Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
205 UXUS97 KPUB 071225 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0625 MDT Friday, June 7, 2024 This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Friday, June 7, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 70.5 F/21.4 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1438 ft/min (7.3 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 23257 ft MSL (14270 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 82.0 F/28.2 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0930 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1500 MDT Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 20006 ft MSL (11020 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Saturday 06/08..... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:40:03 / 20:25:11 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 45 min 8 sec (885 min 8 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:02:37 MDT... 74.57 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/07/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 16671 ft MSL (7684 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 19384 ft MSL (10397 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 20970 ft MSL (11983 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -2.5 K index......................... +12.5 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 -63.3 -81.9 260 19 10 -0.2 -0.1 M M M M M 45000 -61.5 -78.7 255 21 11 4.6 2.5 M M M M M 40000 -54.1 -65.4 235 31 16 7.4 4.1 M M M M M 38000 -49.6 -57.3 235 31 16 7.5 4.1 M M M M M 36000 -45.1 -49.2 230 31 16 7.5 4.1 M M M M M 34000 -39.9 -39.8 235 27 14 7.8 4.3 M M M M M 32000 -35.2 -31.4 245 23 12 8.0 4.4 M M M M M 30000 -30.2 -22.4 250 22 12 8.4 4.6 33.7 92.6 4.7 M M 29000 -27.7 -17.9 250 22 11 8.4 4.6 33.2 91.8 4.4 M M 28000 -25.2 -13.4 255 22 11 7.7 4.2 32.8 91.0 4.1 M M 27000 -22.9 -9.2 260 21 11 7.6 4.2 31.9 89.4 3.4 M M 26000 -20.6 -5.1 260 21 11 7.6 4.2 31.1 88.0 2.8 M M 25000 -18.3 -0.9 260 21 11 7.2 4.0 30.4 86.8 2.2 M M 24000 -16.6 2.1 265 23 12 5.7 3.1 29.0 84.2 1.0 M M 23000 -14.9 5.2 265 25 13 5.7 3.1 27.6 81.6 -0.3 1421 7.2 22000 -13.2 8.2 265 28 14 6.4 3.5 26.3 79.3 -1.4 1341 6.8 21000 -11.0 12.2 265 29 15 7.7 4.2 25.4 77.7 -2.2 1245 6.3 20000 -8.7 16.3 265 29 15 7.7 4.2 24.7 76.5 -2.9 1148 5.8 19500 -7.6 18.3 265 30 15 7.6 4.2 24.4 75.9 -3.3 1099 5.6 19000 -6.4 20.5 265 30 15 8.4 4.6 24.1 75.4 -3.6 1049 5.3 18500 -5.2 22.6 260 30 15 8.4 4.6 23.9 75.0 -3.8 998 5.1 18000 -4.0 24.8 260 30 16 8.8 4.8 23.7 74.6 -4.1 946 4.8 17500 -2.6 27.3 260 29 15 9.4 5.2 23.6 74.5 -4.2 891 