Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
797 UXUS97 KPUB 121210 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0610 MDT Wednesday, June 12, 2024 This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Wednesday, June 12, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 67.7 F/19.9 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1555 ft/min (7.9 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 24907 ft MSL (15934 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 85.0 F/29.9 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0930 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................. 21242 ft MSL (12269 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 06/13..... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:39:36 / 20:27:39 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 48 min 3 sec (888 min 3 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:03:37 MDT... 74.93 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/12/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 15871 ft MSL (6898 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 19189 ft MSL (10216 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 21538 ft MSL (12564 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -5.1 K index......................... +12.4 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 -76.4 270 26 13 2.9 1.6 M M M M M 45000 -56.3 -69.3 280 23 12 1.4 0.8 M M M M M 40000 -53.4 -64.1 335 20 10 6.6 3.6 M M M M M 38000 -49.3 -56.7 340 16 8 6.8 3.7 M M M M M 36000 -45.2 -49.4 345 13 7 6.8 3.7 M M M M M 34000 -41.1 -42.0 330 13 7 6.9 3.8 M M M M M 32000 -36.5 -33.7 305 15 7 7.0 3.8 M M M M M 30000 -31.8 -25.2 310 12 6 7.9 4.3 31.8 89.3 1.9 M M 29000 -29.4 -20.9 315 11 6 7.9 4.3 31.2 88.1 1.4 M M 28000 -27.0 -16.6 315 10 5 8.6 4.7 30.7 87.2 1.0 M M 27000 -24.4 -11.9 310 9 5 8.7 4.8 30.2 86.3 0.6 M M 26000 -21.8 -7.2 305 9 5 8.7 4.8 29.8 85.6 0.3 M M 25000 -19.2 -2.6 300 8 4 8.3 4.6 29.5 85.2 0.1 M M 24000 -16.9 1.6 300 9 4 7.3 4.0 28.6 83.5 -0.7 1467 7.5 23000 -14.8 5.4 300 9 5 7.3 4.0 27.8 82.0 -1.5 1372 7.0 22000 -12.6 9.3 300 9 5 7.1 3.9 27.0 80.7 -2.2 1277 6.5 21000 -10.6 12.9 305 10 5 6.7 3.7 25.9 78.6 -3.2 1188 6.0 20000 -8.6 16.5 305 11 5 6.8 3.7 24.9 76.8 -4.2 1099 5.6 19500 -7.6 18.3 305 11 6 6.8 3.7 24.4 76.0 -4.7 1054 5.4 19000 -6.6 20.1 310 12 6 6.9 3.8 24.0 75.1 -5.1 1010 5.1 18500 -5.6 21.9 310 13 7 6.9 3.8 23.5 74.3 -5.6 965 4.9 18000 -4.6 23.7 310 14 7 6.9 3.8 23.0 73.4 -6.1 920 4.7 17500 -3.7 25.3 310 16 8 6.8 3.7 22.5 72.5 -6.7 876 4.5 17000 -2.7 27.1 305 18 9 6.7 3.7 