Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
899
UXUS97 KBOU 160116
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
1915 MDT Tuesday, September 15, 2026
This forecast is for Wednesday, September 16, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 78.7 F/25.9 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good
Maximum rate of lift........................ 604 ft/min (3.1 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 12790 ft MSL (7431 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 84.0 F/29.3 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1245 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1700 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast thin middle
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 9282 ft MSL (3923 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 09/17..... Fair
Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor
Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1800 MDT)......... No change
Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... None
Weak PVA/NVA (through 1800 MDT)................ Weak PVA
Potential height of wave....................... 41102 ft MSL (35743 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Thursday 09/17........ Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:41:52 / 19:06:37 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 12 hr 24 min 45 sec (744 min 45 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:54:15 MDT... 52.62 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 09/16/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 15629 ft MSL (10270 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 14944 ft MSL (9585 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 14479 ft MSL (9120 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -1.3
K index......................... +27.7
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 -65.1 -85.2 250 43 22 2.5 1.4 M M M M M
45000 -59.9 -75.8 240 54 28 5.3 2.9 M M M M M
40000 -51.7 -61.1 230 61 31 6.7 3.7 M M M M M
38000 -47.1 -52.8 225 60 31 6.7 3.7 M M M M M
36000 -43.1 -45.6 225 59 31 7.5 4.1 M M M M M
34000 -38.0 -36.4 225 57 29 8.6 4.7 M M M M M
32000 -32.8 -27.0 225 54 28 9.6 5.3 M M M M M
30000 -28.6 -19.5 230 48 25 6.8 3.7 47.9 118.2 14.4 M M
29000 -26.6 -15.9 240 45 23 6.8 3.7 46.8 116.3 13.7 M M
28000 -24.6 -12.3 245 43 22 6.4 3.5 45.8 114.4 13.1 M M
27000 -22.7 -8.9 245 39 20 6.3 3.5 44.4 111.9 12.1 M M
26000 -20.8 -5.4 245 36 18 6.3 3.5 43.1 109.5 11.2 M M
25000 -18.9 -2.0 250 32 17 6.4 3.5 41.9 107.4 10.3 M M
