Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO

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370
UXUS97 KGJT 181306
SRGGJT

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
706 AM MDT Saturday, October 18, 2025

This forecast is for Saturday, October 18, 2025:

If the trigger temperature of 64.5 F/18.1 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Fair
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 275 ft/min (1.4 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 9428 ft MSL (3821 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 64.0 F/18.2 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1415 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................. 7692 ft MSL (2085 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 10/19....... Fair

Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 07:27:27 / 18:30:52 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 11 hr 3 min 25 sec (663 min 25 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:59:09 MDT... 40.97 degrees

Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 10/18/2025 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 13844 ft MSL (8237 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 20344 ft MSL (14737 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 15010 ft MSL (9403 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +9.1
K index......................... +1.4

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  -66.3 -87.3   275   32   16   2.3   1.3      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -62.1 -79.8   275   41   21   4.1   2.2      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -55.9 -68.6   275   43   22   5.2   2.9      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -52.4 -62.3   280   43   22   5.9   3.3      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -48.8 -55.8   280   42   22   5.9   3.3      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -44.8 -48.6   280   42   22   7.1   3.9      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -40.0 -40.0   285   41   21   7.1   3.9      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -35.5 -31.9   285   41   21   7.9   4.3   39.4 102.9    16.4      M    M
 29000  -33.1 -27.6   285   42   22   7.9   4.3   38.7 101.6    16.1      M    M
 28000  -30.8 -23.4   285   42   22   7.9   4.3   38.1 100.6    15.8      M    M
 27000  -28.3 -18.9   280   43   22   8.3   4.5   37.4  99.4    15.4      M    M
 26000  -25.9 -14.6   280   43   22   8.3   4.5   36.8  98.3    15.1      M    M
 25000  -23.4 -10.1   280   43   22   8.3   4.5   36.3  97.4    14.9      M    M
 24000  -21.0  -5.8   280   44   22   7.6   4.2   35.6  96.2    14.5      M    M
 23000  -18.8  -1.8   280   44   23   7.6   4.2   34.8  94.7    14.0      M    M
 22000  -16.5   2.3   280   44   23   7.6   4.2   34.1  93.4    13.6      M    M
 21000  -14.3   6.3   280   43   22   7.1   3.9   33.2  91.8    13.0      M    M
 20000  -12.2  10.0   280   41   21   7.1   3.9   32.3  90.1    12.3      M    M
 19500  -11.1  12.0   280   40   20   7.1   3.9   31.9  89.3    12.0      M    M
 19000  -10.1  13.8   280   39   20   6.9   3.8   31.5  88.6    11.7      M    M
 18500   -8.6  16.5   280   37   19   6.6   3.6   30.6  87.1    11.0      M    M
 18000   -7.6  18.3   280   36   18   6.5   3.6   30.1  86.2    10.6      M    M
 17500   -6.7  19.9   280   35   18   6.4   3.5   29.5  85.1    10.2      M    M
 17000   -5.8  21.6   280   34   17   6.4   3.5   29.0  84.1     9.7      M    M
 16500   -4.8  23.4   280   33   17   6.2   3.4   28.4  83.1     9.2      M    M
 16000   -3.9  25.0   280   32   16   6.2   3.4   27.8  82.0     8.7      M    M
 15500   -3.0  26.6   280   31   16   6.3   3.5   27.2  81.0     8.2      M    M
 15000   -2.0  28.4   280   30   15   6.4   3.5   26.6  80.0     7.7      M    M
 14500   -1.1  30.0   275   29   15   6.2   3.4   26.1  79.0     7.3      M    M
 14000   -0.2  31.6   275   27   14   6.0   3.3   25.5  77.9     6.8      M    M
 13500    0.7  33.3   275   26   13   5.9   3.2   24.9  76.8     6.2      M    M
 13000    1.5  34.7   275   25   13   5.1   2.8   24.2  75.5     5.6      M    M
 12500    2.2  36.0   270   23   12   5.2   2.8   23.4  74.1     4.9      M    M
 12000    2.9  37.2   265   22   11   4.2   2.3   22.6  72.7     4.2      M    M
 11500    3.5  38.3   260   21   11   4.3   2.3   21.7  71.1     3.3      M    M
 11000    4.2  39.6   260   20   10   4.4   2.4   20.9  69.5     2.5      M    M
 10500    4.8  40.6   255   18    9   4.4   2.4   20.0  68.0     1.7      M    M
 10250    5.1  41.2   250   17    9   4.8   2.6   19.6  67.3     1.3      M    M
 10000    5.5  41.9   250   16    8   5.0   2.7   19.2  66.6     0.9      M    M
  9750    5.8  42.4   245   15    8   4.9   2.7   18.8  65.9     0.5      M    M
  9500    6.2  43.2   240   14    7   4.9   2.7   18.5  65.2     0.2      M    M
  9250    6.5  43.7   240   13    7   5.0   2.7   18.1  64.6    -0.2    265  1.3
  9000    6.9  44.4   235   12    6   5.0   2.7   17.7  63.9    -0.6    247  1.3
  8750    7.2  45.0   225   10    5   5.2   2.9   17.4  63.2    -0.9    228  1.2
  8500    7.6  45.7   215    9    5   4.4   2.4   17.0  62.6    -1.3    210  1.1
  8250    7.9  46.2   205    8    4   2.9   1.6   16.5  61.7    -1.8    195  1.0
  8000    8.1  46.6   190    8    4   3.2   1.7   16.0  60.8    -2.3    181  0.9
  7750    8.3  46.9   185    8    4   3.5   1.9   15.5  59.9    -2.8    166  0.8
  7500    8.6  47.5   175    8    4   3.8   2.1   15.0  59.1    -3.2    151  0.8
  7250    8.9  48.0   165    9    5   4.3   2.4   14.6  58.3    -3.7    134  0.7
  7000    9.2  48.6   160   11    5   3.7   2.0   14.2  57.5    -4.1    118  0.6
  6750    9.4  48.9   160   11    5   1.7   0.9   13.7  56.6    -4.6    104  0.5
  6500    9.4  48.9   155   10    5  -1.5  -0.8   12.9  55.3    -5.4     97  0.5
  6250    9.2  48.6   150   10    5  -5.7  -3.1   11.9  53.5    -6.4     97  0.5
  6000    8.9  48.0   145    9    5   4.0   2.2   11.0  51.7    -7.4     97  0.5
  5750    9.4  48.9   135    8    4   1.5   0.8   10.8  51.4    -7.6     74  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 * * * * * *

