Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
120
UXUS97 KGJT 131306
SRGGJT
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
706 AM MDT Sunday, July 13, 2025
This forecast is for Sunday, July 13, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 85.5 F/29.7 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1790 ft/min (9.1 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 24169 ft MSL (18561 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 101.0 F/38.8 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1000 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................. 20266 ft MSL (14657 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 07/14....... Excellent
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:59:34 / 20:40:25 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 40 min 51 sec (880 min 51 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:19:59 MDT... 72.07 degrees
Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 07/13/2025 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 16728 ft MSL (11120 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 17660 ft MSL (12052 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 19690 ft MSL (14081 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -5.5
K index......................... +21.6
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 -63.7 -82.7 345 26 13 0.7 0.4 M M M M M
45000 -60.8 -77.4 330 27 14 4.6 2.5 M M M M M
40000 -53.6 -64.5 290 16 8 6.5 3.5 M M M M M
38000 -49.2 -56.6 270 18 9 6.5 3.6 M M M M M
36000 -45.2 -49.4 260 21 11 7.0 3.8 M M M M M
34000 -40.6 -41.1 265 16 8 7.7 4.3 M M M M M
32000 -35.9 -32.6 265 11 6 8.1 4.4 M M M M M
30000 -31.4 -24.5 285 7 4 7.6 4.2 43.0 109.5 3.6 M M
29000 -29.1 -20.4 300 5 3 7.6 4.2 42.3 108.1 3.0 M M
28000 -26.8 -16.2 320 4 2 7.7 4.2 41.5 106.8 2.5 M M
27000 -24.5 -12.1 340 3 2 7.7 4.3 40.7 105.2 1.8 M M
26000 -22.2 -8.0 005 3 2 7.8 4.3 39.9 103.9 1.2 M M
25000 -19.9 -3.8 030 3 2 7.7 4.2 39.3 102.7 0.7 M M
24000 -17.6 0.3 360 4 2 7.6 4.2 38.4 101.1 -0.1 1783 9.1
23000 -15.4 4.3 340 5 2 7.6 4.2 37.6 99.7 -0.7 1685 8.6
22000 -13.1 8.4 325 6 3 7.4 4.1 37.0 98.5 -1.3 1588 8.1
21000 -10.5 13.1 310 8 4 7.4 4.0 35.8 96.4 -2.5 1472 7.5
20000 -8.4 16.9 300 10 5 7.5 4.1 35.0 95.0 -3.3 1380 7.0
19500 -7.3 18.9 300 11 6 8.3 4.6 34.7 94.4 -3.7 1333 6.8
19000 -6.0 21.2 295 11 6 8.7 4.8 34.5 94.0 -3.9 1279 6.5
