Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
550 UXUS97 KPUB 291202 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0602 MDT Saturday, June 29, 2024 This forecast is for the Air Force Academy for Saturday, June 29, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 72.6 F/22.5 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1200 ft/min (6.1 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 18061 ft MSL (10444 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 80.0 F/27.1 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1600 MDT Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 13689 ft MSL (6072 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 06/30....... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:36:55 / 20:28:58 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 52 min 3 sec (892 min 3 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:02:56 MDT... 74.17 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/29/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 15958 ft MSL (8341 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 16238 ft MSL (8621 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 16881 ft MSL (9264 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -0.8 K index......................... +26.9 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 -64.1 -83.4 270 58 30 1.7 0.9 M M M M M 45000 -59.5 -75.1 265 69 35 5.5 3.0 M M M M M 40000 -51.0 -59.8 265 67 35 6.9 3.8 M M M M M 38000 -46.9 -52.4 265 57 29 6.9 3.8 M M M M M 36000 -42.3 -44.1 265 45 23 7.9 4.4 M M M M M 34000 -37.3 -35.1 265 37 19 8.4 4.6 M M M M M 32000 -32.2 -26.0 265 28 15 8.4 4.6 M M M M M 30000 -27.7 -17.9 270 25 13 7.6 4.1 41.3 106.4 11.4 M M 29000 -25.5 -13.9 270 24 12 7.6 4.2 40.6 105.0 11.0 M M 28000 -23.2 -9.8 270 23 12 7.2 3.9 39.8 103.7 10.5 M M 27000 -21.1 -6.0 275 23 12 7.2 3.9 38.7 101.7 9.7 M M 26000 -19.0 -2.2 280 24 12 7.2 4.0 37.8 100.0 9.0 M M 25000 -16.9 1.6 285 24 12 7.0 3.8 37.0 98.6 8.4 M M 24000 -15.1 4.8 280 22 12 5.7 3.1 35.5 96.0 7.3 M M 23000 -13.3 8.1 275 21 11 5.7 3.1 34.1 93.4 6.2 M M 22000 -11.6 11.1 270 19 10 5.5 3.0 32.8 91.0 5.2 M M 21000 -9.8 14.4 265 19 10 4.9 2.7 30.6 87.1 3.2 M M 20000 -8.5 16.7 260 19 10 5.2 2.8 29.0 84.2 1.7 M M 