Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
663
UXUS97 KGJT 221305
SRGGJT
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
705 AM MDT Friday, August 22, 2025
This forecast is for Friday, August 22, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 80.8 F/27.1 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1495 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 20515 ft MSL (14906 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 100.0 F/38.2 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0900 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................. 17951 ft MSL (12342 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Saturday 08/23..... Excellent
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:34:23 / 19:59:25 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 25 min 3 sec (805 min 3 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:16:54 MDT... 62.12 degrees
Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 08/22/2025 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 16393 ft MSL (10784 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 14734 ft MSL (9125 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 17579 ft MSL (11970 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -5.6
K index......................... +28.9
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 -66.7 -88.1 295 26 14 0.7 0.4 M M M M M
45000 -62.4 -80.3 285 38 20 6.6 3.6 M M M M M
40000 -52.2 -62.0 285 42 22 7.8 4.3 M M M M M
38000 -47.5 -53.5 285 39 20 7.8 4.3 M M M M M
36000 -42.8 -45.0 285 37 19 7.9 4.3 M M M M M
34000 -38.1 -36.6 285 35 18 7.9 4.4 M M M M M
32000 -32.7 -26.9 290 34 18 8.5 4.7 48.7 119.6 8.1 M M
30000 -28.1 -18.6 295 31 16 7.8 4.3 46.9 116.5 6.9 M M
29000 -25.7 -14.3 295 30 15 7.8 4.3 46.2 115.2 6.5 M M
28000 -23.5 -10.3 295 28 14 7.3 4.0 45.5 113.9 5.9 M M
27000 -21.3 -6.3 300 24 13 7.3 4.0 44.5 112.0 5.2 M M
26000 -19.1 -2.4 310 21 11 7.3 4.0 43.6 110.4 4.5 M M
25000 -17.0 1.4 320 19 10 7.2 4.0 42.8 109.0 3.9 M M
24000 -14.8 5.4 320 17 9 7.2 3.9 41.7 107.1 3.1 M M
23000 -12.7 9.1 325 15 8 7.2 3.9 40.8 105.5 2.3 M M
22000 -10.6 12.9 325 14 7 6.8 3.7 40.0 103.9 1.6 M M
21000 -8.6 16.5 320 14 7 6.6 3.6 38.7 101.7 0.6 M M
20000 -6.7 19.9 320 14 7 6.6 3.6 37.7 99.8 -0.4 1259 6.4
19500 -5.7 21.7 315 14 7 6.5 3.6 37.2 98.9 -0.8 1215 6.2
19000 -4.5 23.9 315 14 7 5.9 3.3 36.2 97.1 -1.8 1155 5.9
18500 -3.6 25.5 310 14 7 6.0 3.3 35.5 96.0 -2.4 1116 5.7
