Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
836
UXUS97 KGJT 091307
SRGGJT
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
707 AM MDT Friday, May 9, 2025
This forecast is for Friday, May 9, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 67.6 F/19.8 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1239 ft/min (6.3 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 19549 ft MSL (13941 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 83.0 F/28.8 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0945 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................. 16635 ft MSL (11027 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Saturday 05/10..... Excellent
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:06:11 / 20:14:57 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 8 min 47 sec (848 min 47 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:10:34 MDT... 68.34 degrees
Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 05/09/2025 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 13128 ft MSL (7520 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 14624 ft MSL (9016 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 16745 ft MSL (11137 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -4.3
K index......................... +13.2
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 -62.0 -79.6 305 26 13 2.1 1.2 M M M M M
45000 -59.3 -74.7 315 32 16 -0.7 -0.4 M M M M M
40000 -60.5 -76.9 345 32 17 -1.3 -0.7 M M M M M
38000 -57.0 -70.6 355 31 16 6.1 3.3 M M M M M
36000 -53.4 -64.1 005 31 16 6.1 3.3 M M M M M
34000 -49.1 -56.4 010 29 15 7.9 4.3 M M M M M
32000 -44.3 -47.7 015 25 13 7.9 4.3 M M M M M
30000 -39.3 -38.7 020 22 11 8.6 4.7 35.2 95.4 5.2 M M
29000 -36.8 -34.2 025 21 11 8.6 4.7 34.8 94.6 4.9 M M
28000 -34.2 -29.6 030 20 10 8.6 4.7 34.4 94.0 4.7 M M
27000 -31.7 -25.1 030 19 10 8.0 4.4 33.8 92.8 4.3 M M
26000 -29.3 -20.7 030 18 9 8.0 4.4 33.1 91.6 3.8 M M
25000 -26.9 -16.4 035 17 9 8.0 4.4 32.5 90.6 3.4 M M
24000 -24.6 -12.3 035 16 8 7.6 4.2 31.8 89.3 2.8 M M
23000 -22.3 -8.1 035 15 8 7.6 4.1 31.0 87.7 2.2 M M
22000 -19.4 -2.9 035 14 7 7.6 4.2 30.1 86.1 1.4 M M
21000 -17.1 1.2 030 13 7 7.8 4.3 29.3 84.7 0.8 M M
20000 -14.8 5.4 030 13 6 7.8 4.3 28.6 83.4 0.2 M M
19500 -13.6 7.5 030 12 6 7.9 4.3 28.3 82.9 -0.1 1225 6.2
19000 -12.6 9.3 025 12 6 6.4 3.5 27.8 82.1 -0.5 1178 6.0
18500 -11.6 11.1 025 11 6 6.5 3.6 27.3 81.1 -1.0 1134 5.8