           10/18/2025 at 0900 MDT          |       10/18/2025 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +5.9        | CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +8.8
CINH...    -0.0    K Index... +10.0        | CINH...    -0.1    K Index...  -5.5
                                           |
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 -63.6 -82.5  295  41 21   3.4   1.9 | -64.2 -83.6  285  37 19   3.8   2.1
 45000 -58.1 -72.6  295  52 27   5.1   2.8 | -58.6 -73.5  290  47 24   3.5   1.9
 40000 -50.5 -58.9  310  70 36   5.1   2.8 | -53.3 -63.9  305  74 38   3.6   2.0
 38000 -49.5 -57.1  315  71 37   0.7   0.4 | -51.7 -61.1  310  72 37   2.2   1.2
 36000 -49.1 -56.4  325  72 37   0.7   0.4 | -50.4 -58.7  315  67 35   2.2   1.2
 34000 -47.1 -52.8  330  76 39   6.2   3.4 | -47.4 -53.3  320  67 35   7.4   4.0
 32000 -43.3 -45.9  330  85 44   6.2   3.4 | -43.0 -45.4  325  72 37   7.4   4.1
 30000 -39.0 -38.2  335  90 46   8.6   4.7 | -38.3 -36.9  330  73 38   8.2   4.5
 29000 -36.4 -33.5  335  89 46   8.6   4.7 | -35.9 -32.6  325  72 37   8.2   4.5
 28000 -33.8 -28.8  335  89 46   8.6   4.7 | -33.4 -28.1  325  71 37   8.2   4.5
 27000 -31.3 -24.3  335  87 45   8.0   4.4 | -31.0 -23.8  325  70 36   7.8   4.3
 26000 -28.9 -20.0  330  85 44   8.1   4.4 | -28.6 -19.5  325  68 35   7.8   4.3
 25000 -26.5 -15.7  330  83 43   8.1   4.4 | -26.3 -15.3  330  66 34   7.8   4.3
 24000 -24.1 -11.4  325  81 42   7.4   4.1 | -23.9 -11.0  330  65 34   8.7   4.7
 23000 -21.3  -6.3  325  79 41   7.3   4.0 | -20.7  -5.3  325  64 33   8.6   4.7
 22000 -19.1  -2.4  325  77 40   7.2   4.0 | -18.1  -0.6  325  64 33   8.6   4.7
 21000 -17.4   0.7  320  73 37   4.7   2.6 | -15.9   3.4  320  64 33   6.9   3.8
 20000 -16.0   3.2  320  66 34   4.6   2.5 | -13.8   7.2  325  63 32   6.8   3.8
 19500 -15.3   4.5  320  63 33   4.6   2.5 | -12.8   9.0  325  62 32   6.8   3.7
 19000 -14.6   5.7  320  60 31   4.6   2.5 | -11.8  10.8  325  62 32   6.1   3.3
 18500 -14.0   6.8  320  56 29   3.9   2.2 | -11.0  12.2  325  59 31   4.4   2.4
 18000 -13.5   7.7  320  53 27   4.0   2.2 | -10.4  13.3  325  57 29   4.5   2.5
 17500 -12.8   9.0  320  49 25   5.4   2.9 |  -9.7  14.5  325  54 28   4.0   2.2
 17000 -12.0  10.4  320  46 24   5.7   3.1 |  -9.1  15.6  325  51 26   3.9   2.2
 16500 -11.2  11.8  320  43 22   5.9   3.2 |  -8.6  16.5  325  48 25   3.9   2.1
 16000 -10.3  13.5  315  40 21   6.2   3.4 |  -8.0  17.6  325  44 23   3.8   2.1
 15500  -9.4  15.1  315  38 19   6.2   3.4 |  -7.4  18.7  325  41 21   3.8   2.1