24000 -17.0 1.4 250 30 15 6.6 3.6 40.7 105.2 9.4 M M
23000 -15.0 5.0 250 27 14 6.6 3.6 39.5 103.1 8.5 M M
22000 -13.0 8.6 250 24 13 6.7 3.7 38.5 101.2 7.7 M M
21000 -10.5 13.1 250 22 11 7.0 3.8 37.1 98.8 6.7 M M
20000 -8.4 16.9 255 20 10 7.0 3.8 36.2 97.1 5.9 M M
19500 -7.4 18.7 255 20 10 6.7 3.7 35.7 96.3 5.5 M M
19000 -6.5 20.3 255 18 9 6.2 3.4 35.1 95.3 5.0 M M
18500 -5.6 21.9 255 17 9 6.3 3.5 34.5 94.2 4.4 M M
18000 -4.7 23.5 250 16 8 6.7 3.7 34.0 93.2 3.9 M M
17500 -3.8 25.2 250 15 8 6.8 3.7 33.5 92.2 3.4 M M
17000 -2.8 27.0 245 14 7 6.9 3.8 33.0 91.4 2.9 M M
16500 -1.8 28.8 240 13 7 7.1 3.9 32.5 90.5 2.5 M M
16000 -0.7 30.7 240 13 6 7.1 3.9 32.1 89.7 2.1 M M
15500 0.4 32.7 240 12 6 7.6 4.2 31.7 89.0 1.7 M M
15000 1.4 34.5 235 11 6 7.6 4.2 31.3 88.4 1.3 M M
14500 2.5 36.5 235 10 5 7.8 4.3 31.0 87.7 1.0 M M
14000 3.7 38.7 240 10 5 7.8 4.3 30.6 87.2 0.7 M M
13500 4.8 40.6 240 9 5 8.0 4.4 30.3 86.6 0.4 M M
13000 6.0 42.8 245 8 4 8.2 4.5 30.1 86.2 0.1 M M
12500 7.2 45.0 250 8 4 8.1 4.5 29.9 85.7 -0.1 574 2.9
12000 8.4 47.1 255 7 4 7.8 4.3 29.5 85.2 -0.5 525 2.7
11500 9.5 49.1 260 7 4 7.9 4.3 29.3 84.7 -0.8 477 2.4
11000 10.7 51.3 265 7 4 7.8 4.3 28.9 84.1 -1.1 427 2.2
10500 11.8 53.2 270 7 4 6.2 3.4 28.7 83.6 -1.4 378 1.9
10250 12.2 54.0 275 7 4 4.6 2.5 28.3 82.9 -1.8 360 1.8
10000 12.6 54.7 275 7 4 6.7 3.7 27.9 82.3 -2.1 340 1.7
9750 13.1 55.6 275 7 4 7.9 4.3 27.8 82.0 -2.3 317 1.6
9500 13.6 56.5 280 7 4 6.1 3.3 27.6 81.7 -2.5 294 1.5
9250 13.9 57.0 280 7 4 2.8 1.5 27.2 80.9 -3.0 277 1.4
9000 14.1 57.4 280 7 3 2.4 1.3 26.6 79.8 -3.5 265 1.3
8750 14.3 57.7 280 6 3 3.4 1.9 26.0 78.9 -4.1 251 1.3
8500 14.5 58.1 275 6 3 2.0 1.1 25.5 78.0 -4.6 238 1.2
8250 14.6 58.3 275 6 3 0.5 0.3 24.8 76.7 -5.3 229 1.2
8000 14.6 58.3 270 6 3 0.1 0.1 24.1 75.4 -6.0 221 1.1
7750 14.5 58.1 270 5 3 -0.8 -0.4 23.3 74.0 -6.8 215 1.1
7500 14.4 57.9 270 5 3 -1.5 -0.8 22.5 72.5 -7.7 211 1.1
7250 14.3 57.7 270 5 3 -1.7 -1.0 21.6 70.9 -8.5 207 1.1
7000 14.2 57.6 270 5 2 -1.8 -1.0 20.8 69.4 -9.4 203 1.0
6750 14.0 57.2 275 4 2 -1.9 -1.0 19.9 67.8 -10.3 200 1.0
6500 13.9 57.0 280 4 2 -1.5 -0.8 19.0 66.2 -11.2 196 1.0
6250 13.9 57.0 280 4 2 -1.0 -0.5 18.2 64.7 -12.0 191 1.0
6000 13.8 56.8 285 3 2 -1.9 -1.0 17.3 63.2 -12.8 185 0.9
5750 13.7 56.7 295 3 2 0.8 0.5 16.5 61.7 -13.6 180 0.9
5500 14.1 57.4 295 2 1 7.6 4.2 16.1 61.0 -14.1 163 0.8
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
09/16/2026 at 0900 MDT | 09/16/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +0.6 | CAPE... +29.3 LI... +0.1
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +24.8 | CINH... -69.8 K Index... +23.5
|