19500 -7.8 18.0 260 19 10 6.1 3.4 28.3 82.9 1.0 M M 19000 -6.7 19.9 255 19 10 8.0 4.4 27.9 82.2 0.6 M M 18500 -5.6 21.9 250 20 10 8.1 4.4 27.6 81.7 0.3 M M 18000 -4.5 23.9 250 20 11 8.4 4.6 27.3 81.2 -0.1 988 5.0 17500 -3.3 26.1 245 21 11 8.4 4.6 27.1 80.8 -0.4 937 4.8 17000 -2.1 28.2 245 21 11 8.0 4.4 26.9 80.4 -0.6 887 4.5 16500 -1.1 30.0 245 20 10 7.1 3.9 26.5 79.6 -1.1 841 4.3 16000 -0.0 32.0 245 19 10 7.0 3.9 26.0 78.9 -1.5 795 4.0 15500 1.0 33.8 240 17 9 7.5 4.1 25.6 78.1 -1.9 749 3.8 15000 2.1 35.8 235 15 8 7.5 4.1 25.3 77.5 -2.3 703 3.6 14500 3.2 37.8 230 14 7 8.5 4.6 25.0 76.9 -2.7 655 3.3 14000 4.4 39.9 230 13 6 8.7 4.8 24.8 76.6 -2.9 602 3.1 13500 5.7 42.3 225 12 6 8.2 4.5 24.6 76.4 -3.1 549 2.8 13000 6.9 44.4 220 11 6 7.7 4.3 24.3 75.8 -3.4 499 2.5 12500 8.2 46.8 215 11 6 9.4 5.2 24.2 75.5 -3.5 444 2.3 12000 9.5 49.1 215 9 5 8.3 4.5 24.0 75.2 -3.7 392 2.0 11750 10.1 50.2 215 8 4 8.3 4.5 23.9 75.0 -3.9 366 1.9 11500 10.7 51.3 220 8 4 6.9 3.8 23.7 74.7 -4.0 342 1.7 11250 11.1 52.0 220 7 4 5.5 3.0 23.4 74.2 -4.3 321 1.6 11000 11.5 52.7 225 6 3 5.4 3.0 23.1 73.6 -4.6 301 1.5 10750 11.9 53.4 230 5 3 5.7 3.1 22.8 73.0 -5.0 282 1.4 10500 12.3 54.1 240 4 2 4.7 2.6 22.4 72.4 -5.3 263 1.3 10250 12.5 54.5 265 3 2 0.2 0.1 21.9 71.4 -5.9 249 1.3 10000 12.4 54.3 295 4 2 -1.9 -1.1 21.0 69.9 -6.7 245 1.2 9750 12.3 54.1 315 5 3 -1.3 -0.7 20.2 68.3 -7.6 241 1.2 9500 12.2 54.0 325 7 4 -1.6 -0.9 19.3 66.8 -8.4 238 1.2 9250 12.0 53.6 335 9 5 -4.9 -2.7 18.4 65.1 -9.4 236 1.2 9000 11.4 52.5 335 11 6 -8.4 -4.6 17.1 62.8 -10.7 245 1.2 8750 10.8 51.4 335 14 7 -9.1 -5.0 15.7 60.2 -12.1 257 1.3 8500 10.1 50.2 340 16 8 -7.4 -4.1 14.3 57.7 -13.5 269 1.4 8250 9.7 49.5 335 19 10 -4.9 -2.7 13.1 55.6 -14.6 274 1.4 8000 9.5 49.1 330 21 11 0.2 0.1 12.2 53.9 -15.6 273 1.4 7750 9.8 49.6 330 21 11 6.9 3.8 11.7 53.1 -16.1 256 1.3 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 * * * * * * 06/29/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/29/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +1.4 LI... -1.6 | CAPE... +142.2 LI... -1.9 CINH... -1.5 K Index... +25.6 | CINH... -104.1 K Index... +25.2 | 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 -64.3 -83.7 280 55 28 1.7 0.9 | -63.9 -83.0 285 47 24 1.9 1.0 45000 -59.5 -75.1 275 67 34 5.7 3.1 | -59.0 -74.2 280 58 30 5.8 3.2 40000 -50.6 -59.1 265 66 34 7.5 4.1 | -49.4 -56.9 265 61 31 7.4 4.1 38000 -46.2 -51.2 260 58 30 7.5 4.1 | -44.9 -48.8 260 59 30 7.4 4.1 36000 -41.2 -42.2 260 49 25 7.1 3.9 | -40.4 -40.7 260 56 29 6.9 3.8 34000 -37.0 -34.6 250 37 19 7.0 3.8 | -36.4 -33.5 255 49 25 6.7 3.7 32000 -32.8 -27.0 230 28 14 7.8 4.3 | -32.4 -26.3 250 42 22 6.8 3.7 30000 -28.1 -18.6 230 25 13 7.8 4.3 | -28.2 -18.8 250 33 17 7.0 3.9 29000 -25.8 -14.4 230 25 13 7.8 4.3 | -26.1 -15.0 245 28 15 7.1 3.9 28000 -23.5 -10.3 230 24 12 7.6 4.2 | -24.0 -11.2 245 24 13 7.3 4.0 27000 -21.2 -6.2 235 22 12 7.6 4.2 | -21.8 -7.2 245 23 12 7.3 4.0 26000 -19.0 -2.2 235 21 11 7.7 4.2 | -19.7 -3.5 250 22 11 7.4 4.1 25000 -16.7 1.9 235 20 10 7.1 3.9 | -17.6 0.3 250 21 11 7.1 3.9 24000 -14.9 5.2 245 20 10 5.8 3.2 | -15.2 4.6 250 21 11 6.3 3.4 23000 -13.2 8.2 250 20 10 5.9 3.2 | -13.3 8.1 245 20 11 6.3 3.4 22000 -11.5 11.3 255 21 11 5.5 3.0 | -11.5 11.3 245 20 10 6.1 3.4 21000 -9.8 14.4 255 21 11 4.9 2.7 | -9.7 14.5 240 21 11 6.2 3.4 20000 -8.4 16.9 255 21 11 5.0 2.7 | -7.9 17.8 235 21 11 6.3 3.4 19500 -7.7 18.1 255 21 11 6.2 3.4 | -7.0 19.4 235 21 11 7.3 4.0 19000 -6.6 20.1 255 20 10 7.6 4.2 | -5.8 21.6 230 21 11 8.2 4.5 18500 -5.5 22.1 250 19 10 7.8 4.3 | -4.6 23.7 230 21 11 8.3 4.6 18000 -4.4 24.1 245 18 9 7.6 4.2 | -3.4 25.9 230 21 11 7.8 4.3 17500 -3.4 25.9 245 18 9 7.7 4.2 | -2.3 27.9 230 21 11 7.8 4.3 17000 -2.3 27.9 245 18 9 7.5 4.1 | -1.2 29.8 230 21 11 7.7 4.2 16500 -1.2 29.8 240 17 9 7.4 4.0 | -0.1 31.8 230 21 11 7.5 4.1 16000 -0.2 31.6 240 17 9 7.4 4.1 | 1.0 33.8 230 21 11 7.5 4.1 15500 1.0 33.8 235 16 8 8.5 4.7 | 2.1 35.8 230 20 10 7.4 4.1 15000 2.2 36.0 230 16 8 8.5 4.6 | 3.1 37.6 225 19 10 7.5 4.1 14500 3.4 38.1 225 16 8 7.9 4.4 | 4.1 39.4 225 18 9 7.0 3.8 14000 4.6 40.3 220 16 8 7.9 4.3 | 5.1 41.2 220 18 9 7.0 3.9 13500 5.7 42.3 220 16 8 6.8 3.7 | 6.0 42.8 215 17 9 6.8 3.7 13000 6.6 43.9 205 16 8 6.2 3.4 | 7.0 44.6 210 18 9 6.7 3.7 12500 7.6 45.7 200 16 8 6.4 3.5 | 8.1 46.6 205 19 10 7.4 4.1 12000 8.5 47.3 195 15 8 6.4 3.5 | 9.2 48.6 200 19 10 6.7 3.7 11750 9.0 48.2 190 15 8 6.1 3.3 | 9.7 49.5 195 20 10 6.9 3.8 11500 9.4 48.9 185 15 8 6.3 3.4 | 10.2 50.4 195 20 10 7.1 3.9 11250 9.9 49.8 185 15 7 7.2 