 15000  -8.4  16.9  315  35 18   6.6   3.6 |  -6.8  19.8  325  37 19   4.4   2.4
 14500  -7.5  18.5  315  32 17   6.6   3.6 |  -6.2  20.8  325  33 17   4.3   2.4
 14000  -6.5  20.3  315  30 15   5.8   3.2 |  -5.5  22.1  320  30 15   5.4   2.9
 13500  -5.7  21.7  315  27 14   5.8   3.2 |  -4.8  23.4  320  27 14   5.3   2.9
 13000  -4.8  23.4  315  24 12   5.6   3.1 |  -4.0  24.8  315  24 12   6.0   3.3
 12500  -4.0  24.8  315  21 11   5.6   3.1 |  -3.1  26.4  315  22 11   6.2   3.4
 12000  -3.2  26.2  315  19 10   5.7   3.1 |  -2.2  28.0  310  19 10   5.5   3.0
 11500  -2.4  27.7  310  17  9   5.8   3.2 |  -1.5  29.3  310  17  9   5.3   2.9
 11000  -1.5  29.3  310  15  8   5.7   3.1 |  -0.7  30.7  305  15  8   5.4   2.9
 10500  -0.7  30.7  305  14  7   5.8   3.2 |   0.0  32.0  300  14  7   5.4   2.9
 10250  -0.3  31.5  305  13  7   4.9   2.7 |   0.4  32.7  295  13  7   5.5   3.0
 10000   0.0  32.0  305  14  7   5.5   3.0 |   0.8  33.4  295  13  7   5.7   3.2
  9750   0.5  32.9  305  13  7   6.6   3.6 |   1.3  34.3  295  12  6   5.8   3.2
  9500   1.0  33.8  300  12  6   6.5   3.6 |   1.7  35.1  295  12  6   5.8   3.2
  9250   1.4  34.5  300  11  6   6.0   3.3 |   2.1  35.8  290  11  6   5.9   3.2
  9000   1.8  35.2  295  10  5   5.5   3.0 |   2.5  36.5  290  11  6   6.3   3.5
  8750   2.3  36.1  290   9  5   6.1   3.4 |   3.0  37.4  285  10  5   6.7   3.7
  8500   2.7  36.9  285   8  4   6.5   3.6 |   3.5  38.3  285   9  5   6.9   3.8
  8250   3.2  37.8  280   6  3   5.4   3.0 |   4.3  39.7  280   7  4   4.6   2.5
  8000   4.0  39.2  270   6  3   6.8   3.7 |   4.8  40.6  275   7  3   8.9   4.9
  7750   4.5  40.1  255   5  2   7.5   4.1 |   5.5  41.9  275   6  3   9.5   5.2
  7500   5.0  41.0  245   4  2   6.0   3.3 |   6.1  43.0  270   5  3   6.4   3.5
  7250   5.4  41.7  240   4  2   5.0   2.8 |   6.5  43.7  270   5  2   4.6   2.5
  7000   5.9  42.6  230   4  2   7.6   4.2 |   7.0  44.6  270   4  2  12.5   6.9
  6750   6.5  43.7  210   4  2   6.7   3.7 |   8.2  46.8  270   4  2  13.0   7.1
  6500   6.8  44.2  200   3  2   3.7   2.0 |   8.8  47.8  275   3  2   7.2   3.9
  6250   7.1  44.8  190   3  2   4.4   2.4 |   9.4  48.9  280   3  2   7.7   4.2
  6000   7.4  45.3  175   3  2   4.4   2.4 |  10.0  50.0  290   3  1  12.0   6.6
  5750   7.7  45.9  170   3  1   3.3   1.8 |  11.3  52.3  280   3  1  23.7  13.0
  5500   7.6  45.7  150   2  1  -8.1  -4.5 |  12.6  54.7  290   3  1  -0.1  -0.1
  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

