 295 16 8 5.3 2.9 21000 -13.2 8.2 320 17 9 7.1 3.9 | -13.0 8.6 305 15 8 6.4 3.5 20000 -10.5 13.1 330 18 9 7.2 3.9 | -11.1 12.0 320 16 8 6.5 3.6 19500 -9.5 14.9 330 19 10 7.2 3.9 | -9.7 14.5 330 16 8 6.5 3.6 19000 -8.4 16.9 330 19 10 7.1 3.9 | -8.6 16.5 330 17 9 8.7 4.8 18500 -7.4 18.7 330 19 10 7.2 3.9 | -7.4 18.7 325 18 9 8.6 4.7 18000 -6.4 20.5 330 18 9 7.2 3.9 | -6.1 21.0 320 18 9 8.6 4.7 17500 -5.3 22.5 330 18 9 7.2 3.9 | -4.8 23.4 320 18 9 8.7 4.8 17000 -4.3 24.3 335 18 9 7.1 3.9 | -3.5 25.7 315 18 9 8.7 4.8 16500 -3.2 26.2 335 18 9 8.9 4.9 | -2.3 27.9 315 18 9 8.8 4.8 16000 -1.9 28.6 340 18 9 8.7 4.8 | -1.0 30.2 310 17 9 8.8 4.8 15500 -0.6 30.9 340 17 9 8.9 4.9 | 0.3 32.5 310 16 8 9.1 5.0 15000 0.7 33.3 340 16 8 8.9 4.9 | 1.6 34.9 305 14 7 9.2 5.0 14500 2.0 35.6 345 16 8 8.8 4.8 | 2.9 37.2 305 12 6 9.3 5.1 14000 3.3 37.9 340 14 7 8.7 4.8 | 4.3 39.7 295 10 5 9.5 5.2 13500 4.6 40.3 340 13 7 8.8 4.8 | 5.6 42.1 290 8 4 9.7 5.3 13000 6.0 42.8 335 11 6 9.6 5.2 | 7.1 44.8 280 7 4 9.9 5.4 12500 7.3 45.1 330 10 5 8.0 4.4 | 8.4 47.1 280 7 3 8.7 4.7 12000 8.4 47.1 325 9 4 8.0 4.4 | 9.8 49.6 275 6 3 9.2 5.0 11750 9.0 48.2 320 8 4 8.0 4.4 | 10.5 50.9 270 6 3 9.9 5.4 11500 9.6 49.3 315 8 4 7.7 4.2 | 11.3 52.3 265 5 3 11.7 6.4 11250 10.1 50.2 310 7 4 7.6 4.2 | 12.1 53.8 265 5 3 10.1 5.5 11000 10.7 51.3 305 7 4 7.8 4.3 | 12.8 55.0 260 5 3 8.4 4.6 10750 11.2 52.2 300 7 4 7.3 4.0 | 13.4 56.1 255 5 2 7.9 4.3 10500 11.7 53.1 295 7 4 9.2 5.1 | 14.0 57.2 250 5 2 11.2 6.2 10250 12.5 54.5 290 7 4 9.8 5.4 | 15.0 59.0 250 4 2 12.3 6.8 10000 13.0 55.4 290 8 4 7.7 4.2 | 15.7 60.3 250 4 2 9.1 5.0 9750 13.6 56.5 285 8 4 7.7 4.2 | 16.4 61.5 245 4 2 9.6 5.3 9500 14.1 57.4 285 8 4 7.6 4.2 | 17.1 62.8 240 4 2 8.8 4.8 9250 14.7 58.5 285 8 4 8.1 4.5 | 17.8 64.0 235 4 2 11.5 6.3 9000 15.3 59.5 280 8 4 9.6 5.2 | 18.8 65.8 235 4 2 11.9 6.5 8750 16.0 60.8 280 8 4 10.2 5.6 | 19.5 67.1 230 4 2 9.6 5.2 8500 16.7 62.1 280 7 4 9.8 5.4 | 20.3 68.5 225 4 2 9.8 5.4 8250 17.3 63.1 275 7 4 11.1 6.1 | 21.0 69.8 225 4 2 11.1 6.1 8000 18.3 64.9 275 7 3 15.6 8.6 | 22.1 71.8 220 4 2 18.7 10.3 7750 19.6 67.3 275 6 3 19.4 10.7 | 23.7 74.7 215 4 2 26.4 14.5 7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 6750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 06/15/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/15/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +594.8 LI... -1.7 | CAPE... +234.2 LI... -0.4 CINH... -5.1 K Index... +29.9 | CINH... -62.5 K Index... +28.8 | 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 -60.0 -76.0 250 37 19 3.3 1.8 | -59.5 -75.1 255 39 20 2.9 1.6 45000 -55.1 -67.2 260 46 23 3.4 1.8 | -55.3 -67.5 270 45 23 2.4 1.3 40000 -49.8 -57.6 260 42 22 3.2 1.7 | -51.4 -60.5 275 38 19 4.2 2.3 38000 -47.9 -54.2 260 40 21 3.2 1.7 | -48.9 -56.0 280 32 17 4.2 2.3 36000 -46.0 -50.8 265 38 20 3.2 1.7 | -46.4 -51.5 280 27 14 4.1 2.2 34000 -42.5 -44.5 265 36 19 6.5 3.6 | -42.3 -44.1 285 24 12 7.4 4.1 32000 -38.6 -37.5 270 35 18 6.6 3.6 | -37.9 -36.2 295 21 11 7.5 4.1 30000 -33.8 -28.8 275 34 17 8.4 4.6 | -33.0 -27.4 290 21 11 8.3 4.6 29000 -31.3 -24.3 275 33 17 8.4 4.6 | -30.5 -22.9 290 22 11 8.3 4.6 28000 -28.8 -19.8 275 32 16 8.4 4.6 | -28.0 -18.4 285 23 12 8.2 4.5 27000 -26.4 -15.5 275 30 16 8.0 4.4 | -25.8 -14.4 285 24 12 7.2 4.0 26000 -24.0 -11.2 275 28 15 8.1 4.4 | -23.7 -10.7 280 25 13 7.3 4.0 25000 -21.6 -6.9 270 27 14 8.2 4.5 | -21.5 -6.7 280 26 13 7.3 4.0 24000 -19.5 -3.1 270 26 13 6.6 3.6 | -18.7 -1.7 280 26 13 7.9 4.3 23000 -17.1 1.2 275 25 13 6.7 3.7 | -16.4 2.5 275 25 13 8.0 4.4 22000 -15.1 4.8 280 25 13 7.4 4.0 | -14.0 6.8 275 25 13 8.0 4.4 21000 -12.7 9.1 280 23 12 8.5 4.7 | -11.7 10.9 275 25 13 8.1 4.4 20000 -10.2 13.6 280 20 10 8.6 4.7 | -9.4 15.1 275 25 13 8.1 4.5 19500 -9.0 15.8 280 19 10 8.7 4.8 | -8.2 17.2 275 25 13 8.2 4.5 19000 -7.8 18.0 280 17 9 8.1 4.4 | -7.0 19.4 275 25 13 7.9 4.3 18500 -6.6 20.1 285 15 8 8.2 4.5 | -5.9 21.4 275 24 12 7.9 4.4 18000 -5.5 22.1 285 13 7 8.5 4.6 | -4.8 23.4 275 23 12 7.8 4.3 17500 -4.1 24.6 285 12 6 8.8 4.8 | -3.7 25.3 275 22 11 7.4 4.1 17000 -2.8 27.0 290 11 6 8.8 4.8 | -2.6 27.3 275 21 11 7.5 4.1 16500 -1.5 29.3 290 10 5 9.1 5.0 | -1.6 29.1 270 19 10 6.8 3.7 16000 -0.2 31.6 285 9 4 9.0 5.0 | -0.6 30.9 270 18 9 6.9 3.8 15500 1.2 34.2 285 8 4 9.5 5.2 | 0.4 32.7 265 17 9 7.7 4.2 15000 2.7 36.9 280 7 3 9.7 5.3 | 1.7 35.1 260 15 8 8.2 4.5 14500 4.1 39.4 275 6 3 9.5 5.2 | 2.9 37.2 255 14 7 8.5 4.7 14000 5.5 41.9 260 5 3 9.2 5.0 | 4.3 39.7 250 13 7 9.5 5.2 13500 6.9 44.4 245 5 2 9.2 5.1 | 5.7 42.3 245 13 6 9.4 5.1 13000 8.4 47.1 225 5 2 9.9 5.4 | 7.2 45.0 240 12 6 10.2 5.6 12500 9.6 49.3 210 5 3 8.3 4.6 | 8.6 47.5 235 12 6 8.9 4.9 12000 10.9 51.6 195 6 3 9.1 5.0 | 9.9 49.8 230 12 6 8.2 4.5 11750 11.6 52.9 190 7 3 9.2 5.1 | 10.5 50.9 225 12 6 8.8 4.8 11500 12.3 54.1 185 7 4 10.0 5.5 | 11.2 52.2 220 11 6 9.9 5.4 11250 13.1 55.6 180 8 4 9.2 5.1 | 12.0 53.6 215 11 6 9.8 5.4 11000 13.7 56.7 180 8 4 8.4 4.6 | 12.7 54.9 215 11 6 9.3 5.1 10750 14.3 57.7 180 9 4 7.7 4.2 | 13.4 56.1 210 11 6 9.0 5.0 10500 14.9 58.8 175 9 5 10.5 5.8 | 14.1 57.4 205 11 6 9.9 5.5 10250 15.8 60.4 175 10 5 12.3 6.8 | 14.9 58.8 205 11 6 10.6 5.8 10000 16.7 62.1 175 10 5 9.7 5.3 | 15.6 60.1 200 11 6 9.5 5.2 9750 17.4 63.3 175 10 5 9.6 5.3 | 16.3 61.3 200 11 6 9.2 5.0 9500 18.1 64.6 170 10 5 9.2 5.0 | 17.0 62.6 200 11 6 9.0 5.0 9250 18.8 65.8 170 10 5 10.8 6.0 | 17.7 63.9 195 11 6 9.9 5.4 9000 19.6 67.3 170 11 6 10.9 6.0 | 18.4 65.1 195 11 6 9.7 5.3 8750 20.4 68.7 170 11 6 9.5 5.2 | 19.1 66.4 190 10 5 8.8 4.8 8500 21.1 70.0 170 11 6 9.5 5.2 | 19.8 67.6 190 10 5 8.9 4.9 8250 21.8 71.2 170 11 6 10.7 5.9 | 20.5 68.9 190 10 5 9.2 5.1 8000 22.8 73.0 170 11 6 16.1 8.8 | 21.1 70.0 185 9 5 7.2 3.9 7750 24.2 75.6 170 10 5 21.1 11.6 | 21.3 70.3 180 7 3 2.8 1.5 7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 6750 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 the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado at North Latitude: 38 deg 58 min 48.000 sec West Longitude: 104 deg 49 min 12.000 sec Elevation: 6572 feet (2003 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