Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
876
UXUS97 KBOU 240037
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
1736 MST Sunday, November 23, 2025
This forecast is for Monday, November 24, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 51.6 F/10.9 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good
Maximum rate of lift........................ 444 ft/min (2.3 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 11540 ft MSL (6230 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 58.0 F/14.9 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 MST
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................. 9659 ft MSL (4349 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Tuesday 11/25...... Fair
Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor
Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1700 MST)......... Increasing
Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... None
Weak PVA/NVA (through 1700 MST)................ Weak NVA
Potential height of wave....................... 14426 ft MSL (9116 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Tuesday 11/25......... Good
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:54:48 / 16:37:49 MST
Total possible sunshine........... 9 hr 43 min 1 sec (583 min 1 sec)
Altitude of sun at 11:46:18 MST... 29.44 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 11/24/2025 at 0500 MST
Freezing level.................. 8752 ft MSL (3442 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 14357 ft MSL (9047 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 12696 ft MSL (7386 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +3.4
K index......................... +10.9
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 -59.3 -74.7 280 24 12 2.0 1.1 M M M M M
45000 -56.4 -69.5 300 24 13 0.6 0.4 M M M M M
40000 -56.6 -69.9 330 36 18 -0.1 -0.1 M M M M M
38000 -55.7 -68.3 340 39 20 3.2 1.7 M M M M M
36000 -53.8 -64.8 345 39 20 3.2 1.7 M M M M M
34000 -51.2 -60.2 355 40 21 6.9 3.8 M M M M M
32000 -47.0 -52.6 360 40 20 7.0 3.8 M M M M M
30000 -42.8 -45.0 005 39 20 6.9 3.8 33.5 92.3 14.3 M M
29000 -40.7 -41.3 005 36 19 7.0 3.8 32.3 90.2 13.6 M M
28000 -38.6 -37.5 005 33 17 7.0 3.8 31.3 88.3 13.0 M M
27000 -36.5 -33.7 005 31 16 7.0 3.8 30.3 86.6 12.4 M M
26000 -34.4 -29.9 360 29 15 7.0 3.9 29.2 84.5 11.6 M M
25000 -32.3 -26.1 360 28 15 7.0 3.9 28.1 82.6 10.9 M M
24000 -30.2 -22.4 355 27 14 7.1 3.9 27.2 81.0 10.3 M M
23000 -28.0 -18.4 355 25 13 7.4 4.1 26.3 79.3 9.6 M M
22000 -25.8 -14.4 355 24 12 7.4 4.1 25.4 77.7 9.0 M M