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 -65.1 -85.2 245 42 22 2.4 1.3 | -64.8 -84.6 235 40 21 2.7 1.5
45000 -59.7 -75.5 240 56 29 5.4 2.9 | -59.3 -74.7 235 55 29 5.0 2.7
40000 -51.3 -60.3 230 62 32 6.6 3.6 | -51.5 -60.7 235 62 32 7.0 3.8
38000 -47.4 -53.3 230 61 32 6.6 3.6 | -47.3 -53.1 235 63 32 6.9 3.8
36000 -43.4 -46.1 230 60 31 6.9 3.8 | -43.1 -45.6 235 63 33 7.1 3.9
34000 -38.7 -37.7 230 56 29 8.0 4.4 | -38.6 -37.5 235 58 30 7.7 4.2
32000 -33.9 -29.0 230 50 26 7.9 4.3 | -33.4 -28.1 230 51 26 8.3 4.5
30000 -28.9 -20.0 230 42 22 7.3 4.0 | -29.1 -20.4 235 42 22 7.2 3.9
29000 -26.8 -16.2 235 39 20 7.3 4.0 | -26.9 -16.4 235 37 19 7.2 3.9
28000 -24.6 -12.3 235 35 18 7.1 3.9 | -24.8 -12.6 235 33 17 7.4 4.0
27000 -22.5 -8.5 240 32 16 7.1 3.9 | -22.6 -8.7 235 31 16 7.4 4.0
26000 -20.4 -4.7 245 29 15 7.1 3.9 | -20.4 -4.7 240 28 15 7.4 4.0
25000 -18.2 -0.8 250 25 13 6.6 3.6 | -18.2 -0.8 245 26 13 6.7 3.7
24000 -16.5 2.3 255 24 12 5.9 3.3 | -16.5 2.3 250 23 12 6.0 3.3
23000 -14.7 5.5 260 22 11 6.0 3.3 | -14.7 5.5 255 21 11 6.0 3.3
22000 -13.0 8.6 265 21 11 6.6 3.6 | -12.9 8.8 260 19 10 6.7 3.7
21000 -10.9 12.4 265 19 10 7.1 3.9 | -10.8 12.6 260 17 9 7.3 4.0
20000 -8.8 16.2 270 18 9 7.2 3.9 | -8.6 16.5 260 15 8 7.3 4.0
19500 -7.7 18.1 270 18 9 7.2 3.9 | -7.6 18.3 260 15 8 7.3 4.0
19000 -6.7 19.9 270 17 9 7.5 4.1 | -6.5 20.3 260 14 7 7.6 4.2
18500 -5.6 21.9 270 16 8 7.4 4.1 | -4.8 23.4 260 13 7 7.6 4.2
18000 -4.0 24.8 265 15 8 6.4 3.5 | -3.7 25.3 255 13 7 7.1 3.9
17500 -3.1 26.4 265 14 7 6.5 3.6 | -2.7 27.1 255 13 7 7.2 3.9
17000 -2.1 28.2 260 13 7 6.5 3.5 | -1.7 28.9 255 13 7 6.9 3.8
16500 -1.2 29.8 255 12 6 6.4 3.5 | -0.7 30.7 255 13 6 6.8 3.7
16000 -0.3 31.5 255 11 6 6.5 3.6 | 0.3 32.5 255 12 6 6.8 3.7
15500 0.7 33.3 250 11 5 7.2 4.0 | 1.2 34.2 250 12 6 6.8 3.7
15000 1.7 35.1 250 10 5 7.2 3.9 | 2.2 36.0 250 11 6 6.8 3.7
14500 2.7 36.9 245 9 5 7.4 4.0 | 3.2 37.8 250 10 5 7.4 4.1
14000 3.8 38.8 245 9 5 7.3 4.0 | 4.3 39.7 245 10 5 7.4 4.0
13500 4.9 40.8 245 9 4 7.9 4.4 | 5.4 41.7 245 9 5 7.8 4.3
13000 6.1 43.0 245 8 4 8.1 4.5 | 6.5 43.7 245 9 4 7.9 4.3
12500 7.3 45.1 245 8 4 8.3 4.5 | 7.7 45.9 245 8 4 8.1 4.4
12000 8.5 47.3 250 7 4 8.4 4.6 | 8.8 47.8 245 7 4 8.2 4.5
11500 9.7 49.5 255 7 4 8.4 4.6 | 10.0 50.0 245 7 3 8.1 4.5
11000 10.9 51.6 260 7 4 8.2 4.5 | 11.2 52.2 250 6 3 7.8 4.3
10500 12.2 54.0 265 7 4 5.0 2.7 | 12.4 54.3 255 5 3 4.6 2.5
10250 12.4 54.3 270 8 4 4.6 2.5 | 12.6 54.7 265 6 3 5.2 2.8
10000 13.0 55.4 270 8 4 9.2 5.0 | 13.3 55.9 265 5 3 9.9 5.5
9750 13.6 56.5 275 8 4 9.5 5.2 | 13.9 57.0 270 4 2 9.2 5.1
9500 14.3 57.7 275 8 4 6.9 3.8 | 14.6 58.3 280 3 2 7.4 4.0