18000 -10.6 12.9 025 10 5 6.2 3.4 26.7 80.1 -1.4 1090 5.5
17500 -9.7 14.5 020 9 5 6.0 3.3 26.1 78.9 -2.1 1049 5.3
17000 -8.9 16.0 020 9 5 6.0 3.3 25.4 77.8 -2.7 1008 5.1
16500 -7.9 17.8 015 8 4 7.1 3.9 24.9 76.8 -3.2 965 4.9
16000 -6.9 19.6 005 8 4 7.0 3.8 24.4 76.0 -3.7 919 4.7
15500 -5.8 21.6 360 8 4 8.1 4.4 24.1 75.3 -4.1 873 4.4
15000 -4.6 23.7 360 8 4 8.2 4.5 23.8 74.8 -4.4 822 4.2
14500 -3.5 25.7 355 7 4 8.4 4.6 23.6 74.4 -4.7 772 3.9
14000 -2.2 28.0 360 7 3 8.6 4.7 23.3 74.0 -4.9 719 3.7
13500 -1.0 30.2 360 6 3 8.7 4.8 23.2 73.7 -5.2 667 3.4
13000 0.3 32.5 360 6 3 8.8 4.8 23.0 73.4 -5.4 614 3.1
12500 1.6 34.9 360 5 3 8.6 4.7 22.9 73.1 -5.6 560 2.8
12000 2.8 37.0 360 4 2 8.1 4.4 22.6 72.7 -5.9 510 2.6
11500 4.0 39.2 360 3 2 7.9 4.3 22.3 72.2 -6.2 460 2.3
11000 5.0 41.0 360 1 1 7.2 3.9 22.0 71.6 -6.6 413 2.1
10500 6.1 43.0 000 0 0 5.8 3.2 21.6 70.9 -7.1 367 1.9
10250 6.4 43.5 175 1 0 5.4 3.0 21.2 70.2 -7.5 349 1.8
10000 6.9 44.4 170 2 1 7.1 3.9 21.0 69.7 -7.8 327 1.7
9750 7.4 45.3 170 3 1 6.8 3.7 20.7 69.3 -8.0 305 1.6
9500 7.9 46.2 170 3 2 6.2 3.4 20.5 68.9 -8.3 283 1.4
9250 8.3 46.9 165 4 2 5.6 3.1 20.2 68.3 -8.6 263 1.3
9000 8.7 47.7 165 5 3 5.9 3.2 19.9 67.8 -8.9 243 1.2
8750 9.2 48.6 160 6 3 6.1 3.3 19.6 67.2 -9.3 223 1.1
8500 9.6 49.3 160 6 3 4.7 2.6 19.3 66.7 -9.6 203 1.0
8250 9.8 49.6 160 7 4 3.6 2.0 18.8 65.8 -10.1 188 1.0
8000 10.1 50.2 160 8 4 4.1 2.3 18.4 65.0 -10.6 172 0.9
7750 10.4 50.7 155 8 4 4.0 2.2 17.9 64.3 -11.1 157 0.8
7500 10.7 51.3 155 9 5 3.9 2.1 17.5 63.5 -11.6 141 0.7
7250 10.9 51.6 155 9 5 3.8 2.1 17.0 62.6 -12.0 126 0.6
7000 11.2 52.2 150 9 5 3.3 1.8 16.6 61.8 -12.6 111 0.6
6750 11.3 52.3 150 10 5 0.3 0.2 16.0 60.7 -13.2 99 0.5
6500 11.2 52.2 145 9 5 -1.8 -1.0 15.1 59.2 -14.1 95 0.5
6250 11.1 52.0 145 9 4 -1.1 -0.6 14.3 57.7 -14.9 91 0.5
6000 11.0 51.8 140 8 4 -1.9 -1.0 13.5 56.2 -15.8 87 0.4
5750 10.6 51.1 135 7 4 -11.0 -6.0 12.3 54.2 -17.0 92 0.5
5500 M M M M M M M M M M M M
5250 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
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/09/2025 at 0900 MDT | 05/09/2025 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +1.4 LI... -0.2 | CAPE... +114.6 LI... -0.2
CINH... -1.4 K Index... +24.7 | CINH... -9.9 K Index... +22.7
|
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 -61.3 -78.3 285 29 15 2.7 1.5 | -60.8 -77.4 290 29 15 2.5 1.4
45000 -57.8 -72.0 285 35 18 0.1 0.1 | -57.5 -71.5 290 37 19 0.4 0.2
40000 -57.6 -71.7 305 32 17 0.7 0.4 | -56.9 -70.4 305 31 16 0.6 0.3