21000 -23.6 -10.5 355 22 11 7.5 4.1 24.7 76.4 8.5 M M
20000 -21.3 -6.3 355 21 11 7.6 4.2 23.8 74.9 7.9 M M
19500 -20.2 -4.4 355 21 11 7.6 4.2 23.4 74.2 7.6 M M
19000 -19.1 -2.4 355 20 10 7.6 4.2 23.1 73.6 7.3 M M
18500 -17.9 -0.2 355 20 10 7.5 4.1 22.8 73.0 7.0 M M
18000 -16.9 1.6 350 20 10 7.2 3.9 22.3 72.2 6.7 M M
17500 -15.3 4.5 350 19 10 7.4 4.1 21.7 71.0 6.1 M M
17000 -14.1 6.6 350 20 10 7.8 4.3 21.3 70.4 5.8 M M
16500 -13.0 8.6 350 20 10 7.8 4.3 21.0 69.8 5.6 M M
16000 -11.8 10.8 350 20 11 7.9 4.3 20.7 69.2 5.3 M M
15500 -10.6 12.9 345 21 11 8.0 4.4 20.3 68.6 5.0 M M
15000 -9.5 14.9 345 22 11 6.8 3.8 20.0 68.0 4.7 M M
14500 -8.5 16.7 345 22 12 6.6 3.6 19.4 67.0 4.3 M M
14000 -7.5 18.5 345 23 12 5.6 3.1 18.9 66.1 3.8 M M
13500 -6.8 19.8 345 23 12 4.9 2.7 18.1 64.6 3.1 M M
13000 -6.1 21.0 340 24 12 4.6 2.5 17.3 63.2 2.4 M M
12500 -5.5 22.1 340 24 12 4.2 2.3 16.4 61.5 1.5 M M
12000 -4.9 23.2 340 24 12 4.5 2.5 15.5 59.9 0.7 M M
11500 -4.2 24.4 340 24 12 4.9 2.7 14.7 58.5 -0.1 439 2.2
11000 -3.5 25.7 345 24 12 4.9 2.7 14.0 57.1 -0.9 403 2.0
10500 -2.8 27.0 345 24 12 5.0 2.7 13.2 55.7 -1.7 368 1.9
10250 -2.5 27.5 345 24 12 4.4 2.4 12.8 55.0 -2.1 350 1.8
10000 -2.2 28.0 345 24 12 4.0 2.2 12.3 54.2 -2.5 334 1.7
9750 -1.8 28.8 350 24 12 5.5 3.0 11.9 53.5 -2.9 316 1.6
9500 -1.4 29.5 350 23 12 6.4 3.5 11.6 52.9 -3.2 295 1.5
9250 -0.9 30.4 350 23 12 5.9 3.2 11.4 52.4 -3.5 274 1.4
9000 -0.5 31.1 355 22 11 6.0 3.3 11.1 51.9 -3.8 254 1.3
8750 -0.0 32.0 355 22 11 7.7 4.2 10.8 51.5 -4.0 232 1.2
8500 0.6 33.1 355 22 11 8.7 4.8 10.7 51.3 -4.2 206 1.0
8250 1.2 34.2 355 21 11 8.3 4.5 10.6 51.1 -4.3 180 0.9
8000 1.8 35.2 360 21 11 8.1 4.4 10.5 50.9 -4.4 155 0.8
7750 2.4 36.3 360 21 11 8.0 4.4 10.4 50.7 -4.6 130 0.7
7500 3.0 37.4 355 20 10 8.1 4.5 10.2 50.4 -4.8 105 0.5
7250 3.6 38.5 355 19 10 7.6 4.2 10.1 50.2 -4.9 80 0.4
7000 4.1 39.4 350 17 9 7.4 4.0 9.9 49.8 -5.1 56 0.3
6750 4.7 40.5 340 16 8 7.1 3.9 9.7 49.5 -5.3 32 0.2
6500 5.1 41.2 330 16 8 5.0 2.8 9.5 49.0 -5.6 11 0.1
6250 5.4 41.7 325 15 8 3.1 1.7 9.0 48.2 -6.0 M M
6000 5.6 42.1 320 14 7 2.7 1.5 8.5 47.3 -6.6 M M
5750 5.8 42.4 315 13 7 3.4 1.9 8.0 46.4 -7.1 M M
5500 5.9 42.6 305 11 5 -2.9 -1.6 7.4 45.3 -7.7 M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
11/24/2025 at 0800 MST | 11/24/2025 at 1100 MST
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +5.6 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +5.4
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +3.3 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +4.0
|
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 -59.8 -75.6 270 30 15 2.4 1.3 | -60.2 -76.4 260 32 16 2.4 1.3