18000 -2.8 27.0 310 13 7 6.3 3.5 34.9 94.9 -3.1 1076 5.5
17500 -1.9 28.6 305 13 7 6.3 3.5 34.3 93.8 -3.7 1035 5.3
17000 -1.0 30.2 300 13 7 6.8 3.7 33.8 92.8 -4.3 993 5.0
16500 -0.1 31.8 300 12 6 7.0 3.8 33.3 91.9 -4.8 950 4.8
16000 0.9 33.6 300 12 6 7.2 3.9 32.9 91.1 -5.3 906 4.6
15500 2.0 35.6 295 11 6 7.9 4.3 32.5 90.5 -5.7 859 4.4
15000 3.1 37.6 295 11 5 7.8 4.3 32.2 89.9 -6.1 811 4.1
14500 4.2 39.6 300 10 5 8.3 4.6 31.9 89.4 -6.4 762 3.9
14000 5.5 41.9 300 9 5 8.3 4.5 31.7 89.0 -6.7 710 3.6
13500 6.7 44.1 300 8 4 8.2 4.5 31.4 88.6 -7.0 659 3.3
13000 7.9 46.2 300 7 4 8.2 4.5 31.2 88.1 -7.3 608 3.1
12500 9.1 48.4 300 6 3 7.6 4.2 30.9 87.6 -7.5 557 2.8
12000 10.1 50.2 295 5 2 7.2 4.0 30.5 86.9 -8.0 511 2.6
11500 11.2 52.2 290 3 2 6.9 3.8 30.1 86.2 -8.4 464 2.4
11000 12.1 53.8 270 2 1 6.2 3.4 29.6 85.3 -9.0 421 2.1
10500 13.2 55.8 210 1 1 9.0 4.9 29.3 84.7 -9.4 374 1.9
10250 13.8 56.8 180 1 1 7.4 4.1 29.1 84.5 -9.5 349 1.8
10000 14.3 57.7 165 1 1 6.7 3.7 28.9 84.1 -9.8 327 1.7
9750 14.8 58.6 150 2 1 7.3 4.0 28.7 83.7 -10.1 304 1.5
9500 15.3 59.5 145 2 1 5.7 3.1 28.5 83.3 -10.3 282 1.4
9250 15.7 60.3 145 3 1 5.3 2.9 28.1 82.6 -10.7 264 1.3
9000 16.1 61.0 140 3 2 6.5 3.5 27.8 82.1 -11.0 243 1.2
8750 16.6 61.9 140 4 2 6.3 3.4 27.6 81.6 -11.3 222 1.1
8500 17.0 62.6 135 4 2 5.3 2.9 27.3 81.1 -11.6 202 1.0
8250 17.3 63.1 140 5 2 4.3 2.4 26.9 80.4 -12.1 185 0.9
8000 17.6 63.7 140 5 3 4.5 2.5 26.5 79.7 -12.5 169 0.9
7750 17.9 64.2 140 6 3 4.3 2.3 26.1 79.0 -13.0 152 0.8
7500 18.2 64.8 140 6 3 3.4 1.9 25.6 78.2 -13.5 137 0.7
7250 18.4 65.1 135 6 3 2.8 1.5 25.1 77.2 -14.0 124 0.6
7000 18.6 65.5 130 7 3 3.2 1.8 24.6 76.3 -14.6 111 0.6
6750 18.7 65.7 130 7 3 1.4 0.8 24.1 75.3 -15.2 98 0.5
6500 18.7 65.7 130 6 3 -1.0 -0.6 23.3 74.0 -16.0 91 0.5
6250 18.6 65.5 125 6 3 -1.2 -0.6 22.5 72.5 -16.8 87 0.4
6000 18.6 65.5 120 6 3 0.2 0.1 21.7 71.1 -17.7 81 0.4
5750 18.4 65.1 115 6 3 -7.1 -3.9 20.9 69.6 -18.6 78 0.4
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 * * * * * *
08/22/2025 at 0900 MDT | 08/22/2025 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... -0.3 | CAPE... +41.3 LI... -0.2
CINH... -0.1 K Index... +25.4 | CINH... -24.5 K Index... +26.8
|
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 -65.8 -86.4 280 22 11 0.7 0.4 | -66.0 -86.8 275 20 10 0.9 0.5
45000 -61.6 -78.9 275 34 17 6.4 3.5 | -61.5 -78.7 270 31 16 6.4 3.5
40000 -51.6 -60.9 260 40 21 7.8 4.3 | -51.6 -60.9 265 38 20 7.6 4.1
38000 -47.0 -52.6 260 39 20 7.8 4.3 | -47.1 -52.8 260 38 20 7.6 4.1