22.0 71.7 -7.2 833 4.2 16500 -1.7 28.9 305 20 10 7.8 4.3 21.6 70.9 -7.7 787 4.0 16000 -0.6 30.9 305 23 12 7.8 4.3 21.3 70.4 -8.1 739 3.8 15500 1.2 34.2 300 25 13 9.0 4.9 21.0 69.7 -8.6 663 3.4 15000 2.5 36.5 300 26 13 8.9 4.9 20.8 69.5 -8.8 610 3.1 14500 3.9 39.0 300 27 14 9.4 5.2 20.7 69.3 -9.0 555 2.8 14000 5.3 41.5 295 27 14 9.6 5.3 20.7 69.2 -9.0 497 2.5 13500 6.7 44.1 295 26 14 9.3 5.1 20.7 69.2 -9.1 439 2.2 13000 8.1 46.6 295 25 13 9.6 5.3 20.6 69.1 -9.2 382 1.9 12500 9.6 49.3 295 24 12 8.9 4.9 20.6 69.1 -9.3 325 1.6 12000 10.8 51.4 295 23 12 8.3 4.6 20.3 68.6 -9.6 274 1.4 11750 11.4 52.5 295 22 11 8.6 4.7 20.2 68.4 -9.7 248 1.3 11500 12.0 53.6 290 22 11 8.1 4.5 20.1 68.3 -9.9 222 1.1 11250 12.6 54.7 290 21 11 7.8 4.3 20.0 68.0 -10.0 197 1.0 11000 13.1 55.6 290 20 10 7.3 4.0 19.8 67.7 -10.2 173 0.9 10750 13.7 56.7 285 19 10 9.7 5.3 19.7 67.4 -10.4 149 0.8 10500 14.4 57.9 285 19 10 6.2 3.4 19.7 67.4 -10.5 121 0.6 10250 14.5 58.1 280 18 9 -0.3 -0.2 19.1 66.3 -11.1 110 0.6 10000 14.4 57.9 275 16 8 -1.9 -1.1 18.3 64.9 -12.0 105 0.5 9750 14.3 57.7 275 15 8 3.6 2.0 17.5 63.5 -12.8 100 0.5 9500 14.5 58.1 265 14 7 -7.2 -4.0 16.9 62.5 -13.4 88 0.4 9250 12.5 54.5 260 10 5 -43.9 -24.1 14.3 57.7 -16.2 140 0.7 9000 9.9 49.8 235 6 3 3.9 2.2 11.0 51.8 -19.6 212 1.1 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 * * * * * * 06/12/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/12/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +219.9 LI... +0.1 | CAPE... +234.8 LI... -1.0 CINH... -47.2 K Index... +3.6 | CINH... -0.1 K Index... +19.6 | 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 -60.7 -77.3 275 23 12 2.1 1.2 | -61.2 -78.2 275 21 11 2.2 1.2 45000 -57.4 -71.3 280 20 10 2.3 1.3 | -57.5 -71.5 275 18 9 3.2 1.8 40000 -53.2 -63.8 340 16 8 6.5 3.6 | -51.7 -61.1 315 7 3 6.4 3.5 38000 -49.2 -56.6 335 14 7 6.7 3.6 | -47.9 -54.2 290 7 4 6.4 3.5 36000 -45.3 -49.5 330 12 6 6.6 3.6 | -44.1 -47.4 270 10 5 6.5 3.6 34000 -41.0 -41.8 325 14 7 7.2 3.9 | -40.0 -40.0 285 11 6 7.0 3.8 32000 -36.2 -33.2 325 16 8 7.4 4.1 | -35.8 -32.4 300 13 7 6.9 3.8 30000 -31.6 -24.9 310 14 7 7.6 4.2 | -31.4 -24.5 295 15 8 7.4 4.1 29000 -29.4 -20.9 300 13 7 7.6 4.2 | -29.2 -20.6 290 16 8 7.4 4.1 28000 -27.0 -16.6 295 13 7 8.5 4.6 | -27.0 -16.6 285 16 8 7.8 4.3 27000 -24.5 -12.1 285 13 7 8.5 4.7 | -24.0 -11.2 285 16 8 7.9 4.3 26000 -21.9 -7.4 280 13 7 8.5 4.7 | -21.6 -6.9 280 16 8 7.9 4.3 25000 -19.4 -2.9 275 14 7 7.9 4.3 | -19.2 -2.6 280 16 8 7.2 3.9 24000 -17.3 0.9 280 13 7 6.7 3.7 | -17.2 1.0 285 15 8 6.7 3.7 23000 -15.3 4.5 285 12 6 6.8 3.7 | -15.2 4.6 285 14 7 6.7 3.7 