3.9 | 10.7 51.3 195 19 10 6.7 3.7 11000 10.5 50.9 180 14 7 7.6 4.2 | 11.2 52.2 195 18 9 6.4 3.5 10750 11.0 51.8 180 13 7 7.0 3.8 | 11.7 53.1 195 18 9 6.9 3.8 10500 11.6 52.9 175 13 7 9.0 4.9 | 12.2 54.0 195 17 9 5.4 3.0 10250 12.3 54.1 175 12 6 8.3 4.6 | 12.5 54.5 195 16 8 4.3 2.4 10000 12.7 54.9 180 10 5 5.6 3.1 | 12.8 55.0 190 15 8 5.0 2.7 9750 13.2 55.8 180 8 4 7.0 3.9 | 13.1 55.6 190 14 7 4.8 2.6 9500 13.6 56.5 185 6 3 3.9 2.2 | 13.5 56.3 185 13 6 4.8 2.6 9250 13.7 56.7 200 3 2 -1.1 -0.6 | 13.8 56.8 180 10 5 6.5 3.6 9000 13.5 56.3 275 2 1 -2.2 -1.2 | 14.3 57.7 170 7 4 8.4 4.6 8750 13.3 55.9 315 5 2 -2.8 -1.6 | 14.9 58.8 155 5 3 8.3 4.6 8500 13.1 55.6 325 7 4 -0.8 -0.4 | 15.5 59.9 120 4 2 8.9 4.9 8250 13.2 55.8 335 9 5 1.9 1.0 | 16.2 61.2 100 4 2 10.1 5.5 8000 13.4 56.1 340 10 5 4.8 2.7 | 16.9 62.4 090 4 2 8.8 4.8 7750 14.1 57.4 345 10 5 17.6 9.7 | 17.7 63.9 085 5 2 15.7 8.6 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 06/29/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/29/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +513.0 LI... -2.8 | CAPE... +394.0 LI... -3.2 CINH... -72.8 K Index... +22.8 | CINH... -117.5 K Index... +25.9 | 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 -64.1 -83.4 280 38 20 2.8 1.5 | -64.5 -84.1 275 33 17 3.9 2.2 45000 -58.0 -72.4 280 49 25 5.6 3.1 | -57.1 -70.8 275 39 20 6.3 3.4 40000 -49.2 -56.6 270 55 28 7.1 3.9 | -47.9 -54.2 265 48 25 5.5 3.0 38000 -45.0 -49.0 265 58 30 7.1 3.9 | -44.6 -48.3 265 59 30 5.5 3.0 36000 -40.8 -41.4 260 62 32 7.4 4.0 | -40.6 -41.1 265 68 35 8.7 4.7 34000 -35.6 -32.1 260 56 29 7.6 4.2 | -35.7 -32.3 265 58 30 8.3 4.6 32000 -31.0 -23.8 260 50 26 6.9 3.8 | -30.7 -23.3 260 48 24 8.6 4.7 30000 -27.4 -17.3 260 38 20 6.1 3.4 | -26.4 -15.5 255 38 19 7.2 4.0 29000 -25.6 -14.1 255 33 17 6.1 3.4 | -24.3 -11.7 255 33 17 7.2 4.0 28000 -23.6 -10.5 255 28 15 7.3 4.0 | -22.3 -8.1 250 29 15 4.8 2.6 27000 -21.5 -6.7 255 27 14 7.2 3.9 | -20.9 -5.6 245 26 14 5.0 2.7 26000 -19.4 -2.9 250 25 13 7.2 3.9 | -19.4 -2.9 245 24 12 5.0 2.8 25000 -17.2 1.0 250 23 12 6.9 3.8 | -17.9 -0.2 240 22 11 6.4 3.5 24000 -15.3 4.5 250 22 11 6.7 3.7 | -15.6 3.9 240 20 10 7.5 4.1 23000 -13.3 8.1 245 21 11 6.7 3.7 | -13.4 7.9 245 18 9 7.5 4.1 22000 -11.4 11.5 245 20 11 6.8 