Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
632 UXUS97 KGJT 101307 SRGGJT Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado 707 AM MDT Monday, June 10, 2024 This forecast is for Monday, June 10, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 84.4 F/29.1 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1366 ft/min (6.9 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 19067 ft MSL (14228 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 92.0 F/33.8 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 1130 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................. 11914 ft MSL (7075 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Tuesday 06/11...... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:47:38 / 20:39:54 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 52 min 16 sec (892 min 16 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:13:46 MDT... 73.71 degrees Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 06/10/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 15211 ft MSL (10372 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 16157 ft MSL (11318 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 16893 ft MSL (12053 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -2.7 K index......................... +24.2 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 -57.4 -71.3 240 9 4 4.5 2.5 99.4 210.9 38.3 M M 45000 -53.6 -64.5 235 21 11 0.7 0.4 80.1 176.2 29.1 M M 40000 -56.3 -69.3 195 57 29 8.8 4.8 53.2 127.7 13.2 M M 38000 -51.5 -60.7 190 52 27 8.0 4.4 51.7 125.0 12.5 M M 36000 -47.0 -52.6 195 33 17 6.6 3.6 49.6 121.4 11.4 M M 34000 -42.5 -44.5 195 22 11 8.8 4.8 47.7 117.9 10.3 M M 32000 -37.3 -35.1 210 19 10 8.8 4.8 46.9 116.4 10.0 M M 30000 -32.0 -25.6 215 15 8 6.1 3.3 45.2 113.4 9.0 M M 29000 -30.2 -22.4 230 11 6 6.4 3.5 43.8 110.8 7.9 M M 28000 -27.8 -18.0 240 9 5 8.2 4.5 43.0 109.4 7.4 M M 27000 -25.9 -14.6 255 11 6 5.1 2.8 41.8 107.2 6.5 M M 26000 -23.5 -10.3 260 6 3 9.2 5.1 41.2 106.2 6.1 M M 25000 -20.7 -5.3 235 7 4 9.3 5.1 41.0 105.8 6.0 M M 24000 -18.2 -0.8 250 12 6 6.0 3.3 40.4 104.8 5.6 M M 23000 -16.9 1.6 270 14 7 4.6 2.5 38.6 101.5 4.1 M M 22000 -15.6 3.9 265 16 8 4.7 2.6 36.7 98.1 2.6 M M 21000 -14.3 6.3 270 10 5 5.5 3.0 34.9 94.8 1.0 M M 20000 -11.9 10.6 290 12 6 8.5 4.7 34.3 93.8 0.5 M M 19500 -10.6 12.9 285 11 6 8.6 4.7 34.1 93.4 0.3 M M 19000 -9.4 15.1 275 8 4 7.8 4.3 33.8 92.9 0.0 M M 18500 -8.3 17.1 295 9 5 7.7 4.2 33.5 92.3 -0.3 1320 6.7 18000 -7.1 19.2 310 11 6 8.2 4.5 33.2 91.7 -0.6 1271 6.5 17500 -5.9 21.4 315 12 6 