38000 -54.8 -66.6 310 35 18 5.0 2.7 | -54.9 -66.8 315 31 16 3.5 1.9
36000 -51.9 -61.4 310 37 19 5.0 2.7 | -52.8 -63.0 320 31 16 3.5 1.9
34000 -48.4 -55.1 315 36 19 6.3 3.4 | -49.5 -57.1 330 31 16 7.0 3.8
32000 -44.7 -48.5 325 32 16 6.3 3.4 | -45.3 -49.5 335 29 15 7.0 3.8
30000 -40.3 -40.5 330 29 15 8.1 4.5 | -40.7 -41.3 340 26 13 8.3 4.6
29000 -37.9 -36.2 330 27 14 8.1 4.5 | -38.2 -36.8 345 24 12 8.3 4.6
28000 -35.4 -31.7 335 26 13 8.1 4.5 | -35.7 -32.3 355 22 11 8.3 4.6
27000 -33.0 -27.4 335 24 12 7.9 4.3 | -33.2 -27.8 360 21 11 8.3 4.6
26000 -30.6 -23.1 335 23 12 7.9 4.3 | -30.1 -22.2 005 21 11 8.3 4.6
25000 -27.7 -17.9 340 21 11 8.0 4.4 | -27.6 -17.7 010 20 10 8.4 4.6
24000 -25.5 -13.9 340 19 10 7.1 3.9 | -25.2 -13.4 010 19 10 7.5 4.1
23000 -23.3 -9.9 350 18 9 7.1 3.9 | -23.0 -9.4 010 18 9 7.5 4.1
22000 -21.2 -6.2 355 16 8 7.2 3.9 | -20.7 -5.3 015 16 8 7.5 4.1
21000 -19.1 -2.4 355 16 8 7.2 3.9 | -18.5 -1.3 015 15 8 7.5 4.1
20000 -17.0 1.4 355 16 8 7.2 4.0 | -16.2 2.8 015 14 7 7.6 4.1
19500 -15.9 3.4 355 16 8 7.3 4.0 | -15.1 4.8 015 14 7 7.7 4.2
19000 -14.9 5.2 355 16 8 6.2 3.4 | -14.1 6.6 015 13 7 5.9 3.2
18500 -14.0 6.8 355 15 8 6.2 3.4 | -13.2 8.2 010 13 7 5.9 3.2
18000 -13.1 8.4 350 15 8 6.5 3.6 | -12.4 9.7 010 13 7 6.0 3.3
17500 -12.1 10.2 350 14 7 7.2 3.9 | -11.5 11.3 010 13 7 6.1 3.4
17000 -11.1 12.0 350 14 7 7.1 3.9 | -10.6 12.9 005 13 7 6.0 3.3
16500 -10.0 14.0 350 13 7 8.2 4.5 | -9.7 14.5 005 13 7 7.9 4.3
16000 -8.8 16.2 355 13 6 8.2 4.5 | -8.5 16.7 005 13 7 7.7 4.2
15500 -7.6 18.3 355 12 6 8.4 4.6 | -7.4 18.7 005 13 7 8.2 4.5
15000 -6.4 20.5 005 12 6 8.5 4.7 | -6.2 20.8 005 12 6 8.3 4.6
14500 -5.1 22.8 010 12 6 8.5 4.7 | -5.0 23.0 010 12 6 8.6 4.7
14000 -3.9 25.0 015 12 6 8.5 4.7 | -3.7 25.3 015 11 6 8.8 4.8
13500 -2.6 27.3 020 13 6 8.6 4.7 | -2.5 27.5 015 11 6 8.9 4.9
13000 -1.3 29.7 025 13 7 8.6 4.7 | -1.1 30.0 020 11 5 9.0 4.9
12500 -0.1 31.8 030 13 7 8.7 4.8 | 0.2 32.4 025 10 5 9.1 5.0
12000 1.3 34.3 030 13 7 9.1 5.0 | 1.6 34.9 025 10 5 9.5 5.2
11500 2.6 36.7 030 13 7 9.0 4.9 | 3.0 37.4 030 10 5 9.5 5.2
11000 3.9 39.0 030 12 6 8.6 4.7 | 4.4 39.9 030 10 5 9.4 5.2
10500 5.2 41.4 030 12 6 8.2 4.5 | 5.8 42.4 030 9 5 8.7 4.8
10250 5.7 42.3 030 11 6 7.2 3.9 | 6.4 43.5 035 9 5 8.2 4.5
10000 6.3 43.3 035 11 6 7.7 4.2 | 7.1 44.8 035 9 5 9.6 5.3
9750 6.9 44.4 035 10 5 8.6 4.7 | 7.8 46.0 035 9 4 10.4 5.7
9500 7.5 45.5 035 9 5 7.7 4.2 | 8.6 47.5 035 8 4 9.7 5.3
9250 8.0 46.4 035 8 4 6.6 3.6 | 9.3 48.7 035 8 4 8.9 4.9