18500 -4.7 23.5 290 12 6 8.7 4.8 34.3 93.8 -4.1 1225 6.2
18000 -3.4 25.9 290 12 6 9.3 5.1 34.2 93.5 -4.2 1170 5.9
17500 -2.0 28.4 290 12 6 9.3 5.1 34.1 93.4 -4.3 1114 5.7
17000 -0.6 30.9 285 12 6 9.2 5.0 34.0 93.3 -4.4 1058 5.4
16500 0.8 33.4 285 11 6 9.1 5.0 33.9 93.0 -4.5 1002 5.1
16000 2.1 35.8 280 11 6 9.1 5.0 33.8 92.9 -4.6 946 4.8
15500 3.5 38.3 275 10 5 8.8 4.8 33.7 92.6 -4.8 892 4.5
15000 4.8 40.6 275 10 5 8.9 4.9 33.5 92.3 -5.0 838 4.3
14500 6.1 43.0 265 9 5 8.7 4.8 33.4 92.1 -5.2 784 4.0
14000 7.3 45.1 260 9 5 8.7 4.8 33.2 91.8 -5.4 730 3.7
13500 8.6 47.5 255 9 5 8.6 4.7 33.0 91.5 -5.6 677 3.4
13000 9.9 49.8 250 9 5 8.6 4.7 32.8 91.1 -5.8 625 3.2
12500 11.1 52.0 245 9 5 8.5 4.7 32.7 90.8 -6.1 573 2.9
12000 12.4 54.3 240 9 5 8.5 4.7 32.4 90.4 -6.3 520 2.6
11500 13.6 56.5 235 9 5 8.0 4.4 32.3 90.1 -6.5 468 2.4
11000 14.7 58.5 230 9 5 6.9 3.8 31.9 89.3 -7.0 421 2.1
10500 15.8 60.4 225 9 5 9.2 5.1 31.6 88.8 -7.3 372 1.9
10250 16.5 61.7 220 9 5 7.4 4.0 31.5 88.7 -7.4 346 1.8
10000 16.9 62.4 215 10 5 5.7 3.1 31.2 88.2 -7.8 325 1.7
9750 17.4 63.3 215 10 5 6.8 3.7 30.9 87.7 -8.1 304 1.5
9500 17.8 64.0 210 10 5 4.3 2.4 30.6 87.2 -8.3 283 1.4
9250 18.0 64.4 205 11 5 3.6 2.0 30.1 86.2 -8.9 269 1.4
9000 18.4 65.1 200 11 6 5.3 2.9 29.7 85.5 -9.3 251 1.3
8750 18.7 65.7 195 11 6 5.0 2.8 29.4 84.9 -9.7 234 1.2
8500 19.1 66.4 190 11 6 4.3 2.4 29.0 84.2 -10.1 216 1.1
8250 19.3 66.7 185 12 6 2.7 1.5 28.5 83.3 -10.6 201 1.0
8000 19.5 67.1 180 12 6 2.2 1.2 27.9 82.3 -11.2 189 1.0
7750 19.6 67.3 175 12 6 2.2 1.2 27.4 81.3 -11.8 177 0.9
7500 19.8 67.6 170 12 6 2.3 1.2 26.8 80.2 -12.4 166 0.8
7250 19.9 67.8 165 12 6 1.9 1.1 26.2 79.2 -13.1 154 0.8
7000 20.0 68.0 160 12 6 0.7 0.4 25.6 78.0 -13.7 145 0.7
6750 19.9 67.8 160 12 6 -1.0 -0.6 24.8 76.7 -14.6 139 0.7
6500 19.8 67.6 155 12 6 -2.9 -1.6 23.9 75.1 -15.5 136 0.7
6250 19.4 66.9 145 11 5 -5.3 -2.9 22.9 73.2 -16.6 139 0.7
6000 19.2 66.6 140 10 5 1.5 0.8 21.9 71.4 -17.6 140 0.7
5750 19.4 66.9 135 9 5 -1.8 -1.0 21.4 70.5 -18.2 126 0.6
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 * * * * * *
07/13/2025 at 0900 MDT | 07/13/2025 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +1.8 | CAPE... +9.3 LI... +1.3
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +19.5 | CINH... -29.9 K Index... +20.0
|
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 -63.4 -82.1 010 17 9 0.3 0.2 | -63.5 -82.3 010 13 7 -0.0 -0.0
45000 -61.4 -78.5 020 21 11 3.9 2.1 | -61.7 -79.1 025 16 8 4.1 2.3
