Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
345 UXUS97 KGJT 231307 SRGGJT Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado 707 AM MDT Sunday, June 23, 2024 This forecast is for Sunday, June 23, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 84.8 F/29.4 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1477 ft/min (7.5 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 18761 ft MSL (13922 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 96.0 F/36.0 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 1030 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................. 12971 ft MSL (8131 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 06/24....... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:49:05 / 20:44:01 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 54 min 56 sec (894 min 56 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:16:33 MDT... 73.90 degrees Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 06/23/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 15968 ft MSL (11129 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 15331 ft MSL (10492 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 16370 ft MSL (11531 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -2.4 K index......................... +26.2 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 -64.8 -84.6 265 53 27 2.8 1.5 85.0 185.0 28.8 M M 45000 -57.2 -71.0 260 56 29 6.5 3.6 73.3 163.9 23.5 M M 40000 -49.5 -57.1 255 65 33 5.9 3.3 61.5 142.7 17.4 M M 38000 -45.4 -49.7 255 63 32 6.9 3.8 58.9 138.0 16.0 M M 36000 -42.1 -43.8 260 50 26 5.1 2.8 55.2 131.4 13.8 M M 34000 -38.5 -37.3 260 40 21 5.5 3.0 52.2 126.0 12.0 M M 32000 -34.2 -29.6 265 33 17 6.7 3.7 50.1 122.2 10.8 M M 30000 -29.5 -21.1 240 15 8 8.0 4.4 47.6 117.7 9.2 M M 29000 -27.2 -17.0 210 9 5 7.6 4.2 46.8 116.2 8.6 M M 28000 -24.9 -12.8 195 10 5 9.1 5.0 46.0 114.8 8.1 M M 27000 -22.1 -7.8 205 11 6 8.5 4.6 45.9 114.6 8.1 M M 26000 -19.5 -3.1 185 10 5 8.7 4.8 45.4 113.8 7.9 M M 25000 -17.1 1.2 220 10 5 7.9 4.3 44.8 112.6 7.4 M M 24000 -15.0 5.0 235 9 5 6.8 3.7 43.9 111.0 6.7 M M 23000 -12.9 8.8 270 7 4 7.9 4.3 42.8 109.1 6.0 M M 22000 -10.5 13.1 260 6 3 8.4 4.6 42.2 107.9 5.5 M M 21000 -8.4 16.9 300 7 3 2.5 1.4 41.1 106.0 4.7 M M 20000 -8.2 17.2 275 17 9 -3.5 -1.9 38.1 100.7 2.1 M M 19500 -8.1 17.4 270 16 8 5.9 3.2 36.7 98.0 0.7 M M 19000 -7.1 19.2 290 12 6 7.9 4.4 36.1 97.0 0.3 M M 18500 -6.2 20.8 295 12 6 2.5 1.4 35.4 95.8 -0.3 1265 