45000 -56.3 -69.3 280 32 16 0.3 0.2 | -56.7 -70.1 265 37 19 0.8 0.4
40000 -57.2 -71.0 305 35 18 -0.6 -0.3 | -56.5 -69.7 285 40 21 0.1 0.1
38000 -56.4 -69.5 315 36 18 3.6 1.9 | -55.6 -68.1 285 39 20 2.9 1.6
36000 -54.2 -65.6 320 34 17 3.6 2.0 | -53.9 -65.0 290 35 18 2.9 1.6
34000 -51.3 -60.3 325 33 17 6.9 3.8 | -51.4 -60.5 295 32 17 6.5 3.6
32000 -47.1 -52.8 330 33 17 7.0 3.9 | -47.4 -53.3 295 31 16 6.6 3.6
30000 -42.8 -45.0 330 32 16 7.8 4.3 | -43.2 -45.8 300 30 15 8.0 4.4
29000 -40.4 -40.7 330 30 15 7.8 4.3 | -40.8 -41.4 300 28 15 8.0 4.4
28000 -38.1 -36.6 335 28 14 7.8 4.3 | -38.4 -37.1 305 27 14 8.0 4.4
27000 -35.7 -32.3 340 26 14 7.5 4.1 | -36.0 -32.8 305 26 13 8.1 4.5
26000 -33.6 -28.5 340 26 13 7.2 4.0 | -33.5 -28.3 305 24 13 8.2 4.5
25000 -31.4 -24.5 340 25 13 7.2 4.0 | -31.1 -24.0 305 23 12 8.2 4.5
24000 -29.2 -20.6 340 24 12 7.2 4.0 | -28.6 -19.5 310 22 11 8.0 4.4
23000 -27.1 -16.8 340 23 12 7.1 3.9 | -26.5 -15.7 305 21 11 7.0 3.9
22000 -25.0 -13.0 340 22 11 7.1 3.9 | -24.4 -11.9 305 19 10 7.0 3.9
21000 -22.8 -9.0 340 21 11 7.4 4.0 | -22.2 -8.0 305 17 9 7.0 3.8
20000 -20.6 -5.1 340 20 11 7.5 4.1 | -20.2 -4.4 305 17 9 6.9 3.8
19500 -19.4 -2.9 340 20 10 7.5 4.1 | -19.2 -2.6 310 17 9 6.9 3.8
19000 -18.3 -0.9 340 20 10 7.5 4.1 | -18.1 -0.6 310 17 9 6.9 3.8
18500 -17.2 1.0 340 20 10 7.4 4.0 | -17.1 1.2 310 17 9 6.8 3.7
18000 -16.1 3.0 340 20 10 7.1 3.9 | -15.6 3.9 315 18 9 6.7 3.7
17500 -14.5 5.9 340 21 11 7.0 3.9 | -14.6 5.7 320 18 9 6.7 3.7
17000 -13.5 7.7 340 21 11 7.0 3.8 | -13.6 7.5 325 19 10 6.9 3.8
16500 -12.5 9.5 340 21 11 7.0 3.8 | -12.6 9.3 325 19 10 6.9 3.8
16000 -11.4 11.5 340 21 11 7.3 4.0 | -11.5 11.3 325 20 10 7.2 4.0
15500 -10.3 13.5 340 21 11 7.3 4.0 | -10.5 13.1 325 21 11 7.2 3.9
15000 -9.3 15.3 340 22 11 6.5 3.6 | -9.4 15.1 330 21 11 7.0 3.9
14500 -8.3 17.1 340 22 11 6.4 3.5 | -8.4 16.9 330 22 11 7.0 3.8
14000 -7.4 18.7 340 23 12 5.8 3.2 | -7.3 18.9 330 23 12 6.5 3.6
13500 -6.6 20.1 340 23 12 5.5 3.0 | -6.4 20.5 330 23 12 6.2 3.4
13000 -5.8 21.6 340 23 12 5.0 2.7 | -5.5 22.1 330 23 12 5.7 3.1
12500 -5.1 22.8 340 23 12 4.5 2.4 | -4.7 23.5 325 23 12 5.2 2.8
12000 -4.5 23.9 340 23 12 4.4 2.4 | -4.0 24.8 325 23 12 4.7 2.6
11500 -3.9 25.0 340 23 12 4.4 2.4 | -3.4 25.9 325 22 11 4.1 2.2
11000 -3.3 26.1 340 23 12 4.5 2.5 | -2.8 27.0 325 21 11 4.1 2.2
10500 -2.6 27.3 340 22 11 5.0 2.7 | -2.2 28.0 330 20 10 4.4 2.4
10250 -2.3 27.9 340 22 11 3.9 2.1 | -1.9 28.6 330 19 10 2.5 1.4
10000 -2.0 28.4 340 21 11 3.3 1.8 | -1.8 28.8 330 19 10 3.2 1.8
9750 -1.7 28.9 345 21 11 4.9 2.7 | -1.4 29.5 330 18 9 5.8 3.2