8.4 4.6 32.9 91.3 -0.8 1219 6.2 17000 -4.0 24.8 315 12 6 8.4 4.6 32.6 90.7 -1.1 1141 5.8 16500 -2.8 27.0 315 12 6 8.4 4.6 32.4 90.3 -1.4 1088 5.5 16000 -1.5 29.3 330 9 5 7.8 4.3 32.1 89.9 -1.6 1036 5.3 15500 -0.5 31.1 325 9 5 8.1 4.4 31.7 89.0 -2.1 992 5.0 15000 0.8 33.4 315 9 5 9.0 4.9 31.6 88.9 -2.2 938 4.8 14500 2.1 35.8 305 8 4 9.0 5.0 31.5 88.7 -2.3 883 4.5 14000 3.5 38.3 310 10 5 9.0 5.0 31.4 88.6 -2.4 828 4.2 13500 4.8 40.6 295 9 4 9.0 5.0 31.3 88.4 -2.6 774 3.9 13000 6.1 43.0 275 7 4 9.1 5.0 31.2 88.2 -2.7 719 3.7 12500 7.4 45.3 250 8 4 9.1 5.0 31.1 88.0 -2.8 664 3.4 12000 8.8 47.8 235 10 5 9.1 5.0 31.0 87.8 -3.0 610 3.1 11500 10.1 50.2 225 10 5 9.1 5.0 30.9 87.5 -3.1 555 2.8 11000 11.4 52.5 215 12 6 9.1 5.0 30.7 87.3 -3.3 500 2.5 10500 12.8 55.0 205 13 7 9.1 5.0 30.6 87.0 -3.5 446 2.3 10250 13.4 56.1 200 15 8 8.9 4.9 30.5 86.9 -3.6 419 2.1 10000 14.1 57.4 190 17 9 8.8 4.8 30.4 86.8 -3.6 392 2.0 9750 14.7 58.5 195 18 9 8.8 4.8 30.4 86.7 -3.7 365 1.9 9500 15.4 59.7 195 17 9 8.8 4.8 30.3 86.6 -3.8 338 1.7 9250 16.0 60.8 200 15 8 8.8 4.8 30.2 86.4 -3.9 311 1.6 9000 16.7 62.1 205 13 7 8.8 4.8 30.2 86.3 -4.0 285 1.4 8750 17.3 63.1 210 12 6 8.8 4.8 30.1 86.2 -4.1 258 1.3 8500 18.0 64.4 215 12 6 8.8 4.8 30.0 86.0 -4.2 231 1.2 8250 18.6 65.5 205 12 6 8.8 4.8 29.9 85.9 -4.3 204 1.0 8000 19.3 66.7 195 13 7 8.7 4.8 29.9 85.7 -4.3 177 0.9 7750 19.9 67.8 190 14 7 9.1 5.0 29.8 85.6 -4.4 150 0.8 7500 20.6 69.1 175 16 8 7.8 4.3 29.7 85.4 -4.5 124 0.6 7250 21.0 69.8 170 18 9 5.3 2.9 29.4 85.0 -4.8 103 0.5 7000 21.3 70.3 160 21 11 4.9 2.7 29.1 84.3 -5.2 85 0.4 6750 21.7 71.1 160 22 11 5.0 2.7 28.7 83.7 -5.6 68 0.3 6500 22.0 71.6 155 23 12 5.0 2.7 28.3 83.0 -6.0 50 0.3 6250 22.4 72.3 155 24 12 5.0 2.7 28.0 82.4 -6.4 33 0.2 6000 22.7 72.9 150 22 12 5.1 2.8 27.6 81.7 -6.9 15 0.1 5750 23.0 73.4 150 21 11 4.7 2.6 27.3 81.1 -7.3 M M 5500 23.4 74.1 145 19 10 6.1 3.4 26.9 80.4 -7.7 M M 5250 23.7 74.7 140 17 9 0.9 0.5 26.5 79.8 -8.1 M M 5000 23.3 73.9 135 15 8 -12.0 -6.6 25.4 77.7 -9.3 M M * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 06/10/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/10/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +1.9 LI... +0.2 | CAPE... +44.2 LI... +0.4 CINH... -43.4 K Index... +24.3 | CINH... -25.7 K Index... +22.1 | 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 -57.2 -71.0 225 8 4 3.5 1.9 | -57.6 -71.7 230 12 6 3.0 1.6 45000 -53.9 -65.0 215 17 9 -1.7 -0.9 | -54.5 -66.1 235 19 10 -0.4 -0.2 40000 -55.6 -68.1 205 45 23 7.6 4.2 | -54.4 -65.9 220 32 17 6.2 3.4 38000 -51.3 -60.3 200 42 21 7.1 3.9 | -50.8 -59.4 210 33 17 5.9 3.2 36000 -47.0 -52.6 195 38 20 7.1 3.9 | -47.3 -53.1 195 34 18 5.9 3.2 34000 -42.2 -44.0 195 30 15 8.3 4.5 | -42.5 -44.5 195 29 15 8.5 4.7 32000 -37.3 -35.1 200 20 10 8.3 4.5 | -37.4 -35.3 200 21 11 8.5 4.7 30000 -32.7 -26.9 205 14 7 7.4 4.0 | -32.8 -27.0 200 15 7 7.3 4.0 29000 -30.5 -22.9 210 11 6 7.4 4.0 | -30.6 -23.1 205 12 6 7.3 4.0 28000 -28.3 -18.9 220 9 5 7.4 4.0 | -28.5 -19.3 205 9 5 7.3 4.0 27000 -25.6 -14.1 230 8 4 7.3 4.0 | -26.3 -15.3 215 8 4 7.3 4.0 26000 -23.4 -10.1 235 8 4 7.3 4.0 | -24.1 -11.4 230 8 4 7.4 4.0 25000 -21.3 -6.3 240 8 4 7.3 4.0 | -21.4 -6.5 250 9 4 7.3 4.0 24000 -19.3 -2.7 245 9 4 6.7 3.7 | -19.3 -2.7 265 9 5 7.0 3.8 23000 -17.3 0.9 245 10 5 6.7 3.7 | -17.2 1.0 280 11 5 7.0 3.9 22000 -15.3 4.5 245 10 5 6.8 3.7 | -15.1 4.8 290 12 6 7.1 3.9 21000 -13.3 8.1 250 9 5 7.0 3.9 | -13.0 8.6 290 11 6 7.4 4.1 20000 -11.2 11.8 255 8 4 7.0 3.9 | -10.8 12.6 290 10 5 7.4 4.1 19500 -10.2 13.6 260 8 4 7.1 3.9 | -9.7 14.5 290 10 5 7.5 4.1 19000 -9.1 15.6 265 7 4 6.8 3.7 | -8.7 16.3 290 9 5 6.5 3.6 18500 -8.1 17.4 270 6 3 6.9 3.8 | -7.7 18.1 290 8 4 6.6 3.6 18000 -7.1 19.2 280 6 3 7.2 4.0 | -6.8 19.8 290 7 4 6.8 3.7 17500 -6.0 21.2 285 5 3 7.7 4.2 | -5.7 21.7 290 7 4 7.0 3.8 17000 -4.9 23.2 290 5 2 7.7 4.2 | -4.7 23.5 285 7 4 6.9 3.8 16500 -3.7 25.3 295 4 2 8.2 4.5 | -3.6 25.5 285 7 4 8.1 4.5 16000 -2.5 27.5 300 5 2 8.2 4.5 | -2.4 27.7 290 7 4 8.0 4.4 15500 -1.3 29.7 305 5 2 8.3 4.6 | -1.2 29.8 290 7 4 8.4 4.6 15000 -0.1 31.8 310 5 3 8.4 4.6 | 0.1 32.2 290 8 4 8.6 4.7 14500 1.2 34.2 315 6 3 8.5 4.7 | 1.3 34.3 290 9 4 8.7 4.8 14000 2.5 36.5 315 7 4 8.8 4.9 | 2.7 36.9 290 9 5 8.9 4.9 13500 3.8 38.8 320 8 4 8.8 4.8 | 4.0 39.2 290 10 5 8.9 4.9 13000 5.2 41.4 320 9 5 8.7 4.8 | 5.3 41.5 290 10 5 8.8 4.8 12500 6.5 43.7 320 10 5 8.8 4.8 | 6.6 43.9 295 10 5 8.8 4.8 12000 7.8 46.0 320 10 5 8.6 4.7 | 8.0 46.4 295 11 5 9.1 5.0 11500 9.0 48.2 315 11 6 8.7 4.8 | 9.4 48.9 295 11 5 9.3 5.1 11000 10.2 50.4 315 11 6 7.4 4.1 | 10.6 51.1 295 11 6 7.4 4.0 10500 11.3 52.3 310 11 6 7.6 4.2 | 11.7 53.1 295 11 6 9.9 5.4 10250 11.9 53.4 310 11 5 8.9 4.9 | 12.6 54.7 290 11 5 12.0 6.6 10000 12.6 54.7 305 9 5 8.3 4.5 | 13.3 55.9 290 10 5 9.2 5.0 9750 13.1 55.6 300 9 4 7.2 3.9 | 14.0 57.2 290 10 5 8.4 4.6 9500 13.6 56.5 300 8 4 7.0 3.8 | 14.6 58.3 285 9 5 9.2 5.1 9250 14.9 58.8 300 7 4 8.6 4.7 | 15.2 59.4 285 9 5 6.8 3.7 9000 15.4 59.7 290 6 3 6.5 3.5 | 15.7 60.3 285 9 4 7.2 3.9 8750 15.9 60.6 280 4 2 7.1 3.9 | 16.3 61.3 285 8 4 9.7 5.3 8500 16.4 61.5 260 4 2 6.5 3.6 | 17.6 63.7 275 7 4 6.9 3.8 8250 16.9 62.4 255 3 2 