6.4 18000 -5.7 21.7 290 16 8 6.7 3.7 34.5 94.1 -1.3 1235 6.3 17500 -4.7 23.5 300 16 8 9.2 5.0 34.1 93.3 -1.8 1192 6.1 17000 -3.3 26.1 315 17 9 9.6 5.3 34.1 93.3 -1.8 1134 5.8 16500 -1.2 29.8 315 14 7 9.4 5.1 34.0 93.2 -1.9 1049 5.3 16000 0.2 32.4 320 11 6 9.4 5.2 33.9 93.1 -2.0 991 5.0 15500 1.6 34.9 315 7 3 9.1 5.0 33.9 92.9 -2.1 936 4.8 15000 2.9 37.2 290 2 1 9.2 5.1 33.7 92.7 -2.3 883 4.5 14500 4.2 39.6 310 3 1 9.5 5.2 33.7 92.7 -2.4 828 4.2 14000 5.6 42.1 245 4 2 9.5 5.2 33.7 92.6 -2.5 771 3.9 13500 7.0 44.6 240 4 2 9.1 5.0 33.6 92.5 -2.5 715 3.6 13000 8.0 46.4 255 6 3 6.5 3.6 33.2 91.8 -3.0 671 3.4 12500 8.8 47.8 255 8 4 5.8 3.2 32.8 91.0 -3.7 632 3.2 12000 9.8 49.6 250 10 5 9.9 5.4 32.4 90.3 -4.1 585 3.0 11500 11.2 52.2 250 10 5 9.5 5.2 32.4 90.2 -4.3 530 2.7 11000 12.5 54.5 265 12 6 8.3 4.6 32.2 90.0 -4.5 477 2.4 10500 13.6 56.5 265 13 7 7.7 4.2 32.0 89.6 -4.8 428 2.2 10250 14.1 57.4 260 15 8 7.2 3.9 31.8 89.2 -5.0 405 2.1 10000 14.7 58.5 260 17 9 7.7 4.2 31.6 88.9 -5.2 382 1.9 9750 15.2 59.4 255 15 8 7.8 4.3 31.5 88.7 -5.4 357 1.8 9500 15.8 60.4 255 15 8 7.8 4.3 31.3 88.4 -5.5 332 1.7 9250 16.4 61.5 260 14 7 7.8 4.3 31.2 88.1 -5.7 308 1.6 9000 17.0 62.6 260 14 7 7.7 4.2 31.0 87.8 -5.8 283 1.4 8750 17.6 63.7 260 13 7 8.3 4.5 30.9 87.6 -6.0 258 1.3 8500 18.1 64.6 255 11 6 6.1 3.3 30.7 87.3 -6.2 233 1.2 8250 18.5 65.3 245 8 4 3.6 2.0 30.3 86.5 -6.6 215 1.1 8000 18.8 65.8 230 6 3 4.0 2.2 29.8 85.7 -7.0 198 1.0 7750 19.2 66.6 210 7 4 3.9 2.1 29.4 84.9 -7.4 181 0.9 7500 19.5 67.1 180 10 5 3.9 2.2 28.9 84.1 -7.8 163 0.8 7250 19.8 67.6 170 14 7 3.9 2.1 28.5 83.3 -8.2 146 0.7 7000 20.1 68.2 160 18 9 4.1 2.2 28.1 82.5 -8.6 129 0.7 6750 20.4 68.7 155 19 10 3.4 1.9 27.6 81.7 -9.1 112 0.6 6500 20.4 68.7 150 18 9 -5.4 -3.0 26.9 80.4 -9.9 106 0.5 6250 20.0 68.0 145 14 7 -0.4 -0.2 25.7 78.2 -11.0 112 0.6 6000 20.4 68.7 130 11 6 9.5 5.2 25.5 77.9 -11.3 90 0.5 5750 20.9 69.6 120 9 5 5.6 3.1 25.3 77.5 -11.6 69 0.3 5500 21.1 70.0 120 9 4 -0.1 -0.0 24.8 76.6 -12.2 56 0.3 5250 20.9 69.6 130 11 6 -2.8 -1.6 23.9 75.0 -13.2 55 0.3 5000 20.6 69.1 135 13 7 -3.7 -2.0 23.0 73.3 -14.1 55 0.3 * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 06/23/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/23/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +71.7 LI... -2.3 | CAPE... +552.4 LI... -3.4 CINH... -100.2 K Index... +25.9 | CINH... -16.9 K Index... +26.4 | 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 -63.1 -81.6 270 43 22 3.5 1.9 | -62.8 -81.0 