40000 -54.4 -65.9 010 20 10 7.6 4.2 | -54.3 -65.7 025 17 9 7.6 4.2
38000 -49.9 -57.8 010 17 9 7.6 4.2 | -49.8 -57.6 025 15 8 7.6 4.2
36000 -45.3 -49.5 005 15 8 7.7 4.2 | -45.2 -49.4 030 13 7 7.7 4.2
34000 -40.6 -41.1 360 15 8 7.9 4.3 | -40.4 -40.7 025 13 7 8.0 4.4
32000 -35.9 -32.6 355 16 8 8.3 4.5 | -35.6 -32.1 020 14 7 8.3 4.5
30000 -31.4 -24.5 360 16 8 7.5 4.1 | -31.1 -24.0 015 14 7 7.5 4.1
29000 -29.1 -20.4 005 17 9 7.5 4.1 | -28.8 -19.8 015 13 7 7.5 4.1
28000 -26.9 -16.4 010 17 9 7.7 4.2 | -26.6 -15.9 015 13 7 7.4 4.0
27000 -24.6 -12.3 010 18 9 7.7 4.2 | -24.4 -11.9 015 13 7 7.4 4.0
26000 -22.3 -8.1 010 18 9 7.7 4.2 | -22.2 -8.0 015 13 7 7.4 4.0
25000 -20.0 -4.0 010 19 10 7.7 4.2 | -19.5 -3.1 015 14 7 7.7 4.2
24000 -17.1 1.2 010 18 9 7.8 4.3 | -17.2 1.0 015 14 7 7.8 4.3
23000 -14.7 5.5 010 17 9 7.8 4.3 | -14.8 5.4 015 14 7 7.8 4.3
22000 -12.4 9.7 010 16 8 7.7 4.2 | -12.5 9.5 015 13 7 7.8 4.3
21000 -10.1 13.8 010 14 7 7.7 4.2 | -10.2 13.6 015 12 6 7.8 4.3
20000 -7.8 18.0 005 13 7 7.7 4.2 | -7.9 17.8 010 10 5 7.8 4.3
19500 -6.7 19.9 005 13 6 7.6 4.2 | -6.7 19.9 010 9 5 7.6 4.2
19000 -5.6 21.9 005 12 6 7.4 4.1 | -5.6 21.9 005 9 5 7.4 4.1
18500 -4.5 23.9 360 12 6 7.5 4.1 | -4.5 23.9 005 9 5 7.4 4.0
18000 -3.4 25.9 355 12 6 6.7 3.7 | -3.5 25.7 360 9 4 7.5 4.1
17500 -2.5 27.5 350 11 6 6.8 3.7 | -2.4 27.7 360 9 4 7.5 4.1
17000 -1.5 29.3 345 11 6 7.2 3.9 | -1.3 29.7 355 8 4 7.4 4.1
16500 -0.4 31.3 340 10 5 7.6 4.2 | -0.2 31.6 350 8 4 7.5 4.1
16000 0.7 33.3 335 8 4 7.7 4.2 | 0.8 33.4 345 7 4 7.6 4.1
15500 1.8 35.2 330 7 4 8.8 4.9 | 2.0 35.6 340 6 3 8.8 4.8
15000 3.1 37.6 330 6 3 8.8 4.8 | 3.3 37.9 340 5 3 8.7 4.7
14500 4.4 39.9 330 6 3 8.9 4.9 | 4.6 40.3 340 4 2 9.1 5.0
14000 5.7 42.3 335 5 2 8.9 4.9 | 5.9 42.6 340 4 2 9.2 5.0
13500 7.0 44.6 340 4 2 9.0 4.9 | 7.3 45.1 340 3 2 9.3 5.1
13000 8.3 46.9 355 4 2 9.0 5.0 | 8.7 47.7 340 3 2 9.4 5.2
12500 9.7 49.5 010 3 2 9.0 4.9 | 10.1 50.2 340 3 1 9.4 5.1
12000 11.0 51.8 025 4 2 8.8 4.8 | 11.4 52.5 345 3 1 9.3 5.1
11500 12.3 54.1 035 4 2 8.7 4.8 | 12.8 55.0 350 2 1 9.3 5.1
11000 13.5 56.3 045 5 2 8.1 4.5 | 14.2 57.6 355 2 1 9.2 5.0
10500 14.8 58.6 045 5 3 6.2 3.4 | 15.6 60.1 360 2 1 6.7 3.7
10250 15.2 59.4 050 5 3 6.4 3.5 | 16.0 60.8 005 2 1 7.5 4.1
10000 15.8 60.4 050 5 3 9.2 5.1 | 16.8 62.2 005 2 1 11.4 6.2
9750 16.5 61.7 050 5 3 8.6 4.7 | 17.6 63.7 010 2 1 10.8 5.9
9500 17.1 62.8 050 5 3 8.5 4.7 | 18.4 65.1 010 2 1 9.4 5.2