9500 -1.3 29.7 345 20 10 5.6 3.1 | -1.0 30.2 330 17 9 5.5 3.0
9250 -0.9 30.4 345 19 10 5.3 2.9 | -0.6 30.9 330 16 8 5.3 2.9
9000 -0.5 31.1 350 19 10 5.8 3.2 | -0.2 31.6 330 15 8 5.0 2.7
8750 -0.1 31.8 350 18 9 7.2 3.9 | 0.2 32.4 335 15 7 6.1 3.4
8500 0.5 32.9 355 18 9 7.6 4.2 | 0.6 33.1 335 14 7 6.6 3.6
8250 1.0 33.8 355 18 9 7.9 4.3 | 1.1 34.0 335 13 7 7.1 3.9
8000 1.7 35.1 355 17 9 8.6 4.7 | 1.7 35.1 335 12 6 8.0 4.4
7750 2.2 36.0 355 16 8 7.3 4.0 | 2.3 36.1 335 11 6 8.0 4.4
7500 2.7 36.9 355 14 7 6.2 3.4 | 2.9 37.2 335 10 5 8.0 4.4
7250 3.2 37.8 350 13 7 8.1 4.4 | 3.5 38.3 330 9 5 8.9 4.9
7000 3.9 39.0 345 11 6 8.8 4.8 | 4.2 39.6 320 9 5 9.7 5.3
6750 4.6 40.3 335 10 5 9.4 5.2 | 4.9 40.8 315 9 4 9.2 5.0
6500 5.2 41.4 325 10 5 5.0 2.7 | 5.6 42.1 310 8 4 10.0 5.5
6250 5.3 41.5 315 10 5 -1.0 -0.6 | 6.4 43.5 310 8 4 11.3 6.2
6000 5.2 41.4 305 12 6 -0.6 -0.3 | 7.2 45.0 310 8 4 11.3 6.2
5750 5.1 41.2 295 13 7 -2.2 -1.2 | 8.1 46.6 310 8 4 11.5 6.3
5500 4.7 40.5 285 11 6 -7.6 -4.2 | 9.0 48.2 310 7 4 14.9 8.2
11/24/2025 at 1400 MST | 11/24/2025 at 1700 MST
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +5.4 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +4.7
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +0.6 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +3.2
|
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 -61.1 -78.0 255 40 20 2.7 1.5 | -60.6 -77.1 255 46 24 2.8 1.5
45000 -56.9 -70.4 265 50 26 0.5 0.2 | -56.2 -69.2 260 51 26 0.2 0.1
40000 -57.4 -71.3 265 44 22 -0.3 -0.2 | -57.8 -72.0 260 55 28 -1.0 -0.6
38000 -56.6 -69.9 270 42 22 2.9 1.6 | -57.1 -70.8 260 54 28 3.4 1.9
36000 -54.8 -66.6 275 41 21 2.9 1.6 | -55.0 -67.0 265 50 26 3.4 1.9
34000 -52.6 -62.7 275 40 21 7.7 4.3 | -52.6 -62.7 265 46 24 8.0 4.4
32000 -48.3 -54.9 275 38 20 7.3 4.0 | -48.1 -54.6 265 43 22 7.5 4.1
30000 -43.2 -45.8 280 35 18 7.9 4.3 | -43.1 -45.6 265 39 20 7.4 4.1
29000 -40.9 -41.6 275 34 17 7.9 4.3 | -40.8 -41.4 270 38 20 7.4 4.1
28000 -38.5 -37.3 275 32 17 7.9 4.4 | -38.6 -37.5 270 38 19 7.4 4.1
27000 -36.1 -33.0 275 31 16 7.9 4.3 | -36.4 -33.5 275 37 19 7.5 4.1
26000 -33.8 -28.8 275 29 15 7.9 4.3 | -34.1 -29.4 275 36 18 7.6 4.2
25000 -31.4 -24.5 275 28 14 7.9 4.3 | -31.9 -25.4 275 34 18 7.6 4.2
24000 -29.1 -20.4 275 27 14 7.7 4.2 | -29.6 -21.3 280 33 17 7.4 4.1
23000 -26.8 -16.2 275 26 13 7.4 4.1 | -27.5 -17.5 280 32 16 6.9 3.8
22000 -24.6 -12.3 280 26 13 7.4 4.1 | -25.5 -13.9 280 31 16 6.9 3.8
21000 -22.4 -8.3 280 25 13 6.8 3.7 | -23.4 -10.1 285 31 16 7.1 3.9
20000 -20.5 -4.9 280 23 12 6.5 3.6 | -21.3 -6.3 285 31 16 7.1 3.9