36000 -41.7 -43.1 260 37 19 8.0 4.4 | -42.0 -43.6 260 37 19 7.9 4.3
34000 -37.0 -34.6 260 31 16 8.0 4.4 | -37.3 -35.1 255 32 16 7.9 4.3
32000 -32.2 -26.0 265 24 13 8.2 4.5 | -32.6 -26.7 255 27 14 8.4 4.6
30000 -27.7 -17.9 270 21 11 7.5 4.1 | -28.0 -18.4 260 22 11 7.7 4.2
29000 -25.5 -13.9 270 19 10 7.6 4.1 | -25.7 -14.3 260 20 10 7.7 4.2
28000 -23.3 -9.9 275 18 9 7.2 4.0 | -23.4 -10.1 265 18 9 7.0 3.8
27000 -21.1 -6.0 275 17 9 7.3 4.0 | -21.4 -6.5 270 17 9 7.1 3.9
26000 -19.0 -2.2 275 17 9 7.3 4.0 | -19.3 -2.7 275 16 8 7.1 3.9
25000 -16.8 1.8 275 16 8 6.2 3.4 | -17.2 1.0 280 15 8 6.7 3.7
24000 -15.2 4.6 280 17 9 5.6 3.1 | -15.3 4.5 280 16 8 6.4 3.5
23000 -13.6 7.5 280 19 10 5.6 3.1 | -13.5 7.7 285 17 9 6.4 3.5
22000 -11.4 11.5 280 19 10 7.0 3.8 | -11.1 12.0 285 17 9 6.8 3.7
21000 -9.5 14.9 280 19 10 6.9 3.8 | -9.1 15.6 285 17 9 6.8 3.8
20000 -7.5 18.5 275 18 9 6.9 3.8 | -7.1 19.2 285 17 9 6.9 3.8
19500 -6.5 20.3 275 18 9 7.6 4.2 | -6.1 21.0 285 17 9 7.1 3.9
19000 -5.3 22.5 270 16 8 7.8 4.3 | -5.1 22.8 280 16 8 7.2 4.0
18500 -4.2 24.4 270 15 8 7.9 4.3 | -4.1 24.6 280 16 8 7.3 4.0
18000 -3.0 26.6 270 14 7 8.6 4.7 | -2.9 26.8 280 15 8 8.1 4.5
17500 -1.7 28.9 270 12 6 8.6 4.7 | -1.8 28.8 280 14 7 8.1 4.4
17000 -0.5 31.1 270 11 6 8.6 4.7 | -0.6 30.9 280 13 7 8.4 4.6
16500 0.8 33.4 270 10 5 8.7 4.8 | 0.7 33.3 280 13 6 8.5 4.7
16000 2.1 35.8 275 8 4 8.7 4.8 | 1.9 35.4 280 12 6 8.6 4.7
15500 3.4 38.1 275 7 4 8.9 4.9 | 3.2 37.8 280 11 6 8.9 4.9
15000 4.7 40.5 280 6 3 8.9 4.9 | 4.5 40.1 280 10 5 8.9 4.9
14500 6.0 42.8 290 5 3 8.6 4.7 | 5.8 42.4 285 9 5 9.0 5.0
14000 7.3 45.1 300 5 2 8.7 4.8 | 7.2 45.0 285 8 4 9.0 5.0
13500 8.6 47.5 315 4 2 8.6 4.7 | 8.5 47.3 290 7 4 8.8 4.8
13000 9.8 49.6 340 4 2 8.5 4.7 | 9.8 49.6 290 6 3 8.7 4.8
12500 11.1 52.0 005 4 2 8.3 4.6 | 11.1 52.0 300 5 2 8.7 4.8
12000 12.3 54.1 020 5 3 8.1 4.4 | 12.4 54.3 310 4 2 8.7 4.8
11500 13.5 56.3 030 7 3 7.9 4.3 | 13.7 56.7 330 3 2 8.6 4.7
11000 14.6 58.3 035 7 4 7.4 4.1 | 15.0 59.0 345 3 2 8.4 4.6
10500 15.8 60.4 035 8 4 6.0 3.3 | 16.3 61.3 360 4 2 6.1 3.4
10250 16.2 61.2 040 9 4 6.4 3.5 | 16.6 61.9 005 4 2 6.8 3.7
10000 16.8 62.2 035 9 4 8.7 4.8 | 17.3 63.1 010 4 2 10.2 5.6
9750 17.4 63.3 035 9 4 8.2 4.5 | 18.1 64.6 015 4 2 9.7 5.3
9500 18.0 64.4 035 8 4 7.9 4.4 | 18.8 65.8 015 4 2 8.4 4.6
9250 18.6 65.5 040 8 4 7.1 3.9 | 19.3 66.7 015 4 2 7.5 4.1
9000 19.1 66.4 040 7 4 6.7 3.7 | 19.9 67.8 015 4 2 8.9 4.9
8750 19.6 67.3 040 7 4 6.8 3.7 | 20.6 69.1 015 4 2 9.4 5.2