3.7 | -11.2 11.8 245 16 8 7.0 3.8 21000 -9.4 15.1 245 20 10 6.7 3.7 | -8.7 16.3 245 14 7 6.7 3.7 20000 -6.9 19.6 245 20 10 6.7 3.7 | -6.8 19.8 245 12 6 6.7 3.7 19500 -5.9 21.4 245 20 10 7.4 4.0 | -5.8 21.6 245 11 6 7.6 4.2 19000 -4.8 23.4 240 20 11 7.7 4.2 | -4.6 23.7 240 11 5 8.0 4.4 18500 -3.7 25.3 240 21 11 7.7 4.2 | -3.4 25.9 235 10 5 8.0 4.4 18000 -2.5 27.5 240 21 11 8.1 4.5 | -2.3 27.9 230 12 6 7.8 4.3 17500 -1.4 29.5 240 21 11 8.1 4.5 | -1.2 29.8 225 13 7 7.9 4.3 17000 -0.2 31.6 235 22 11 8.6 4.7 | -0.1 31.8 225 15 8 8.0 4.4 16500 1.1 34.0 235 22 11 8.8 4.9 | 1.0 33.8 225 16 8 8.1 4.5 16000 2.4 36.3 230 22 11 8.8 4.8 | 2.1 35.8 220 16 8 8.2 4.5 15500 3.6 38.5 230 21 11 8.0 4.4 | 3.3 37.9 220 16 8 8.0 4.4 15000 4.7 40.5 225 21 11 8.2 4.5 | 4.4 39.9 215 15 8 8.0 4.4 14500 5.7 42.3 225 19 10 7.1 3.9 | 5.5 41.9 215 15 8 7.8 4.3 14000 6.7 44.1 225 16 8 7.2 4.0 | 6.7 44.1 210 14 7 7.8 4.3 13500 7.6 45.7 220 14 7 6.6 3.6 | 7.7 45.9 205 13 7 6.3 3.4 13000 8.5 47.3 210 16 8 6.4 3.5 | 8.5 47.3 200 14 7 5.8 3.2 12500 9.4 48.9 205 16 8 6.2 3.4 | 9.5 49.1 195 14 7 6.0 3.3 12000 10.0 50.0 205 17 9 4.9 2.7 | 10.0 50.0 195 16 8 4.1 2.2 11750 10.4 50.7 200 17 9 5.6 3.1 | 10.2 50.4 190 16 8 4.2 2.3 11500 10.7 51.3 195 17 9 4.7 2.6 | 10.5 50.9 190 17 9 3.9 2.2 11250 10.9 51.6 190 16 8 2.6 1.4 | 10.7 51.3 190 18 9 3.3 1.8 11000 11.1 52.0 185 15 8 2.6 1.4 | 10.9 51.6 190 18 9 3.0 1.6 10750 11.3 52.3 180 14 7 2.3 1.2 | 11.1 52.0 190 18 9 4.4 2.4 10500 11.4 52.5 175 14 7 3.6 2.0 | 11.2 52.2 190 19 10 -0.9 -0.5 10250 11.8 53.2 165 13 7 7.6 4.2 | 10.9 51.6 185 18 9 -1.6 -0.9 10000 12.5 54.5 165 13 7 9.3 5.1 | 11.1 52.0 185 18 9 3.2 1.8 9750 13.1 55.6 160 14 7 8.3 4.5 | 11.2 52.2 180 18 9 1.9 1.1 9500 13.8 56.8 155 14 7 10.6 5.8 | 11.3 52.3 175 18 9 2.3 1.3 9250 14.7 58.5 155 14 7 11.7 6.4 | 11.6 52.9 175 18 9 4.7 2.6 9000 15.5 59.9 155 14 7 10.1 5.5 | 12.1 53.8 170 18 9 7.7 4.2 8750 16.2 61.2 155 14 7 10.0 5.5 | 12.6 54.7 165 18 9 7.7 4.2 8500 16.9 62.4 155 14 7 10.4 5.7 | 13.2 55.8 165 18 9 9.2 5.1 8250 17.8 64.0 155 14 7 11.5 6.3 | 14.0 57.2 165 18 9 11.0 6.0 8000 18.6 65.5 155 14 7 9.6 5.3 | 14.8 58.6 165 17 9 9.0 5.0 7750 19.4 66.9 155 14 7 17.2 9.5 | 15.5 59.9 160 17 9 12.1 6.6 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