9250 17.7 63.9 050 6 3 7.6 4.1 | 19.0 66.2 010 2 1 7.9 4.3
9000 18.3 64.9 055 5 3 6.6 3.6 | 19.6 67.3 010 2 1 9.3 5.1
8750 18.7 65.7 055 5 3 6.5 3.6 | 20.4 68.7 010 2 1 10.1 5.5
8500 19.6 67.3 060 5 3 5.1 2.8 | 21.6 70.9 360 2 1 6.1 3.3
8250 20.0 68.0 065 5 3 5.4 3.0 | 22.1 71.8 360 2 1 8.6 4.7
8000 20.5 68.9 070 5 3 6.5 3.6 | 22.9 73.2 355 2 1 11.8 6.5
7750 20.9 69.6 075 5 3 4.7 2.6 | 23.7 74.7 350 2 1 8.9 4.9
7500 21.2 70.2 080 5 3 2.7 1.5 | 24.3 75.7 345 2 1 6.2 3.4
7250 21.4 70.5 080 5 3 3.7 2.0 | 24.8 76.6 345 2 1 8.7 4.8
7000 21.8 71.2 085 5 3 6.1 3.3 | 25.6 78.1 340 1 1 13.1 7.2
6750 22.3 72.1 090 4 2 6.8 3.7 | 26.6 79.9 335 2 1 11.7 6.4
6500 22.7 72.9 095 4 2 6.4 3.5 | 27.3 81.1 330 1 1 9.7 5.3
6250 23.2 73.8 095 4 2 5.7 3.1 | 28.1 82.6 325 1 1 8.9 4.9
6000 23.7 74.7 100 4 2 10.8 5.9 | 28.8 83.8 320 1 1 14.3 7.9
5750 24.9 76.8 100 4 2 22.2 12.2 | 30.5 86.9 320 1 1 29.8 16.3
5500 26.3 79.3 100 4 2 4.6 2.5 | 32.5 90.5 310 1 1 14.5 8.0
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
07/13/2025 at 1500 MDT | 07/13/2025 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +76.7 LI... +1.0 | CAPE... +70.7 LI... -0.5
CINH... -47.6 K Index... +16.8 | CINH... -30.1 K Index... +22.3
|
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 -63.3 -81.9 005 9 5 0.5 0.3 | -63.9 -83.0 350 8 4 0.1 0.1
45000 -61.0 -77.8 015 10 5 3.8 2.1 | -61.7 -79.1 350 6 3 4.6 2.5
40000 -54.2 -65.6 040 12 6 7.4 4.0 | -53.8 -64.8 035 6 3 7.3 4.0
38000 -49.8 -57.6 040 10 5 7.3 4.0 | -49.4 -56.9 055 4 2 7.3 4.0
36000 -45.4 -49.7 040 9 5 7.6 4.1 | -45.0 -49.0 085 3 2 7.5 4.1
34000 -40.6 -41.1 045 9 5 7.9 4.4 | -40.3 -40.5 080 3 2 7.8 4.3
32000 -35.9 -32.6 045 10 5 8.2 4.5 | -35.6 -32.1 075 3 2 8.0 4.4
30000 -31.1 -24.0 045 9 5 7.9 4.3 | -30.9 -23.6 080 3 2 7.8 4.3
29000 -28.8 -19.8 045 9 5 7.9 4.3 | -28.6 -19.5 080 3 1 7.8 4.3
28000 -26.4 -15.5 040 9 5 7.6 4.2 | -26.3 -15.3 075 3 1 7.6 4.2
27000 -24.1 -11.4 035 8 4 7.6 4.2 | -24.0 -11.2 045 3 2 7.6 4.2
26000 -21.3 -6.3 025 8 4 7.6 4.2 | -21.1 -6.0 020 4 2 7.6 4.2
25000 -19.0 -2.2 020 8 4 7.5 4.1 | -18.9 -2.0 015 5 3 7.4 4.1
24000 -16.8 1.8 020 8 4 7.5 4.1 | -16.7 1.9 010 6 3 7.4 4.1
23000 -14.6 5.7 020 8 4 7.5 4.1 | -14.5 5.9 010 7 4 7.5 4.1
22000 -12.3 9.9 020 8 4 8.0 4.4 | -12.3 9.9 005 8 4 8.1 4.5
21000 -10.0 14.0 015 8 4 8.0 4.4 | -9.9 14.2 005 8 4 8.1 4.5
20000 -7.6 18.3 015 7 4 8.0 4.4 | -7.6 18.3 005 8 4 8.2 4.5