6.4 3.5 | 18.1 64.6 280 7 4 7.8 4.3 8000 17.4 63.3 230 3 2 6.7 3.7 | 18.8 65.8 275 7 3 11.3 6.2 7750 17.9 64.2 205 3 2 6.3 3.5 | 19.6 67.3 275 6 3 10.3 5.7 7500 18.3 64.9 195 4 2 5.0 2.7 | 20.3 68.5 275 6 3 8.0 4.4 7250 18.6 65.5 185 4 2 5.0 2.7 | 20.8 69.4 275 6 3 7.9 4.3 7000 19.0 66.2 185 4 2 7.9 4.4 | 21.6 70.9 275 6 3 11.9 6.5 6750 19.7 67.5 180 3 2 8.9 4.9 | 22.5 72.5 270 6 3 12.2 6.7 6500 20.3 68.5 175 3 2 8.0 4.4 | 23.3 73.9 275 6 3 10.3 5.7 6250 20.8 69.4 175 3 2 7.8 4.3 | 24.1 75.4 275 6 3 10.2 5.6 6000 21.4 70.5 175 3 1 8.7 4.8 | 24.9 76.8 280 6 3 10.5 5.8 5750 22.2 72.0 175 2 1 15.1 8.3 | 25.9 78.6 270 5 3 19.5 10.7 5500 23.8 74.8 175 2 1 28.8 15.8 | 28.4 83.1 280 5 3 54.8 30.1 5250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 5000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 06/10/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/10/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +27.9 LI... 0.0 | CAPE... +28.5 LI... -0.5 CINH... -13.3 K Index... +23.3 | CINH... -10.8 K Index... +25.1 | 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 -57.8 -72.0 240 14 7 2.7 1.5 | -57.8 -72.0 260 13 7 2.9 1.6 45000 -54.7 -66.5 235 18 9 0.0 0.0 | -54.8 -66.6 260 17 9 -0.6 -0.3 40000 -54.0 -65.2 245 18 9 5.8 3.2 | -54.8 -66.6 235 10 5 6.7 3.7 38000 -50.6 -59.1 215 20 10 5.6 3.1 | -50.9 -59.6 210 16 8 6.4 3.5 36000 -47.3 -53.1 195 27 14 5.6 3.1 | -47.1 -52.8 205 24 12 6.4 3.5 34000 -42.5 -44.5 200 24 12 8.5 4.7 | -42.1 -43.8 205 22 11 8.7 4.8 32000 -37.4 -35.3 210 18 10 8.5 4.7 | -36.9 -34.4 220 18 9 8.7 4.8 30000 -32.6 -26.7 220 15 8 7.9 4.3 | -32.0 -25.6 235 15 8 8.0 4.4 29000 -30.3 -22.5 220 13 7 7.9 4.3 | -29.7 -21.5 245 14 7 8.0 4.4 28000 -27.9 -18.2 220 11 6 7.8 4.3 | -27.3 -17.1 260 14 7 7.9 4.3 27000 -25.2 -13.4 230 10 5 7.2 4.0 | -24.6 -12.3 265 13 7 7.0 3.9 26000 -23.1 -9.6 245 10 5 7.2 4.0 | -22.5 -8.5 270 13 7 7.1 3.9 25000 -20.9 -5.6 255 10 5 7.2 3.9 | -20.4 -4.7 275 13 7 7.0 3.8 24000 -18.9 -2.0 270 10 5 6.8 3.7 | -18.6 -1.5 280 12 6 6.2 3.4 23000 -16.9 1.6 285 10 5 6.8 3.7 | -16.7 1.9 285 11 6 6.2 3.4 22000 -14.9 5.2 295 10 5 6.9 3.8 | -14.9 5.2 295 11 5 6.5 3.5 21000 -12.8 9.0 300 11 5 7.1 3.9 | -12.9 8.8 305 11 6 7.0 3.9 20000 -10.7 12.7 300 11 6 7.1 3.9 | -10.8 12.6 310 12 6 7.1 3.9 19500 -9.7 14.5 305 11 6 7.1 3.9 | -9.8 14.4 315 12 6 7.0 3.9 19000 -8.6 16.5 305 11 6 7.3 4.0 | -8.7 16.3 315 13 6 7.7 4.2 18500 -7.6 18.3 305 11 6 7.3 4.0 | -7.6 18.3 315 12 6 7.7 4.2 18000 -6.5 20.3 305 12 6 7.5 4.1 | -6.5 20.3 315 12 6 7.9 4.3 17500 -5.4 22.3 305 11 6 7.8 4.3 | -5.3 22.5 315 12 6 8.3 4.5 