270 40 21 3.2 1.8 45000 -56.9 -70.4 260 53 27 5.4 2.9 | -56.8 -70.2 265 53 27 5.4 3.0 40000 -48.4 -55.1 255 56 29 5.3 2.9 | -48.3 -54.9 255 55 28 5.2 2.9 38000 -45.2 -49.4 255 50 26 5.3 2.9 | -45.2 -49.4 255 50 26 5.2 2.9 36000 -42.0 -43.6 255 45 23 5.8 3.2 | -42.0 -43.6 255 45 23 5.8 3.2 34000 -38.1 -36.6 255 35 18 6.5 3.6 | -38.1 -36.6 250 38 20 6.6 3.6 32000 -34.2 -29.6 255 26 13 6.6 3.6 | -34.1 -29.4 250 31 16 6.6 3.6 30000 -29.9 -21.8 250 21 11 7.2 4.0 | -29.7 -21.5 245 27 14 7.3 4.0 29000 -27.8 -18.0 250 20 10 7.2 4.0 | -27.5 -17.5 245 25 13 7.3 4.0 28000 -25.6 -14.1 250 18 9 7.6 4.1 | -25.3 -13.5 245 23 12 7.2 3.9 27000 -23.3 -9.9 250 17 9 7.6 4.2 | -23.2 -9.8 245 21 11 7.2 3.9 26000 -21.0 -5.8 250 16 8 7.6 4.2 | -21.0 -5.8 250 18 9 7.2 3.9 25000 -18.2 -0.8 250 14 7 7.5 4.1 | -18.4 -1.1 250 16 8 7.2 3.9 24000 -16.0 3.2 250 14 7 7.5 4.1 | -16.2 2.8 250 16 8 7.2 3.9 23000 -13.7 7.3 250 13 7 7.5 4.1 | -14.1 6.6 255 17 9 7.2 4.0 22000 -11.6 11.1 250 12 6 5.0 2.7 | -12.0 10.4 255 17 9 5.2 2.8 21000 -10.3 13.5 255 12 6 4.7 2.6 | -10.6 12.9 255 16 8 5.0 2.7 20000 -8.9 16.0 255 11 6 4.9 2.7 | -9.2 15.4 255 15 8 5.2 2.9 19500 -8.3 17.1 260 11 6 5.5 3.0 | -8.5 16.7 255 15 8 6.0 3.3 19000 -7.3 18.9 265 11 6 6.5 3.6 | -7.5 18.5 255 14 7 7.5 4.1 18500 -6.4 20.5 270 11 5 6.5 3.6 | -6.5 20.3 260 12 6 7.5 4.1 18000 -5.4 22.3 275 10 5 7.6 4.1 | -5.4 22.3 260 11 6 8.1 4.4 17500 -4.3 24.3 275 10 5 7.6 4.2 | -4.2 24.4 260 10 5 8.1 4.5 17000 -3.2 26.2 280 10 5 8.1 4.4 | -3.0 26.6 265 9 5 8.4 4.6 16500 -1.9 28.6 280 10 5 8.7 4.8 | -1.7 28.9 270 8 4 8.8 4.8 16000 -0.6 30.9 285 10 5 8.8 4.8 | -0.5 31.1 270 8 4 8.8 4.8 15500 0.6 33.1 280 10 5 8.8 4.8 | 0.8 33.4 270 8 4 8.9 4.9 15000 1.9 35.4 280 10 5 8.8 4.8 | 2.1 35.8 270 7 4 8.9 4.9 14500 3.2 37.8 275 10 5 9.0 5.0 | 3.4 38.1 270 7 4 9.0 4.9 14000 4.5 40.1 270 10 5 9.1 5.0 | 4.8 40.6 270 7 4 9.0 4.9 13500 5.8 42.4 265 11 5 8.8 4.9 | 6.1 43.0 270 8 4 9.0 4.9 13000 7.0 44.6 260 11 6 8.7 4.8 | 7.4 45.3 265 8 4 8.9 4.9 12500 8.3 46.9 260 12 6 8.7 4.7 | 8.7 47.7 265 8 4 9.0 4.9 12000 9.5 49.1 255 12 6 8.6 4.7 | 10.0 50.0 265 8 4 9.0 4.9 11500 10.7 51.3 255 13 7 8.5 4.7 | 11.3 52.3 260 9 4 8.9 4.9 11000 11.9 53.4 255 12 6 8.1 4.5 | 12.6 54.7 260 8 4 8.6 4.7 10500 13.1 55.6 250 12 6 6.2 3.4 | 13.8 56.8 255 8 4 6.1 3.4 10250 13.5 56.3 250 12 6 6.5 3.6 | 14.2 57.6 255 8 4 6.8 3.7 10000 14.1 57.4 250 11 6 9.4 5.2 | 14.9 58.8 250 8 4 10.6 5.8 9750 14.8 58.6 250 11 5 8.8 4.8 | 15.6 60.1 250 7 4 9.8 5.4 9500 15.4 59.7 