9250 14.6 58.3 275 9 4 3.8 2.1 | 15.0 59.0 285 4 2 5.3 2.9
9000 14.9 58.8 280 9 4 5.8 3.2 | 15.4 59.7 295 3 2 7.2 3.9
8750 15.4 59.7 280 8 4 7.2 4.0 | 16.0 60.8 305 3 1 8.0 4.4
8500 15.9 60.6 280 8 4 4.6 2.5 | 16.5 61.7 325 2 1 5.8 3.2
8250 16.1 61.0 280 8 4 2.5 1.4 | 16.8 62.2 340 2 1 4.1 2.3
8000 16.3 61.3 280 7 4 3.5 1.9 | 17.2 63.0 355 2 1 4.8 2.6
7750 16.6 61.9 280 7 4 3.5 1.9 | 17.5 63.5 020 2 1 5.2 2.8
7500 16.7 62.1 280 6 3 1.4 0.8 | 17.9 64.2 035 3 1 5.7 3.1
7250 16.8 62.2 280 6 3 0.2 0.1 | 18.3 64.9 050 3 1 5.4 3.0
7000 16.8 62.2 280 5 3 0.5 0.3 | 18.7 65.7 060 3 2 7.1 3.9
6750 16.8 62.2 275 4 2 -1.2 -0.7 | 19.3 66.7 065 3 2 10.5 5.8
6500 16.6 61.9 275 3 2 -2.9 -1.6 | 20.1 68.2 065 3 2 10.5 5.8
6250 16.3 61.3 275 3 1 -1.9 -1.0 | 20.9 69.6 065 3 2 10.1 5.6
6000 16.1 61.0 270 2 1 -4.9 -2.7 | 21.6 70.9 065 3 2 9.0 5.0
5750 15.8 60.4 290 1 1 1.8 1.0 | 22.4 72.3 065 3 2 14.7 8.0
5500 16.7 62.1 305 1 0 21.2 11.6 | 24.0 75.2 065 3 2 27.9 15.3
09/16/2026 at 1500 MDT | 09/16/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +135.2 LI... -0.8 | CAPE... +97.7 LI... -1.3
CINH... -67.7 K Index... +25.3 | CINH... -97.1 K Index... +28.6
|
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 -65.4 -85.7 230 37 19 3.2 1.8 | -65.5 -85.9 235 34 18 2.9 1.6
45000 -59.7 -75.5 235 51 26 4.7 2.6 | -59.9 -75.8 240 47 24 5.2 2.8
40000 -52.0 -61.6 245 66 34 7.8 4.3 | -51.6 -60.9 245 62 32 7.3 4.0
38000 -47.3 -53.1 240 66 34 7.8 4.3 | -47.2 -53.0 235 58 30 7.3 4.0
36000 -42.6 -44.7 235 66 34 7.9 4.3 | -42.2 -44.0 225 55 28 8.6 4.7
34000 -37.2 -35.0 235 58 30 8.1 4.4 | -36.9 -34.4 225 50 26 8.7 4.8
32000 -32.3 -26.1 235 51 26 8.5 4.7 | -31.7 -25.1 220 45 23 9.0 5.0
30000 -28.2 -18.8 230 42 21 6.9 3.8 | -27.5 -17.5 220 34 17 7.2 3.9
29000 -26.2 -15.2 230 37 19 6.9 3.8 | -25.3 -13.5 220 28 15 7.2 3.9
28000 -24.1 -11.4 230 33 17 7.3 4.0 | -23.3 -9.9 220 24 12 6.3 3.5
27000 -21.9 -7.4 230 30 16 7.3 4.0 | -21.4 -6.5 220 21 11 6.4 3.5
26000 -19.8 -3.6 230 27 14 7.3 4.0 | -19.4 -2.9 225 19 10 6.4 3.5
25000 -17.6 0.3 235 24 12 6.5 3.6 | -17.5 0.5 230 16 8 6.3 3.5
24000 -15.9 3.4 240 21 11 5.6 3.1 | -15.7 3.7 230 14 7 6.2 3.4
23000 -14.3 6.3 250 18 9 5.6 3.1 | -13.8 7.2 235 12 6 6.2 3.4
22000 -12.6 9.3 260 16 8 6.7 3.7 | -12.0 10.4 235 10 5 6.5 3.6
21000 -10.4 13.3 260 15 8 7.5 4.1 | -10.0 14.0 235 8 4 6.8 3.7
20000 -8.1 17.4 255 13 7 7.5 4.1 | -7.5 18.5 230 6 3 6.8 3.8
19500 -6.4 20.5 255 13 6 7.5 4.1 | -6.5 20.3 225 5 3 7.3 4.0
19000 -5.3 22.5 255 12 6 7.4 4.1 | -5.4 22.3 225 5 2 7.6 4.2
18500 -4.2 24.4 255 12 6 7.4 4.1 | -4.3 24.3 225 4 2 7.6 4.2