17000 -4.2 24.4 305 11 6 7.8 4.3 | -4.1 24.6 310 12 6 8.2 4.5 16500 -3.0 26.6 305 11 6 8.4 4.6 | -2.8 27.0 310 12 6 9.1 5.0 16000 -1.8 28.8 305 11 6 8.3 4.6 | -1.5 29.3 310 12 6 9.0 5.0 15500 -0.6 30.9 300 11 6 8.6 4.7 | -0.1 31.8 305 12 6 9.2 5.1 15000 0.7 33.3 300 11 6 8.8 4.8 | 1.2 34.2 305 12 6 9.3 5.1 14500 2.0 35.6 300 11 6 8.9 4.9 | 2.6 36.7 305 12 6 9.4 5.2 14000 3.4 38.1 295 11 6 9.2 5.1 | 4.1 39.4 300 12 6 9.5 5.2 13500 4.8 40.6 295 11 6 9.3 5.1 | 5.5 41.9 300 12 6 9.5 5.2 13000 6.2 43.2 295 11 6 9.4 5.1 | 6.9 44.4 300 12 6 9.3 5.1 12500 7.6 45.7 290 11 6 9.4 5.1 | 8.3 46.9 295 12 6 9.3 5.1 12000 9.0 48.2 290 12 6 9.5 5.2 | 9.7 49.5 295 12 6 9.5 5.2 11500 10.4 50.7 290 12 6 9.7 5.3 | 11.1 52.0 290 12 6 9.6 5.3 11000 11.7 53.1 285 12 6 7.6 4.2 | 12.4 54.3 285 12 6 7.8 4.3 10500 12.8 55.0 285 12 6 10.1 5.5 | 13.6 56.5 285 12 6 9.7 5.3 10250 13.8 56.8 285 12 6 12.9 7.1 | 14.5 58.1 285 12 6 12.6 6.9 10000 14.6 58.3 285 12 6 10.3 5.6 | 15.3 59.5 285 12 6 10.3 5.6 9750 15.4 59.7 280 12 6 9.2 5.1 | 16.0 60.8 280 12 6 8.9 4.9 9500 16.1 61.0 280 12 6 10.1 5.5 | 16.7 62.1 280 13 6 9.7 5.3 9250 16.8 62.2 280 12 6 7.8 4.3 | 18.0 64.4 275 12 6 8.5 4.6 9000 18.1 64.6 280 12 6 11.0 6.0 | 18.7 65.7 275 12 6 10.4 5.7 8750 18.9 66.0 280 12 6 10.7 5.9 | 19.5 67.1 280 12 6 10.1 5.6 8500 19.6 67.3 280 12 6 8.9 4.9 | 20.2 68.4 280 12 6 9.2 5.0 8250 20.3 68.5 280 12 6 9.1 5.0 | 20.9 69.6 275 12 6 9.3 5.1 8000 21.1 70.0 280 12 6 11.2 6.2 | 21.7 71.1 275 12 6 10.5 5.7 7750 21.9 71.4 280 12 6 10.6 5.8 | 22.4 72.3 275 12 6 10.3 5.7 7500 22.6 72.7 280 12 6 8.7 4.8 | 23.2 73.8 275 12 6 8.7 4.8 7250 23.2 73.8 280 12 6 8.4 4.6 | 23.8 74.8 275 12 6 8.2 4.5 7000 24.0 75.2 280 12 6 11.4 6.3 | 24.5 76.1 270 12 6 10.6 5.8 6750 24.8 76.6 275 11 6 11.9 6.5 | 25.3 77.5 275 12 6 11.2 6.1 6500 25.7 78.3 275 11 6 10.7 5.9 | 26.1 79.0 275 11 6 10.5 5.7 6250 26.5 79.7 275 11 6 11.2 6.1 | 26.9 80.4 270 11 6 10.7 5.9 6000 27.3 81.1 275 12 6 7.6 4.2 | 27.6 81.7 270 11 6 8.1 4.4 5750 27.8 82.0 275 10 5 12.8 7.0 | 28.2 82.8 275 10 5 9.9 5.4 5500 31.0 87.8 275 10 5 92.6 50.8 | 30.2 86.4 270 9 5 58.0 31.8 5250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 5000 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) 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 at Walker Field in Grand Junction, Colorado at North Latitude: 39 deg 07 min 00.001 sec West Longitude: 108 deg 31 min 59.998 sec Elevation: 4839 feet (1475 meters) and may not be representative of other areas along the Western Slope of Colorado. 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