8500 20.0 68.0 045 6 3 5.9 3.2 | 21.3 70.3 015 4 2 8.2 4.5
8250 20.8 69.4 055 5 3 5.4 3.0 | 22.3 72.1 010 3 2 9.1 5.0
8000 21.3 70.3 060 5 3 6.3 3.4 | 23.2 73.8 005 3 2 12.1 6.6
7750 21.7 71.1 065 5 3 4.2 2.3 | 24.0 75.2 005 3 2 9.2 5.0
7500 21.9 71.4 075 4 2 2.2 1.2 | 24.5 76.1 360 3 1 6.8 3.7
7250 22.1 71.8 085 4 2 3.6 2.0 | 25.1 77.2 360 3 1 9.3 5.1
7000 22.5 72.5 090 4 2 6.1 3.4 | 26.0 78.8 355 2 1 13.0 7.1
6750 23.0 73.4 090 4 2 6.1 3.4 | 26.9 80.4 355 3 1 11.4 6.3
6500 23.4 74.1 095 4 2 5.3 2.9 | 27.7 81.9 350 2 1 9.9 5.5
6250 23.8 74.8 105 4 2 5.0 2.8 | 28.4 83.1 345 2 1 9.0 4.9
6000 24.2 75.6 110 3 2 9.9 5.4 | 29.2 84.6 345 2 1 14.3 7.8
5750 25.3 77.5 105 3 2 19.6 10.8 | 30.8 87.4 340 2 1 29.1 16.0
5500 26.5 79.7 110 3 2 2.0 1.1 | 32.6 90.7 330 2 1 10.3 5.6
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
08/22/2025 at 1500 MDT | 08/22/2025 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +244.5 LI... -1.2 | CAPE... +284.2 LI... -1.6
CINH... -17.7 K Index... +27.5 | CINH... -66.1 K Index... +29.5
|
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 -66.1 -87.0 265 20 10 1.0 0.6 | -66.7 -88.1 275 23 12 0.8 0.4
45000 -61.5 -78.7 270 31 16 6.5 3.6 | -62.1 -79.8 275 35 18 6.9 3.8
40000 -51.4 -60.5 275 38 19 7.6 4.2 | -51.5 -60.7 280 40 21 8.1 4.4
38000 -46.9 -52.4 270 38 20 7.6 4.2 | -46.7 -52.1 280 39 20 8.1 4.4
36000 -41.7 -43.1 265 39 20 7.7 4.2 | -41.3 -42.3 280 38 20 7.9 4.3
34000 -37.1 -34.8 265 34 17 7.7 4.2 | -36.5 -33.7 275 34 17 7.9 4.3
32000 -32.5 -26.5 260 30 15 8.2 4.5 | -31.8 -25.2 270 30 15 8.2 4.5
30000 -27.9 -18.2 260 25 13 7.7 4.2 | -27.5 -17.5 265 26 13 7.2 3.9
29000 -25.6 -14.1 260 23 12 7.7 4.2 | -25.4 -13.7 265 24 12 7.2 3.9
28000 -23.4 -10.1 260 21 11 7.3 4.0 | -23.3 -9.9 260 22 11 7.2 3.9
27000 -21.2 -6.2 265 19 10 7.3 4.0 | -21.1 -6.0 260 20 10 7.2 4.0
26000 -19.1 -2.4 270 17 9 7.4 4.0 | -19.0 -2.2 260 19 10 7.2 4.0
25000 -16.9 1.6 275 15 8 7.0 3.8 | -16.9 1.6 255 17 9 6.9 3.8
24000 -14.9 5.2 275 15 8 6.8 3.7 | -14.9 5.2 255 16 8 6.7 3.7
23000 -12.4 9.7 275 14 7 6.8 3.7 | -12.4 9.7 260 14 7 6.8 3.7
22000 -10.5 13.1 280 14 7 6.7 3.7 | -10.5 13.1 260 13 7 6.8 3.8
21000 -8.5 16.7 275 14 7 6.7 3.7 | -8.5 16.7 260 12 6 6.9 3.8
20000 -6.6 20.1 275 13 7 6.7 3.7 | -6.5 20.3 260 12 6 6.9 3.8
19500 -5.6 21.9 275 13 7 7.5 4.1 | -5.5 22.1 260 11 6 7.5 4.1
19000 -4.5 23.9 275 13 6 7.8 4.3 | -4.4 24.1 260 10 5 7.7 4.2
18500 -3.4 25.9 275 12 6 7.8 4.3 | -3.3 26.1 260 9 5 7.8 4.3
18000 -2.2 28.0 280 12 6 8.0 4.4 | -2.1 28.2 265 8 4 8.0 4.4