19500 -6.4 20.5 015 7 4 8.2 4.5 | -6.4 20.5 005 9 4 8.6 4.7
19000 -5.2 22.6 015 7 4 8.3 4.5 | -5.1 22.8 005 9 5 8.9 4.9
18500 -4.0 24.8 015 7 4 8.2 4.5 | -3.7 25.3 360 9 5 8.9 4.9
18000 -2.7 27.1 015 7 4 8.7 4.8 | -2.4 27.7 360 9 5 9.2 5.1
17500 -1.5 29.3 010 7 4 8.7 4.8 | -1.1 30.0 360 10 5 9.2 5.0
17000 -0.2 31.6 010 7 4 8.7 4.8 | 0.3 32.5 360 10 5 9.3 5.1
16500 1.1 34.0 010 7 4 8.7 4.8 | 1.6 34.9 360 10 5 9.3 5.1
16000 2.4 36.3 010 7 4 8.7 4.8 | 3.0 37.4 355 10 5 9.3 5.1
15500 3.7 38.7 010 7 4 8.9 4.9 | 4.4 39.9 355 10 5 9.4 5.1
15000 5.0 41.0 010 7 3 8.9 4.9 | 5.8 42.4 355 10 5 9.4 5.1
14500 6.3 43.3 005 7 3 9.2 5.0 | 7.2 45.0 355 10 5 9.5 5.2
14000 7.7 45.9 005 7 3 9.2 5.0 | 8.6 47.5 355 10 5 9.5 5.2
13500 9.0 48.2 360 6 3 9.2 5.0 | 10.0 50.0 350 9 5 9.7 5.3
13000 10.4 50.7 360 6 3 9.2 5.1 | 11.5 52.7 350 9 5 9.7 5.3
12500 11.8 53.2 355 6 3 9.3 5.1 | 12.9 55.2 350 9 5 9.6 5.3
12000 13.2 55.8 355 6 3 9.4 5.2 | 14.4 57.9 345 9 5 9.3 5.1
11500 14.6 58.3 350 5 3 9.4 5.2 | 15.7 60.3 345 9 4 9.2 5.1
11000 16.0 60.8 345 5 3 9.2 5.1 | 17.1 62.8 340 8 4 8.9 4.9
10500 17.4 63.3 340 5 3 6.7 3.7 | 18.4 65.1 335 7 4 10.9 6.0
10250 17.8 64.0 335 4 2 7.4 4.1 | 19.3 66.7 335 8 4 11.3 6.2
10000 18.5 65.3 335 4 2 11.4 6.3 | 20.0 68.0 335 8 4 8.8 4.8
9750 19.3 66.7 330 4 2 10.6 5.8 | 20.7 69.3 335 7 4 9.5 5.2
9500 20.1 68.2 330 5 2 10.0 5.5 | 21.4 70.5 330 7 4 9.4 5.1
9250 20.8 69.4 320 4 2 9.1 5.0 | 22.1 71.8 320 7 3 9.3 5.1
9000 21.5 70.7 320 4 2 9.7 5.3 | 23.5 74.3 320 7 3 9.1 5.0
8750 23.0 73.4 320 5 2 9.4 5.2 | 24.2 75.6 320 7 3 9.0 4.9
8500 23.6 74.5 315 4 2 7.8 4.3 | 24.8 76.6 315 7 3 8.2 4.5
8250 24.2 75.6 305 4 2 9.9 5.4 | 25.5 77.9 305 6 3 9.3 5.1
8000 25.1 77.2 310 4 2 12.5 6.9 | 26.2 79.2 310 6 3 10.6 5.8
7750 26.0 78.8 310 5 2 10.1 5.5 | 27.0 80.6 310 6 3 9.7 5.3
7500 26.6 79.9 305 4 2 7.5 4.1 | 27.7 81.9 305 6 3 8.4 4.6
7250 27.2 81.0 300 4 2 9.1 5.0 | 28.3 82.9 300 6 3 9.1 5.0
7000 28.0 82.4 300 4 2 12.6 6.9 | 29.1 84.4 300 6 3 11.4 6.3
6750 29.0 84.2 300 4 2 11.7 6.4 | 30.0 86.0 305 6 3 11.1 6.1
6500 29.8 85.6 295 4 2 10.2 5.6 | 30.7 87.3 300 6 3 10.2 5.6
6250 30.5 86.9 290 5 2 9.5 5.2 | 31.5 88.7 290 6 3 10.0 5.5
6000 31.3 88.3 290 4 2 13.2 7.3 | 32.2 90.0 290 6 3 9.8 5.4
5750 32.8 91.0 290 4 2 28.0 15.4 | 33.1 91.6 295 6 3 15.6 8.5
5500 35.2 95.4 285 4 2 31.9 17.5 | 35.0 95.0 285 6 3 39.5 21.7
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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