22000 -13.3 8.1 290 11 6 6.9 3.8 | -13.3 8.1 290 13 7 6.5 3.6 21000 -11.2 11.8 295 12 6 7.0 3.8 | -11.4 11.5 295 14 7 6.6 3.6 20000 -9.1 15.6 300 13 7 7.0 3.8 | -9.4 15.1 300 16 8 6.7 3.7 19500 -8.0 17.6 305 13 7 7.0 3.8 | -8.5 16.7 300 16 8 7.0 3.8 19000 -7.0 19.4 305 14 7 7.1 3.9 | -7.5 18.5 300 17 9 7.8 4.3 18500 -6.0 21.2 305 16 8 7.2 3.9 | -6.4 20.5 300 18 9 8.0 4.4 18000 -4.9 23.2 305 17 9 7.4 4.0 | -5.3 22.5 300 18 9 9.1 5.0 17500 -3.8 25.2 305 19 10 7.5 4.1 | -3.9 25.0 295 18 9 9.3 5.1 17000 -2.8 27.0 300 21 11 7.6 4.1 | -2.6 27.3 295 18 9 9.4 5.2 16500 -1.6 29.1 300 22 11 8.2 4.5 | -1.2 29.8 295 17 9 9.8 5.4 16000 -0.4 31.3 300 23 12 8.2 4.5 | 0.3 32.5 295 16 8 9.8 5.4 15500 1.5 34.7 300 24 12 9.2 5.0 | 1.7 35.1 290 16 8 9.7 5.3 15000 2.8 37.0 300 24 12 9.3 5.1 | 3.2 37.8 290 15 8 9.7 5.3 14500 4.0 39.2 300 24 12 8.7 4.8 | 4.6 40.3 290 15 8 9.7 5.3 14000 5.4 41.7 300 23 12 9.4 5.2 | 6.8 44.2 290 15 8 9.8 5.4 13500 6.8 44.2 295 23 12 10.1 5.5 | 8.4 47.1 290 14 7 11.0 6.0 13000 8.2 46.8 295 22 11 8.9 4.9 | 9.8 49.6 290 14 7 9.0 4.9 12500 9.5 49.1 295 21 11 9.2 5.0 | 11.2 52.2 290 14 7 10.1 5.5 12000 10.9 51.6 295 20 10 9.1 5.0 | 12.8 55.0 290 13 7 9.7 5.3 11750 11.5 52.7 295 19 10 9.3 5.1 | 13.5 56.3 290 13 7 9.2 5.0 11500 12.2 54.0 295 18 9 8.3 4.5 | 14.2 57.6 295 13 7 9.8 5.4 11250 12.8 55.0 295 17 9 7.3 4.0 | 14.9 58.8 295 13 7 10.1 5.5 11000 13.3 55.9 295 16 8 7.2 3.9 | 15.7 60.3 295 13 6 10.0 5.5 10750 13.9 57.0 295 15 8 9.4 5.1 | 16.4 61.5 295 12 6 10.1 5.5 10500 14.6 58.3 290 15 8 7.4 4.1 | 17.2 63.0 295 12 6 10.6 5.8 10250 14.9 58.8 285 13 7 3.6 2.0 | 18.0 64.4 295 12 6 10.8 5.9 10000 15.2 59.4 280 12 6 4.5 2.5 | 18.8 65.8 295 12 6 11.4 6.2 9750 15.4 59.7 275 11 6 3.9 2.1 | 19.6 67.3 295 11 6 9.0 5.0 9500 15.8 60.4 260 10 5 10.5 5.8 | 20.4 68.7 295 11 6 16.1 8.8 9250 17.0 62.6 255 8 4 22.4 12.3 | 22.2 72.0 290 10 5 34.6 19.0 9000 18.2 64.8 245 7 3 1.5 0.8 | 24.1 75.4 290 9 5 -0.1 -0.0 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 06/12/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/12/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +346.4 LI... -1.3 | CAPE... +360.6 LI... -1.4 CINH... -0.1 K Index... +26.7 | CINH... -9.9 K Index... +25.4 | 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 -61.5 -78.7 265 24 12 2.4 1.3 | -61.9 -79.4 265 29 15 2.3 1.2 45000 -57.6 -71.7 260 21 11 3.2 1.8 | -58.0 -72.4 260 28 14 3.4 1.9 40000 -51.7 -61.1 230 11 6 6.7 3.7 | -51.9 -61.4 240 18 10 6.6 3.6 38000 -47.7 -53.9 240 13 7 6.6 3.6 | -48.0 -54.4 240 18 9 6.5 3.6 36000 -43.8 -46.8 245 16 8 6.8 3.7 | -44.0 -47.2 240 18 9 6.8 3.7 