           10/18/2025 at 1500 MDT          |       10/18/2025 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +8.8        | CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +8.4
CINH...    -0.0    K Index...  -8.7        | CINH...    -0.1    K Index...  -6.4
                                           |
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 -63.6 -82.5  295  38 20   4.1   2.3 | -64.6 -84.3  300  41 21   3.7   2.0
 45000 -58.0 -72.4  300  45 23   1.6   0.9 | -59.4 -74.9  305  49 25   2.2   1.2
 40000 -55.4 -67.7  305  71 36   2.4   1.3 | -56.0 -68.8  310  62 32   3.8   2.1
 38000 -53.1 -63.6  305  66 34   3.9   2.2 | -52.8 -63.0  315  62 32   5.3   2.9
 36000 -50.7 -59.3  310  61 32   3.9   2.2 | -49.7 -57.5  315  61 31   5.2   2.9
 34000 -47.1 -52.8  310  60 31   7.6   4.2 | -45.8 -50.4  310  59 31   7.2   3.9
 32000 -42.5 -44.5  305  62 32   7.6   4.2 | -41.5 -42.7  305  58 30   7.2   3.9
 30000 -37.7 -35.9  305  62 32   8.5   4.6 | -37.0 -34.6  305  56 29   8.0   4.4
 29000 -35.1 -31.2  305  60 31   8.5   4.6 | -34.6 -30.3  305  55 28   8.0   4.4
 28000 -32.6 -26.7  305  59 31   8.5   4.6 | -32.2 -26.0  300  54 28   8.0   4.4
 27000 -30.2 -22.4  305  58 30   8.0   4.4 | -29.8 -21.6  300  53 27   7.8   4.3
 26000 -27.8 -18.0  310  56 29   8.0   4.4 | -27.5 -17.5  300  52 27   7.8   4.3
 25000 -25.4 -13.7  310  54 28   8.0   4.4 | -24.6 -12.3  295  51 26   7.8   4.3
 24000 -22.4  -8.3  315  51 26   7.9   4.3 | -22.2  -8.0  295  49 25   8.1   4.4
 23000 -20.1  -4.2  315  48 25   7.9   4.3 | -19.8  -3.6  300  46 24   8.1   4.4
 22000 -17.7   0.1  320  45 23   7.8   4.3 | -17.4   0.7  300  44 23   8.0   4.4
 21000 -15.2   4.6  320  45 23   8.5   4.7 | -14.9   5.2  300  42 22   8.4   4.6
 20000 -12.7   9.1  320  46 24   8.5   4.7 | -12.4   9.7  305  40 21   8.4   4.6
 19500 -11.4  11.5  320  46 24   8.5   4.6 | -11.2  11.8  305  39 20   8.4   4.6
 19000 -10.1  13.8  320  47 24   7.7   4.2 |  -9.9  14.2  310  38 20   7.8   4.3
 18500  -9.1  15.6  320  47 24   6.9   3.8 |  -8.8  16.2  310  37 19   7.4   4.1
 18000  -8.1  17.4  320  47 24   7.2   3.9 |  -7.7  18.1  315  36 19   7.5   4.1
 17500  -7.2  19.0  325  46 24   4.3   2.3 |  -6.7  19.9  315  35 18   5.4   3.0
 17000  -6.5  20.3  325  46 23   4.5   2.5 |  -5.9  21.4  315  35 18   5.6   3.1
 16500  -5.9  21.4  325  45 23   3.6   2.0 |  -5.0  23.0  320  34 18   4.7   2.6
 16000  -5.4  22.3  325  42 22   3.0   1.6 |  -4.4  24.1  320  33 17   4.2   2.3
 15500  -5.0  23.0  325  40 20   3.0   1.7 |  -3.8  25.2  325  32 17   4.0   2.2