18000 -3.2 26.2 255 12 6 7.1 3.9 | -3.2 26.2 225 4 2 7.4 4.0
17500 -2.2 28.0 260 12 6 7.3 4.0 | -2.2 28.0 230 4 2 7.4 4.1
17000 -1.2 29.8 260 12 6 7.4 4.1 | -1.1 30.0 230 4 2 7.2 4.0
16500 -0.1 31.8 260 12 6 7.5 4.1 | -0.1 31.8 230 4 2 7.1 3.9
16000 0.9 33.6 255 11 6 7.5 4.1 | 0.9 33.6 230 3 2 7.1 3.9
15500 2.0 35.6 260 11 6 7.4 4.1 | 1.9 35.4 230 3 1 7.0 3.9
15000 3.1 37.6 260 10 5 7.5 4.1 | 2.9 37.2 235 2 1 7.0 3.8
14500 4.1 39.4 260 9 5 7.4 4.1 | 4.0 39.2 240 1 1 7.7 4.2
14000 5.2 41.4 260 8 4 7.4 4.1 | 5.1 41.2 230 1 0 7.7 4.2
13500 6.3 43.3 265 7 4 7.6 4.1 | 6.2 43.2 000 0 0 7.7 4.2
13000 7.4 45.3 260 6 3 7.6 4.2 | 7.3 45.1 135 1 1 7.7 4.2
12500 8.5 47.3 255 5 2 7.8 4.3 | 8.4 47.1 125 2 1 7.6 4.2
12000 9.7 49.5 245 3 2 8.0 4.4 | 9.5 49.1 110 4 2 7.6 4.2
11500 10.8 51.4 225 2 1 8.0 4.4 | 10.6 51.1 110 5 3 7.7 4.2
11000 12.0 53.6 190 2 1 7.8 4.3 | 11.8 53.2 100 5 3 7.8 4.3
10500 13.2 55.8 155 2 1 5.5 3.0 | 12.9 55.2 090 6 3 5.3 2.9
10250 13.5 56.3 145 3 1 6.3 3.5 | 13.2 55.8 090 5 3 6.7 3.7
10000 14.1 57.4 130 3 1 9.9 5.4 | 14.0 57.2 090 5 3 11.0 6.0
9750 14.8 58.6 115 3 2 9.5 5.2 | 14.7 58.5 085 5 3 10.3 5.7
9500 15.5 59.9 105 3 2 7.8 4.3 | 15.5 59.9 085 5 2 8.7 4.8
9250 15.9 60.6 105 4 2 6.5 3.6 | 16.0 60.8 080 4 2 7.1 3.9
9000 16.5 61.7 100 4 2 9.1 5.0 | 16.6 61.9 080 4 2 9.4 5.2
8750 17.2 63.0 095 4 2 10.1 5.5 | 17.4 63.3 080 4 2 10.4 5.7
8500 17.9 64.2 090 4 2 9.1 5.0 | 18.1 64.6 080 3 2 9.4 5.2
8250 18.5 65.3 090 4 2 8.3 4.5 | 18.8 65.8 075 3 2 8.7 4.8
8000 19.2 66.6 090 4 2 9.3 5.1 | 19.4 66.9 075 3 1 9.0 4.9
7750 19.9 67.8 085 4 2 10.1 5.6 | 20.1 68.2 070 2 1 9.0 4.9
7500 20.6 69.1 080 5 2 9.7 5.3 | 20.8 69.4 070 2 1 8.7 4.8
7250 21.3 70.3 080 5 2 9.4 5.2 | 21.4 70.5 055 1 0 8.3 4.6
7000 22.0 71.6 080 5 2 9.5 5.2 | 22.1 71.8 005 1 0 8.8 4.8
6750 22.8 73.0 075 5 2 10.1 5.6 | 22.7 72.9 295 1 0 8.6 4.7
6500 23.6 74.5 075 5 2 10.6 5.8 | 23.3 73.9 270 2 1 7.4 4.0
6250 24.3 75.7 070 5 2 11.0 6.1 | 23.8 74.8 265 2 1 7.2 4.0
6000 25.1 77.2 070 5 2 9.5 5.2 | 24.3 75.7 260 3 1 6.6 3.6
5750 25.9 78.6 065 5 2 14.5 7.9 | 24.8 76.6 260 3 2 7.8 4.3
5500 27.5 81.5 065 4 2 27.2 14.9 | 25.5 77.9 250 3 1 11.8 6.5
________________________________________________________________________________
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 near the old Stapleton
Airport site in Denver, Colorado at
North Latitude: 39 deg 46 min 5.016 sec
West Longitude: 104 deg 52 min 9.984 sec
Elevation: 5285 feet (1611 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.
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.
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