34000 -39.5 -39.1 255 14 7 7.1 3.9 | -39.7 -39.5 240 15 8 7.3 4.0 32000 -35.3 -31.5 270 12 6 7.0 3.9 | -35.3 -31.5 240 12 6 7.5 4.1 30000 -30.8 -23.4 275 14 7 7.5 4.1 | -30.5 -22.9 250 13 6 8.1 4.4 29000 -28.6 -19.5 275 15 8 7.5 4.1 | -28.1 -18.6 255 13 7 8.1 4.4 28000 -26.3 -15.3 275 16 8 7.6 4.2 | -25.7 -14.3 255 14 7 7.2 4.0 27000 -23.5 -10.3 275 16 8 7.7 4.2 | -23.1 -9.6 260 14 7 7.0 3.8 26000 -21.2 -6.2 275 15 8 7.7 4.2 | -21.1 -6.0 260 13 7 7.0 3.8 25000 -18.9 -2.0 275 15 7 6.2 3.4 | -19.0 -2.2 260 13 7 6.3 3.4 24000 -17.3 0.9 275 14 7 5.5 3.0 | -17.2 1.0 260 15 8 6.1 3.3 23000 -15.7 3.7 280 14 7 5.6 3.1 | -15.5 4.1 265 17 9 6.1 3.4 22000 -14.0 6.8 285 14 7 8.0 4.4 | -13.6 7.5 265 19 10 8.0 4.4 21000 -11.5 11.3 285 14 7 8.7 4.8 | -11.2 11.8 265 17 9 8.5 4.7 20000 -9.0 15.8 290 14 7 8.9 4.9 | -8.8 16.2 270 16 8 8.7 4.8 19500 -7.8 18.0 290 14 7 9.1 5.0 | -7.5 18.5 270 15 8 9.1 5.0 19000 -6.5 20.3 290 14 7 9.3 5.1 | -6.1 21.0 275 15 8 9.7 5.3 18500 -5.1 22.8 290 13 7 9.3 5.1 | -4.7 23.5 275 14 7 9.7 5.3 18000 -3.7 25.3 285 13 6 9.6 5.3 | -3.3 26.1 275 14 7 9.5 5.2 17500 -2.3 27.9 285 12 6 9.7 5.3 | -1.9 28.6 275 14 7 9.4 5.2 17000 -0.9 30.4 285 12 6 9.7 5.3 | -0.5 31.1 275 13 7 9.5 5.2 16500 0.6 33.1 290 12 6 9.8 5.4 | 0.9 33.6 275 12 6 9.6 5.3 16000 2.0 35.6 290 11 6 9.8 5.4 | 2.3 36.1 275 12 6 9.6 5.3 15500 3.5 38.3 290 11 6 9.8 5.4 | 3.7 38.7 275 11 6 9.4 5.2 15000 4.9 40.8 290 11 6 9.8 5.4 | 5.1 41.2 275 10 5 9.5 5.2 14500 6.4 43.5 290 11 6 9.8 5.4 | 6.5 43.7 275 10 5 9.0 4.9 14000 8.6 47.5 290 11 5 9.8 5.4 | 7.9 46.2 275 9 5 9.7 5.3 13500 10.0 50.0 290 11 5 9.8 5.4 | 10.0 50.0 275 8 4 8.9 4.9 13000 11.5 52.7 290 10 5 9.9 5.4 | 11.4 52.5 280 8 4 9.7 5.3 12500 13.0 55.4 290 10 5 9.7 5.3 | 12.8 55.0 285 7 4 8.6 4.7 12000 14.4 57.9 290 10 5 9.8 5.4 | 14.0 57.2 290 6 3 9.3 5.1 11750 15.2 59.4 295 10 5 9.9 5.4 | 14.7 58.5 300 6 3 10.1 5.5 11500 15.9 60.6 295 10 5 9.9 5.4 | 15.5 59.9 305 6 3 9.6 5.3 11250 16.6 61.9 295 10 5 9.9 5.5 | 16.1 61.0 310 6 3 9.4 5.2 11000 17.4 63.3 295 10 5 10.0 5.5 | 16.8 62.2 315 6 3 9.5 5.2 10750 18.1 64.6 295 9 5 10.2 5.6 | 17.6 63.7 325 6 3 10.4 5.7 10500 18.9 66.0 295 9 5 10.4 5.7 | 18.4 65.1 330 6 3 10.3 5.7 10250 19.7 67.5 295 9 5 10.3 5.7 | 19.1 66.4 330 6 3 9.6 5.3 10000 20.4 68.7 295 9 5 10.6 5.8 | 19.8 67.6 335 6 3 9.9 5.4 9750 21.2 70.2 295 9 4 9.5 5.2 | 20.5 68.9 335 6 3 9.3 5.1 9500 22.0 71.6 295 8 4 15.7 8.6 | 21.3 70.3 340 6 3 12.5 6.9 9250 23.7 74.7 295 8 4 29.6 16.2 | 22.4 72.3 335 5 3 19.4 10.6 9000 25.4 77.7 290 8 4 7.8 4.3 | 23.6 74.5 330 5 3 7.8 4.3 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