19500 -19.5 -3.1 285 23 12 6.5 3.6 | -20.2 -4.4 290 31 16 7.1 3.9
19000 -18.6 -1.5 285 22 11 6.5 3.6 | -19.2 -2.6 290 31 16 7.2 3.9
18500 -17.6 0.3 285 21 11 6.9 3.8 | -18.1 -0.6 290 31 16 7.4 4.1
18000 -16.5 2.3 290 21 11 7.4 4.1 | -17.0 1.4 290 29 15 7.7 4.2
17500 -15.4 4.3 295 21 11 7.4 4.1 | -15.8 3.6 290 27 14 7.7 4.3
17000 -14.3 6.3 295 21 11 7.9 4.3 | -14.7 5.5 290 25 13 7.3 4.0
16500 -13.1 8.4 295 21 11 7.9 4.3 | -13.6 7.5 290 22 11 7.3 4.0
16000 -11.3 11.7 300 21 11 7.8 4.3 | -12.6 9.3 290 19 10 6.8 3.7
15500 -10.1 13.8 305 21 11 7.9 4.4 | -11.6 11.1 295 17 9 6.6 3.6
15000 -9.0 15.8 305 21 11 6.7 3.7 | -10.6 12.9 300 15 8 6.8 3.7
14500 -8.0 17.6 305 21 11 6.7 3.7 | -9.0 15.8 305 14 7 7.1 3.9
14000 -7.0 19.4 310 21 11 6.2 3.4 | -7.9 17.8 305 14 7 7.1 3.9
13500 -6.1 21.0 310 21 11 6.0 3.3 | -6.9 19.6 305 14 7 7.0 3.9
13000 -5.2 22.6 310 20 11 5.6 3.1 | -5.8 21.6 305 13 7 7.0 3.9
12500 -4.5 23.9 310 20 10 5.3 2.9 | -4.8 23.4 305 14 7 7.1 3.9
12000 -3.7 25.3 315 19 10 5.1 2.8 | -3.7 25.3 305 14 7 7.3 4.0
11500 -2.9 26.8 315 18 9 4.9 2.7 | -2.6 27.3 305 15 7 7.5 4.1
11000 -2.2 28.0 315 17 9 4.9 2.7 | -1.5 29.3 305 15 8 7.2 3.9
10500 -1.5 29.3 310 16 8 4.3 2.4 | -0.4 31.3 310 17 9 6.4 3.5
10250 -1.1 30.0 310 15 8 7.4 4.0 | 0.1 32.2 310 18 9 9.3 5.1
10000 -0.4 31.3 310 15 8 8.9 4.9 | 0.9 33.6 310 20 10 9.3 5.1
9750 0.1 32.2 305 15 8 7.0 3.9 | 1.4 34.5 305 22 11 6.3 3.5
9500 0.7 33.3 305 15 8 7.6 4.2 | 1.9 35.4 305 24 12 7.5 4.1
9250 1.2 34.2 305 15 8 7.2 3.9 | 2.4 36.3 305 26 13 5.9 3.2
9000 1.7 35.1 300 15 8 6.9 3.8 | 2.8 37.0 300 28 14 3.9 2.1
8750 2.2 36.0 300 16 8 7.2 3.9 | 3.0 37.4 300 29 15 4.9 2.7
8500 2.8 37.0 300 16 8 7.6 4.1 | 3.4 38.1 295 29 15 5.5 3.0
8250 3.3 37.9 300 17 9 6.9 3.8 | 3.8 38.8 295 30 15 6.0 3.3
8000 3.8 38.8 300 16 8 6.3 3.5 | 4.3 39.7 290 29 15 7.1 3.9
7750 4.2 39.6 300 15 8 7.0 3.8 | 4.8 40.6 290 27 14 7.3 4.0
7500 4.8 40.6 300 13 7 7.4 4.1 | 5.4 41.7 290 25 13 7.3 4.0
7250 5.3 41.5 300 12 6 9.0 4.9 | 5.9 42.6 290 24 12 8.6 4.7
7000 6.1 43.0 300 12 6 10.4 5.7 | 6.6 43.9 290 22 11 9.7 5.3
6750 6.8 44.2 300 11 6 9.9 5.4 | 7.3 45.1 290 20 10 8.2 4.5
6500 7.6 45.7 300 11 6 10.2 5.6 | 7.9 46.2 290 18 9 7.9 4.3
6250 8.3 46.9 300 11 5 10.6 5.8 | 8.5 47.3 290 16 8 8.9 4.9
6000 9.1 48.4 300 10 5 10.6 5.8 | 9.2 48.6 290 14 7 9.5 5.2
5750 9.9 49.8 300 10 5 10.8 5.9 | 9.9 49.8 290 12 6 7.4 4.1
5500 10.8 51.4 300 9 5 14.4 7.9 | 10.2 50.4 290 10 5 0.4 0.2
________________________________________________________________________________
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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