4.5 17000 -0.6 30.9 255 28 14 9.3 5.1 23.5 74.3 -4.4 807 4.1 16500 0.8 33.4 260 27 14 9.2 5.1 23.4 74.2 -4.5 751 3.8 16000 2.2 36.0 260 27 14 9.2 5.1 23.3 74.0 -4.6 695 3.5 15500 3.5 38.3 260 26 13 8.3 4.6 23.2 73.7 -4.8 641 3.3 15000 4.7 40.5 265 25 13 8.3 4.6 23.0 73.3 -5.1 589 3.0 14500 6.0 42.8 270 24 12 8.4 4.6 22.8 73.0 -5.3 537 2.7 14000 7.2 45.0 275 23 12 8.0 4.4 22.5 72.5 -5.6 486 2.5 13500 8.3 46.9 280 22 11 7.7 4.2 22.2 72.0 -5.9 436 2.2 13000 9.6 49.3 280 21 11 9.4 5.2 22.0 71.7 -6.2 384 1.9 12500 11.0 51.8 280 19 10 9.0 4.9 22.0 71.5 -6.3 328 1.7 12000 12.2 54.0 280 18 9 9.4 5.1 21.8 71.2 -6.5 275 1.4 11750 13.0 55.4 280 17 9 10.8 5.9 21.8 71.3 -6.5 244 1.2 11500 13.8 56.8 280 16 8 9.2 5.0 21.9 71.3 -6.4 213 1.1 11250 14.3 57.7 280 16 8 6.3 3.5 21.7 71.1 -6.6 189 1.0 11000 14.7 58.5 280 15 8 5.3 2.9 21.4 70.5 -7.0 170 0.9 10750 15.1 59.2 275 15 8 6.0 3.3 21.1 69.9 -7.4 151 0.8 10500 15.5 59.9 270 14 7 3.5 1.9 20.7 69.3 -7.8 134 0.7 10250 15.4 59.7 270 14 7 -3.1 -1.7 20.0 68.0 -8.6 128 0.7 10000 14.9 58.8 260 12 6 -6.4 -3.5 18.8 65.9 -9.9 136 0.7 9750 14.4 57.9 255 11 6 -3.2 -1.7 17.7 63.9 -11.2 145 0.7 9500 14.0 57.2 245 10 5 -7.0 -3.8 16.7 62.1 -12.3 149 0.8 9250 12.8 55.0 235 8 4 -24.9 -13.6 14.8 58.7 -14.3 178 0.9 9000 10.6 51.1 240 5 2 -27.5 -15.1 11.9 53.4 -17.2 235 1.2 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 * * * * * * 06/07/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/07/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +442.7 LI... -0.3 | CAPE... +448.4 LI... -1.0 CINH... -87.0 K Index... +10.7 | CINH... -0.4 K Index... +21.0 | 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 -63.0 -81.4 270 19 10 -0.3 -0.1 | -62.8 -81.0 260 16 8 -0.2 -0.1 45000 -61.4 -78.5 265 20 10 4.7 2.6 | -61.1 -78.0 245 18 9 4.7 2.6 40000 -53.6 -64.5 250 28 15 6.6 3.6 | -53.4 -64.1 250 28 15 6.3 3.5 38000 -49.7 -57.5 250 28 14 6.6 3.6 | -49.7 -57.5 255 29 15 6.3 3.5 36000 -45.7 -50.3 245 28 14 6.6 3.6 | -45.9 -50.6 255 29 15 6.3 3.4 34000 -40.9 -41.6 245 26 14 8.2 4.5 | -41.2 -42.2 250 29 15 8.0 4.4 32000 -36.0 -32.8 240 25 13 8.2 4.5 | -36.4 -33.5 250 29 15 8.0 4.4 30000 -31.0 -23.8 240 24 12 8.4 4.6 | -31.5 -24.7 245 27 14 8.1 4.4 29000 -28.5 -19.3 240 23 12 8.4 4.6 | -29.1 -20.4 245 26 13 8.1 4.5 28000 -25.4 -13.7 240 22 12 7.0 3.8 | -26.1 -15.0 245 24 12 7.0 3.8 27000 -23.3 -9.9 245 23 12 7.2 3.9 | -24.0 -11.2 255 25 13 7.1 3.9 26000 -21.2 -6.2 250 25 13 7.2 3.9 | -21.9 -7.4 260 26 13 7.1 3.9 25000 -19.0 -2.2 255 26 13 6.6 3.6 | -19.8 -3.6 265 27 14 6.8 3.7 24000 -17.3 0.9 260 28 14 5.7 3.2 | -17.9 -0.2 270 28 14 6.3 3.5 23000 -15.7 3.7 260 30 15 5.8 3.2 | -16.1 3.0 275 29 15 6.4 3.5 22000 -14.0 6.8 265 32 16 7.4 4.0 | -14.2 6.4 275 29 15 7.6 4.2 21000 -11.4 11.5 270 26 13 8.7 4.8 | -11.7 10.9 275 25 13 8.6 4.7 20000 -8.8 16.2 275 20 10 8.7 4.8 | -9.2 15.4 270 22 11 8.7 4.8 19500 -7.5 18.5 280 17 9 8.7 4.8 | -7.9 17.8 265 20 10 8.7 4.8 19000 -6.2 20.8 280 16 8 9.1 5.0 | -6.6 20.1 265 19 10 9.3 5.1 18500 -4.9 23.2 285 16 8 9.0 5.0 | -5.3 22.5 265 18 9 9.3 5.1 18000 -3.5 25.7 290 16 8 8.8 4.8 | -3.9 25.0 265 17 9 9.2 5.1 17500 -2.2 28.0 290 16 8 8.6 4.7 | -2.6 27.3 270 17 9 9.2 5.0 17000 -1.0 30.2 290 16 8 8.6 4.7 | -1.3 29.7 270 17 9 9.2 5.1 16500 0.3 32.5 290 17 9 8.4 4.6 | 0.1 32.2 270 17 9 9.8 5.4 16000 1.5 34.7 290 17 9 8.4 4.6 | 1.6 34.9 270 17 9 9.8 5.4 15500 2.8 37.0 285 18 9 8.6 4.7 | 3.0 37.4 270 17 9 9.8 5.4 15000 4.0 39.2 285 18 9 8.6 4.7 | 4.4 39.9 270 16 8 9.7 5.3 14500 6.0 42.8 285 19 10 9.4 5.2 | 6.5 43.7 270 16 8 9.0 4.9 14000 7.3 45.1 285 20 10 9.0 5.0 | 7.9 46.2 270 16 8 9.5 5.2 13500 8.6 47.5 285 21 11 9.6 5.3 | 9.3 48.7 270 15 8 9.5 5.2 13000 10.0 50.0 280 21 11 8.6 4.7 | 10.8 51.4 265 15 8 10.3 5.7 12500 11.3 52.3 275 21 11 8.4 4.6 | 12.4 54.3 265 15 8 9.3 5.1 12000 12.4 54.3 275 20 10 7.8 4.3 | 13.6 56.5 265 14 7 9.9 5.4 11750 13.0 55.4 275 20 10 7.7 4.2 | 14.4 57.9 265 14 7 10.8 5.9 11500 13.6 56.5 270 19 10 7.2 4.0 | 15.2 59.4 265 14 7 10.2 5.6 11250 14.0 57.2 270 18 9 6.3 3.5 | 16.0 60.8 265 14 7 9.7 5.3 11000 14.5 58.1 270 17 9 6.3 3.4 | 16.7 62.1 265 14 7 9.7 5.3 10750 14.9 58.8 265 17 9 6.4 3.5 | 17.4 63.3 265 13 7 10.7 5.9 10500 15.3 59.5 260 16 8 5.6 3.1 | 18.2 64.8 260 13 7 11.1 6.1 10250 15.6 60.1 260 15 8 4.2 2.3 | 19.0 66.2 260 13 7 10.6 5.8 10000 15.8 60.4 255 13 7 4.3 2.4 | 19.8 67.6 260 13 7 10.8 5.9 9750 16.0 60.8 250 12 6 3.7 2.0 | 20.6 69.1 260 12 6 9.9 5.5 9500 16.3 61.3 240 11 6 9.1 5.0 | 21.5 70.7 260 12 6 15.6 8.5 9250 17.4 63.3 235 9 5 22.5 12.3 | 23.1 73.6 260 11 6 30.1 16.5 9000 18.9 66.0 230 8 4 11.2 6.1 | 25.3 77.5 255 10 5 22.4 12.3 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 06/07/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/07/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +438.3 LI... -0.8 | CAPE... +118.4 LI... -0.1 CINH... -19.7 K Index... +26.6 | CINH... -142.6 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 -62.6 -80.7 255 16 8 -0.5 -0.3 | -62.3 -80.1 255 19 10 -1.0 -0.6 45000 -61.2 -78.2 240 19 10 4.5 2.5 | -61.7 -79.1 235 21 11 4.1 2.2 40000 -53.7 -64.7 245 26 14 6.8 3.7 | -54.7 -66.5 225 27 14 7.5 4.1 38000 -49.6 -57.3 245 30 15 6.8 3.7 | -50.2 -58.4 235 28 14 7.5 4.1 36000 -45.5 -49.9 245 33 17 6.8 3.7 | -45.7 -50.3 240 29 15 7.5 4.1 34000 -40.5 -40.9 