 15000  -4.5  23.9  325  37 19   3.4   1.9 |  -3.3  26.1  325  31 16   3.4   1.8
 14500  -4.0  24.8  325  33 17   3.4   1.9 |  -2.8  27.0  325  29 15   3.4   1.8
 14000  -3.5  25.7  325  30 16   3.4   1.9 |  -2.2  28.0  325  27 14   3.6   2.0
 13500  -3.0  26.6  320  27 14   3.3   1.8 |  -1.7  28.9  325  25 13   3.5   1.9
 13000  -2.4  27.7  320  23 12   4.4   2.4 |  -1.2  29.8  325  23 12   4.1   2.3
 12500  -1.8  28.8  320  21 11   4.4   2.4 |  -0.6  30.9  320  20 10   4.1   2.2
 12000  -1.1  30.0  315  18  9   5.5   3.0 |   0.1  32.2  320  18  9   5.2   2.9
 11500  -0.3  31.5  315  15  8   5.7   3.1 |   0.9  33.6  315  15  8   5.3   2.9
 11000   0.5  32.9  310  13  7   6.5   3.5 |   1.7  35.1  315  13  7   6.1   3.4
 10500   1.5  34.7  305  11  6   6.7   3.7 |   2.5  36.5  305  11  6   6.2   3.4
 10250   1.9  35.4  305  10  5   6.1   3.4 |   3.0  37.4  305  10  5   6.5   3.6
 10000   2.4  36.3  305  10  5   6.7   3.7 |   3.5  38.3  305  10  5   7.2   4.0
  9750   2.9  37.2  305   9  5   7.8   4.3 |   4.0  39.2  300   9  4   7.6   4.2
  9500   3.5  38.3  305   8  4   7.6   4.2 |   4.5  40.1  295   8  4   7.2   3.9
  9250   4.0  39.2  300   8  4   7.5   4.1 |   5.1  41.2  290   7  4   8.7   4.8
  9000   4.5  40.1  300   8  4   7.2   4.0 |   6.3  43.3  285   6  3   6.5   3.5
  8750   5.1  41.2  300   7  4   7.3   4.0 |   6.8  44.2  280   6  3   6.6   3.6
  8500   5.6  42.1  300   6  3   7.4   4.0 |   7.3  45.1  280   5  3   7.1   3.9
  8250   6.5  43.7  300   6  3   5.7   3.1 |   7.8  46.0  280   5  3   7.6   4.2
  8000   7.0  44.6  300   5  3   9.5   5.2 |   8.4  47.1  280   5  3   7.9   4.3
  7750   7.8  46.0  295   5  2   9.7   5.3 |   9.0  48.2  280   4  2   7.6   4.2
  7500   8.4  47.1  300   4  2   6.9   3.8 |   9.5  49.1  280   4  2   6.8   3.7
  7250   8.8  47.8  300   5  2   5.7   3.1 |  10.0  50.0  280   4  2   6.4   3.5
  7000   9.4  48.9  300   4  2  12.4   6.8 |  10.5  50.9  280   4  2   8.5   4.7
  6750  10.5  50.9  300   4  2  12.3   6.8 |  11.2  52.2  280   3  2   8.7   4.8
  6500  11.1  52.0  300   4  2   7.3   4.0 |  11.7  53.1  285   3  1   7.2   4.0
  6250  11.7  53.1  305   4  2   7.7   4.2 |  12.2  54.0  295   3  1   7.9   4.3
  6000  12.3  54.1  305   4  2  12.1   6.7 |  12.8  55.0  305   2  1   7.2   4.0
  5750  13.7  56.7  305   4  2  23.9  13.1 |  13.2  55.8  295   2  1   4.7   2.6
  5500  15.0  59.0  305   4  2   1.4   0.8 |  13.3  55.9  320   2  1   1.2   0.7
  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.

042613