17500 -1.1 30.0 280 11 6 8.0 4.4 | -1.0 30.2 265 7 4 8.0 4.4
17000 0.1 32.2 280 11 5 8.5 4.7 | 0.2 32.4 270 7 3 8.1 4.4
16500 1.4 34.5 280 10 5 8.7 4.8 | 1.3 34.3 280 6 3 8.1 4.5
16000 2.6 36.7 285 9 5 8.8 4.8 | 2.5 36.5 285 6 3 8.2 4.5
15500 4.0 39.2 290 9 5 9.1 5.0 | 3.8 38.8 295 6 3 8.8 4.8
15000 5.3 41.5 290 9 4 9.1 5.0 | 5.0 41.0 305 6 3 8.7 4.8
14500 6.7 44.1 295 8 4 9.1 5.0 | 6.4 43.5 310 6 3 9.3 5.1
14000 8.0 46.4 300 8 4 9.1 5.0 | 7.7 45.9 315 7 3 9.3 5.1
13500 9.4 48.9 305 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 9.1 48.4 320 7 4 9.1 5.0
13000 10.7 51.3 305 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 10.4 50.7 325 8 4 9.1 5.0
12500 12.1 53.8 310 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 11.8 53.2 325 9 5 9.1 5.0
12000 13.5 56.3 310 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 13.1 55.6 330 10 5 9.1 5.0
11500 14.9 58.8 315 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 14.4 57.9 330 11 5 9.1 5.0
11000 16.3 61.3 315 8 4 9.2 5.0 | 15.8 60.4 330 11 6 9.0 5.0
10500 17.6 63.7 320 8 4 7.1 3.9 | 17.2 63.0 335 12 6 7.5 4.1
10250 18.1 64.6 315 8 4 7.9 4.3 | 17.6 63.7 335 12 6 7.8 4.3
10000 18.9 66.0 315 8 4 11.2 6.1 | 18.4 65.1 335 13 7 10.2 5.6
9750 19.6 67.3 320 8 4 10.4 5.7 | 19.1 66.4 335 14 7 9.5 5.2
9500 20.4 68.7 320 8 4 10.1 5.6 | 19.8 67.6 335 14 7 9.9 5.4
9250 21.1 70.0 315 8 4 9.5 5.2 | 20.5 68.9 335 15 8 9.5 5.2
9000 21.8 71.2 315 8 4 9.7 5.3 | 21.2 70.2 335 15 8 8.7 4.8
8750 22.6 72.7 315 8 4 9.8 5.4 | 21.8 71.2 335 16 8 8.6 4.7
8500 23.3 73.9 320 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 23.1 73.6 340 16 8 9.1 5.0
8250 24.6 76.3 315 8 4 10.0 5.5 | 23.8 74.8 340 17 9 8.7 4.8
8000 25.4 77.7 315 8 4 11.9 6.5 | 24.4 75.9 340 17 9 8.3 4.6
7750 26.3 79.3 320 8 4 9.8 5.4 | 25.0 77.0 340 18 9 8.3 4.6
7500 26.9 80.4 315 8 4 7.6 4.2 | 25.6 78.1 340 18 9 8.3 4.5
7250 27.5 81.5 315 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 26.2 79.2 340 18 9 8.0 4.4
7000 28.3 82.9 315 8 4 12.4 6.8 | 26.8 80.2 340 18 9 7.1 3.9
6750 29.3 84.7 320 8 4 11.6 6.4 | 27.3 81.1 345 18 9 8.1 4.4
6500 30.1 86.2 315 8 4 10.6 5.8 | 28.0 82.4 345 18 9 9.5 5.2
6250 30.8 87.4 310 8 4 9.6 5.3 | 28.6 83.5 345 18 9 8.4 4.6
6000 31.6 88.9 310 8 4 13.1 7.2 | 29.2 84.6 345 18 9 9.0 5.0
5750 33.1 91.6 315 7 4 27.7 15.2 | 30.1 86.2 345 15 8 15.4 8.4
5500 35.4 95.7 310 7 4 29.4 16.1 | 31.6 88.9 345 14 7 25.2 13.8
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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