250 33 17 8.6 4.7 | -40.4 -40.7 250 29 15 8.9 4.9 32000 -35.3 -31.5 250 32 16 8.6 4.7 | -35.1 -31.2 255 30 16 8.8 4.8 30000 -30.8 -23.4 255 30 15 7.3 4.0 | -30.2 -22.4 260 30 16 8.1 4.5 29000 -28.7 -19.7 260 29 15 7.3 4.0 | -27.8 -18.0 260 31 16 8.2 4.5 28000 -26.1 -15.0 265 27 14 5.7 3.1 | -24.9 -12.8 265 31 16 6.3 3.4 27000 -24.4 -11.9 270 26 13 5.8 3.2 | -23.0 -9.4 265 30 15 6.4 3.5 26000 -22.6 -8.7 275 25 13 5.9 3.2 | -21.1 -6.0 270 29 15 6.4 3.5 25000 -20.9 -5.6 285 25 13 6.9 3.8 | -19.2 -2.6 275 29 15 6.5 3.5 24000 -18.5 -1.3 285 23 12 8.3 4.5 | -17.3 0.9 280 28 15 6.5 3.6 23000 -16.1 3.0 290 22 11 8.3 4.6 | -15.3 4.5 280 27 14 6.6 3.6 22000 -13.7 7.3 295 20 11 8.5 4.7 | -13.4 7.9 285 27 14 7.6 4.2 21000 -11.2 11.8 290 19 10 8.6 4.7 | -10.8 12.6 290 25 13 8.7 4.8 20000 -8.7 16.3 290 18 9 8.7 4.7 | -8.3 17.1 290 23 12 8.8 4.8 19500 -7.4 18.7 290 17 9 8.7 4.8 | -7.0 19.4 295 22 11 8.8 4.8 19000 -6.1 21.0 290 17 9 9.7 5.3 | -5.7 21.7 295 20 10 9.1 5.0 18500 -4.6 23.7 285 16 8 9.7 5.3 | -4.4 24.1 295 18 9 9.1 5.0 18000 -3.2 26.2 285 16 8 9.5 5.2 | -3.1 26.4 295 16 8 9.0 4.9 17500 -1.8 28.8 285 16 8 9.5 5.2 | -1.8 28.8 295 14 7 8.9 4.9 17000 -0.4 31.3 280 16 8 9.4 5.2 | -0.5 31.1 295 12 6 8.8 4.8 16500 1.0 33.8 280 15 8 9.6 5.2 | 0.8 33.4 295 11 6 9.3 5.1 16000 2.4 36.3 275 15 8 9.6 5.2 | 2.2 36.0 290 10 5 9.3 5.1 15500 3.8 38.8 275 15 8 9.4 5.1 | 3.6 38.5 290 10 5 9.2 5.0 15000 5.2 41.4 270 15 8 9.3 5.1 | 4.9 40.8 285 9 5 9.1 5.0 14500 7.2 45.0 265 15 8 8.4 4.6 | 6.9 44.4 270 9 5 8.3 4.5 14000 8.5 47.3 260 15 8 8.4 4.6 | 8.2 46.8 265 10 5 8.5 4.6 13500 9.7 49.5 255 15 8 8.8 4.8 | 9.4 48.9 255 10 5 7.6 4.2 13000 11.0 51.8 250 16 8 8.7 4.8 | 10.5 50.9 245 11 6 7.8 4.3 12500 12.3 54.1 250 16 8 8.4 4.6 | 11.7 53.1 240 13 7 7.1 3.9 12000 13.5 56.3 245 17 9 9.0 5.0 | 12.6 54.7 235 15 8 6.2 3.4 11750 14.3 57.7 240 17 9 9.7 5.3 | 13.1 55.6 230 16 8 6.6 3.6 11500 15.0 59.0 240 17 9 9.3 5.1 | 13.5 56.3 230 17 9 6.3 3.5 11250 15.6 60.1 240 18 9 8.9 4.9 | 14.0 57.2 230 18 9 5.7 3.1 11000 16.3 61.3 240 18 9 8.8 4.8 | 14.4 57.9 225 19 10 5.4 3.0 10750 16.9 62.4 235 18 9 9.8 5.4 | 14.8 58.6 225 20 10 5.7 3.1 10500 17.7 63.9 235 18 9 10.3 5.7 | 15.2 59.4 225 20 10 5.6 3.1 10250 18.4 65.1 235 18 9 10.0 5.5 | 15.5 59.9 225 20 10 4.8 2.6 10000 19.2 66.6 235 17 9 10.2 5.6 | 15.8 60.4 225 20 10 4.5 2.4 9750 19.9 67.8 235 17 9 9.7 5.3 | 16.1 61.0 225 19 10 4.3 2.3 9500 20.7 69.3 235 17 9 12.8 7.0 | 16.4 61.5 225 19 10 6.8 3.7 9250 21.9 71.4 235 16 8 21.8 12.0 | 17.1 62.8 225 16 8 14.6 8.0 9000 23.7 74.7 235 13 7 24.0 13.1 | 18.4 65.1 225 12 6 17.9 9.8 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