9000 8.5 47.3 035 7 4 6.4 3.5 | 9.9 49.8 040 8 4 8.9 4.9
8750 9.0 48.2 035 7 3 6.5 3.6 | 10.6 51.1 035 7 4 9.3 5.1
8500 9.9 49.8 040 5 2 5.1 2.8 | 11.8 53.2 035 6 3 6.7 3.7
8250 10.2 50.4 045 4 2 5.5 3.0 | 12.3 54.1 040 5 2 8.2 4.5
8000 10.7 51.3 055 3 2 6.1 3.4 | 13.0 55.4 040 4 2 10.3 5.7
7750 11.1 52.0 065 3 2 5.6 3.1 | 13.8 56.8 035 4 2 9.4 5.1
7500 11.5 52.7 080 3 1 4.9 2.7 | 14.4 57.9 040 4 2 7.9 4.3
7250 11.8 53.2 095 3 1 5.4 2.9 | 15.0 59.0 040 3 2 9.2 5.1
7000 12.3 54.1 105 3 1 8.1 4.4 | 15.8 60.4 040 3 2 11.6 6.3
6750 13.0 55.4 100 3 1 8.6 4.7 | 16.6 61.9 035 3 1 10.9 6.0
6500 13.6 56.5 105 3 1 8.2 4.5 | 17.4 63.3 035 3 1 10.0 5.5
6250 14.1 57.4 110 3 2 6.0 3.3 | 18.1 64.6 035 2 1 9.2 5.1
6000 14.6 58.3 115 3 2 9.4 5.2 | 19.0 66.2 050 2 1 15.5 8.5
5750 15.8 60.4 115 3 2 22.6 12.4 | 20.6 69.1 050 1 1 29.3 16.1
5500 17.0 62.6 115 3 2 -3.0 -1.6 | 22.3 72.1 050 1 1 3.8 2.1
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
05/09/2025 at 1500 MDT | 05/09/2025 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +249.0 LI... -1.0 | CAPE... +205.1 LI... -0.7
CINH... -8.4 K Index... +24.2 | CINH... -14.1 K Index... +23.3
|
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 -60.5 -76.9 290 31 16 2.5 1.4 | -61.1 -78.0 295 32 16 2.5 1.4
45000 -57.1 -70.8 295 38 20 -0.1 -0.0 | -57.8 -72.0 305 38 20 0.2 0.1
40000 -57.2 -71.0 310 34 17 -0.0 -0.0 | -57.6 -71.7 325 36 19 0.6 0.3
38000 -55.3 -67.5 320 33 17 3.5 1.9 | -55.2 -67.4 330 34 18 4.3 2.4
36000 -53.2 -63.8 325 32 17 3.5 1.9 | -52.6 -62.7 340 33 17 4.3 2.4
34000 -50.0 -58.0 330 30 16 7.0 3.9 | -49.4 -56.9 345 30 16 6.3 3.4
32000 -45.7 -50.3 335 26 13 7.0 3.9 | -45.6 -50.1 345 25 13 6.3 3.4
30000 -41.1 -42.0 340 21 11 8.3 4.6 | -41.1 -42.0 345 20 11 8.5 4.7
29000 -38.6 -37.5 345 19 10 8.3 4.6 | -38.5 -37.3 345 18 9 8.5 4.7
28000 -36.1 -33.0 350 16 8 8.3 4.6 | -36.0 -32.8 345 16 8 8.5 4.7
27000 -32.9 -27.2 355 15 8 8.5 4.7 | -33.4 -28.1 350 15 8 8.6 4.7
26000 -30.3 -22.5 005 15 7 8.5 4.7 | -30.2 -22.4 355 14 7 8.6 4.7
25000 -27.8 -18.0 010 15 8 8.5 4.7 | -27.6 -17.7 360 14 7 8.6 4.7
24000 -25.3 -13.5 015 15 8 8.4 4.6 | -25.1 -13.2 005 13 7 8.5 4.7
23000 -22.8 -9.0 020 15 8 8.4 4.6 | -22.5 -8.5 010 13 7 8.5 4.7
22000 -20.2 -4.4 020 15 8 8.3 4.6 | -20.0 -4.0 020 13 7 8.4 4.6
21000 -18.1 -0.6 025 14 7 6.9 3.8 | -17.8 -0.0 020 13 6 7.0 3.9
20000 -16.1 3.0 025 12 6 7.1 3.9 | -15.7 3.7 025 11 6 7.2 3.9
19500 -15.0 5.0 025 12 6 7.2 4.0 | -14.7 5.5 025 11 6 7.3 4.0