245 10 5 8.3 4.5 | 16.3 61.3 245 7 3 9.1 5.0 9250 15.9 60.6 245 9 5 6.8 3.7 | 16.9 62.4 245 6 3 7.8 4.3 9000 16.4 61.5 240 9 4 6.3 3.5 | 18.1 64.6 240 5 3 9.6 5.3 8750 17.4 63.3 225 7 4 6.0 3.3 | 18.8 65.8 235 5 2 8.5 4.7 8500 17.8 64.0 220 6 3 5.3 2.9 | 19.3 66.7 230 4 2 6.0 3.3 8250 18.2 64.8 210 6 3 5.3 2.9 | 19.8 67.6 225 4 2 8.6 4.7 8000 18.6 65.5 195 6 3 5.6 3.1 | 20.6 69.1 225 4 2 12.4 6.8 7750 19.0 66.2 180 6 3 4.7 2.6 | 21.5 70.7 220 4 2 9.8 5.4 7500 19.3 66.7 170 6 3 3.5 1.9 | 22.1 71.8 220 3 2 7.3 4.0 7250 19.5 67.1 165 7 3 4.5 2.5 | 22.6 72.7 215 3 2 9.0 5.0 7000 20.0 68.0 160 7 4 7.4 4.0 | 23.5 74.3 215 3 2 12.6 6.9 6750 20.5 68.9 155 7 4 7.4 4.1 | 24.4 75.9 215 3 2 11.7 6.4 6500 21.0 69.8 150 7 4 6.3 3.5 | 25.2 77.4 210 3 1 10.1 5.5 6250 21.5 70.7 145 8 4 5.8 3.2 | 25.9 78.6 205 3 1 9.1 5.0 6000 22.0 71.6 140 7 4 10.8 5.9 | 26.7 80.1 205 3 1 13.7 7.5 5750 23.2 73.8 140 6 3 21.7 11.9 | 28.2 82.8 210 2 1 28.5 15.6 5500 24.5 76.1 135 7 3 2.9 1.6 | 30.2 86.4 200 2 1 17.0 9.3 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 06/23/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/23/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +386.9 LI... -1.8 | CAPE... +165.7 LI... -0.8 CINH... -9.8 K Index... +23.8 | CINH... -12.9 K Index... +23.8 | 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 -81.4 265 38 20 3.4 1.8 | -63.4 -82.1 260 36 18 3.7 2.0 45000 -56.7 -70.1 265 52 27 5.7 3.1 | -56.7 -70.1 265 48 25 5.8 3.2 40000 -47.8 -54.0 260 57 29 5.4 2.9 | -47.6 -53.7 260 54 28 5.8 3.2 38000 -44.6 -48.3 255 53 27 5.4 2.9 | -44.1 -47.4 260 53 27 5.8 3.2 36000 -41.3 -42.3 255 50 26 5.7 3.1 | -40.6 -41.1 260 52 27 5.8 3.2 34000 -37.6 -35.7 255 43 22 6.2 3.4 | -37.2 -35.0 260 43 22 5.7 3.1 32000 -33.8 -28.8 250 35 18 6.2 3.4 | -33.8 -28.8 255 34 17 5.8 3.2 30000 -29.4 -20.9 250 31 16 7.5 4.1 | -29.4 -20.9 255 30 15 7.5 4.1 29000 -27.2 -17.0 250 30 15 7.5 4.1 | -27.1 -16.8 255 29 15 7.5 4.1 28000 -24.9 -12.8 250 28 14 7.0 3.9 | -24.9 -12.8 255 27 14 7.0 3.8 27000 -22.3 -8.1 250 25 13 6.9 3.8 | -22.8 -9.0 255 25 13 6.9 3.8 26000 -20.3 -4.5 250 23 12 6.9 3.8 | -20.2 -4.4 255 23 12 6.9 3.8 25000 -18.2 -0.8 250 21 11 6.7 3.7 | -18.2 -0.8 255 21 11 6.6 3.6 24000 -16.2 2.8 250 19 10 6.6 3.6 | -16.2 2.8 255 19 10 6.5 3.6 23000 -14.3 6.3 255 18 9 6.6 3.6 | -14.3 6.3 260 18 9 6.6 3.6 22000 -12.3 9.9 255 17 9 6.6 3.6 | -12.3 9.9 260 16 8 6.9 3.8 21000 -10.4 13.3 255 16 8 6.6 3.6 | -10.3 13.5 260 15 8 7.1 3.9 20000 -8.5 16.7 260 15 8 6.7 3.7 | -8.2 17.2 260 14 7 7.2 4.0 19500 -7.5 18.5 260 15 8 6.9 3.8 | -7.2 19.0 260 14 7 7.4 4.1 19000 -6.5 20.3 260 15 8 7.0 3.8 | -6.1 21.0 260 14 7 7.6 4.2 18500 -5.5 22.1 260 14 7 6.9 3.8 | -5.0 23.0 260 14 7 7.7 4.2 18000 -4.4 24.1 260 14 7 8.3 4.6 | -3.9 25.0 260 14 7 8.5 4.6 17500 -3.2 26.2 265 13 7 8.4 4.6 | -2.7 27.1 260 14 7 8.6 4.7 17000 -2.0 28.4 265 13 6 8.5 4.7 | -1.4 29.5 260 14 7 8.7 4.8 16500 -0.7 30.7 265 12 6 8.7 4.8 | -0.1 31.8 255 14 7 9.1 5.0 16000 0.5 32.9 265 11 6 8.7 4.8 | 1.2 34.2 255 13 7 9.1 5.0 15500 1.8 35.2 265 11 6 9.3 5.1 | 2.6 36.7 255 13 7 9.3 5.1 15000 3.2 37.8 265 10 5 9.3 5.1 | 4.0 39.2 255 13 7 9.3 5.1 14500 4.6 40.3 265 10 5 9.4 5.2 | 5.3 41.5 255 13 7 9.3 5.1 14000 6.0 42.8 265 9 5 9.5 5.2 | 6.7 44.1 255 12 6 9.4 5.1 13500 7.4 45.3 265 9 4 9.4 5.2 | 8.1 46.6 255 12 6 9.4 5.2 13000 8.8 47.8 265 8 4 9.4 5.2 | 9.5 49.1 255 12 6 9.5 5.2 12500 10.2 50.4 260 8 4 9.4 5.2 | 10.9 51.6 255 11 6 9.5 5.2 12000 11.5 52.7 260 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 12.3 54.1 255 11 6 9.5 5.2 11500 12.9 55.2 260 8 4 9.2 5.1 | 13.7 56.7 255 10 5 9.3 5.1 11000 14.2 57.6 260 8 4 8.7 4.8 | 15.0 59.0 255 10 5 8.5 4.6 10500 15.5 59.9 260 7 4 10.4 5.7 | 16.3 61.3 260 10 5 11.2 6.1 10250 16.3 61.3 255 7 4 10.8 5.9 | 17.2 63.0 260 9 5 11.8 6.5 10000 17.0 62.6 255 7 4 8.8 4.8 | 17.9 64.2 260 9 5 8.7 4.8 9750 17.7 63.9 255 7 4 9.3 5.1 | 18.6 65.5 260 9 5 9.6 5.3 9500 18.4 65.1 255 7 4 9.3 5.1 | 19.3 66.7 260 9 4 9.2 5.1 9250 19.7 67.5 255 7 3 9.2 5.0 | 20.0 68.0 260 9 5 9.2 5.0 9000 20.4 68.7 255 7 3 9.1 5.0 | 20.7 69.3 260 9 5 9.3 5.1 8750 21.0 69.8 255 7 3 9.1 5.0 | 22.1 71.8 260 8 4 9.3 5.1 8500 21.6 70.9 255 6 3 8.5 4.7 | 22.7 72.9 260 8 4 8.0 4.4 8250 22.3 72.1 260 6 3 9.6 5.3 | 23.3 73.9 265 9 5 9.2 5.1 8000 23.1 73.6 255 6 3 11.1 6.1 | 24.1 75.4 265 8 4 11.2 6.1 7750 23.9 75.0 255 6 3 9.9 5.4 | 24.9 76.8 260 8 4 10.0 5.5 7500 24.5 76.1 255 6 3 8.4 4.6 | 25.6 78.1 265 8 4 8.5 4.6 7250 25.2 77.4 260 6 3 9.2 5.1 | 26.2 79.2 270 9 4 8.9 4.9 7000 26.0 78.8 260 6 3 11.9 6.6 | 26.9 80.4 265 8 4 11.1 6.1 6750 26.9 80.4 255 6 3 11.6 6.4 | 27.8 82.0 265 7 4 11.0 6.1 6500 27.7 81.9 260 5 3 10.7 5.9 | 28.6 83.5 265 8 4 10.3 5.6 6250 28.5 83.3 265 5 3 10.0 5.5 | 29.3 84.7 270 8 4 10.1 5.5 6000 29.2 84.6 265 5 3 12.3 6.8 | 30.1 86.2 270 8 4 9.7 5.3 5750 30.5 86.9 255 5 3 25.1 13.8 | 30.9 87.6 265 7 3 14.7 8.1 5500 32.9 91.2 270 4 2 38.1 20.9 | 32.7 90.9 275 7 4 37.1 20.3 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