19000 -14.0 6.8 030 11 6 6.8 3.7 | -13.7 7.3 025 10 5 7.5 4.1
18500 -13.0 8.6 030 11 6 6.9 3.8 | -12.6 9.3 025 10 5 7.5 4.1
18000 -12.1 10.2 030 11 6 7.3 4.0 | -11.5 11.3 025 10 5 7.9 4.3
17500 -10.9 12.4 030 12 6 8.1 4.4 | -10.3 13.5 020 11 6 8.4 4.6
17000 -9.7 14.5 035 12 6 8.1 4.4 | -9.0 15.8 020 11 6 8.4 4.6
16500 -8.5 16.7 035 12 6 8.4 4.6 | -7.8 18.0 020 11 6 8.9 4.9
16000 -7.3 18.9 030 12 6 8.4 4.6 | -6.5 20.3 020 12 6 8.8 4.8
15500 -6.1 21.0 030 12 6 8.7 4.8 | -5.2 22.6 020 12 6 9.2 5.0
15000 -4.8 23.4 030 12 6 8.8 4.8 | -3.8 25.2 020 12 6 9.3 5.1
14500 -3.5 25.7 030 12 6 8.9 4.9 | -2.5 27.5 020 12 6 9.2 5.0
14000 -2.2 28.0 030 11 6 9.0 4.9 | -1.1 30.0 020 12 6 9.1 5.0
13500 -0.8 30.6 025 11 6 9.0 4.9 | 0.2 32.4 020 11 6 9.1 5.0
13000 0.5 32.9 025 10 5 8.9 4.9 | 1.6 34.9 020 11 6 9.3 5.1
12500 1.8 35.2 025 9 5 9.0 4.9 | 3.0 37.4 020 11 5 9.4 5.1
12000 3.2 37.8 025 9 5 9.2 5.0 | 4.4 39.9 020 10 5 9.7 5.3
11500 4.5 40.1 020 8 4 9.2 5.0 | 5.9 42.6 020 10 5 9.6 5.3
11000 5.9 42.6 020 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 7.3 45.1 015 9 5 9.1 5.0
10500 7.3 45.1 015 7 4 9.0 4.9 | 8.6 47.5 015 9 4 8.1 4.5
10250 8.0 46.4 015 7 4 9.1 5.0 | 9.2 48.6 015 8 4 8.0 4.4
10000 8.7 47.7 015 7 3 10.0 5.5 | 9.9 49.8 015 8 4 10.0 5.5
9750 9.4 48.9 010 7 3 10.2 5.6 | 10.6 51.1 015 7 4 10.2 5.6
9500 10.2 50.4 010 6 3 10.2 5.6 | 11.4 52.5 010 7 4 10.1 5.5
9250 11.0 51.8 005 6 3 10.5 5.7 | 12.1 53.8 010 7 3 9.8 5.4
9000 12.4 54.3 360 6 3 9.2 5.1 | 13.5 56.3 010 6 3 9.1 5.0
8750 13.1 55.6 360 6 3 9.3 5.1 | 14.2 57.6 005 6 3 9.0 4.9
8500 13.8 56.8 355 5 3 8.9 4.9 | 14.8 58.6 005 6 3 8.3 4.5
8250 14.5 58.1 355 5 3 9.7 5.3 | 15.5 59.9 360 5 3 9.1 5.0
8000 15.3 59.5 350 5 3 11.1 6.1 | 16.2 61.2 360 5 3 10.9 6.0
7750 16.1 61.0 350 5 3 9.9 5.4 | 17.0 62.6 360 5 3 9.7 5.3
7500 16.7 62.1 345 5 3 8.4 4.6 | 17.7 63.9 355 5 2 8.2 4.5
7250 17.4 63.3 340 5 2 9.4 5.2 | 18.3 64.9 350 4 2 9.1 5.0
7000 18.2 64.8 340 5 2 11.3 6.2 | 19.1 66.4 350 4 2 11.3 6.2
6750 19.0 66.2 340 5 2 10.9 6.0 | 19.9 67.8 355 4 2 11.0 6.1
6500 19.8 67.6 335 5 2 10.1 5.5 | 20.7 69.3 345 4 2 10.1 5.5
6250 20.5 68.9 330 4 2 9.1 5.0 | 21.5 70.7 340 4 2 9.3 5.1
6000 21.3 70.3 340 4 2 14.9 8.2 | 22.2 72.0 340 3 2 11.6 6.4
5750 22.9 73.2 330 4 2 28.4 15.6 | 23.3 73.9 340 3 2 19.7 10.8
5500 24.6 76.3 325 4 2 3.3 1.8 | 24.6 76.3 335 3 2 9.5 5.2
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.
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