Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

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UXUS97 KBOU 020115
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Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
1912 MDT Thursday, June 1, 2023

This forecast is for Friday, June 2, 2023:

If the trigger temperature of 65.1 F/18.4 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 639 ft/min (3.2 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 13095 ft MSL (7810 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 71.0 F/22.1 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1200 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 9463 ft MSL (4178 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Saturday 06/03..... Good

Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor
Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1800 MDT)......... Little change
Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... None
Weak PVA/NVA (through 1800 MDT)................ Weak PVA
Potential height of wave....................... 24501 ft MSL (19216 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Saturday 06/03........ Poor

Remarks... Scattered afternoon storms

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:32:59 / 20:22:00 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 49 min 1 sec (889 min 1 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:57:30 MDT... 72.45 degrees

Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/02/2023 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 12291 ft MSL (7006 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 12342 ft MSL (7057 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 12659 ft MSL (7374 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -0.7
K index......................... +16.9

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  -56.1 -69.0   190   25   13   4.8   2.6      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -49.9 -57.8   200   31   16   0.1   0.0      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -49.8 -57.6   190   27   14  -0.1  -0.0      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -48.7 -55.7   180   26   13   2.2   1.2      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -47.3 -53.1   170   25   13   2.2   1.2      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -45.2 -49.4   165   24   12   5.8   3.2      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -41.3 -42.3   170   23   12   5.8   3.2      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -37.3 -35.1   175   25   13   7.6   4.2   38.8 101.8    12.9      M    M
 29000  -35.0 -31.0   180   27   14   7.6   4.2   37.9 100.2    12.4      M    M
 28000  -32.7 -26.9   185   29   15   7.6   4.2   37.1  98.9    12.0      M    M
 27000  -30.4 -22.7   190   32   16   7.6   4.2   36.4  97.5    11.5      M    M
 26000  -28.1 -18.6   190   33   17   7.6   4.2   35.5  95.9    11.0      M    M
 25000  -25.8 -14.4   195   35   18   7.7   4.2   34.7  94.5    10.5      M    M
 24000  -23.6 -10.5   195   36   19   6.1   3.4   33.9  93.1    10.0      M    M
 23000  -21.8  -7.2   195   34   18   6.1   3.3   32.5  90.5     8.9      M    M
 22000  -20.0  -4.0   195   32   17   6.1   3.4   31.2  88.2     7.9      M    M
 21000  -18.1  -0.6   195   30   15   6.5   3.5   30.0  86.0     6.9      M    M
 20000  -16.2   2.8   195   26   13   6.4   3.5   28.7  83.7     5.9      M    M
 19500  -15.3   4.5   195   24   12   6.5   3.5   28.2  82.7     5.5      M    M
 19000  -14.3   6.3   195   22   12   6.5   3.6   27.6  81.7     5.0      M    M
 18500  -13.4   7.9   195   21   11   6.3   3.4   27.1  80.8     4.6      M    M
 18000  -12.4   9.7   195   19   10   6.3   3.4   26.5  79.6     4.0      M    M
 17500  -11.5  11.3   195   18    9   6.4   3.5   25.9  78.6     3.6      M    M
 17000  -10.5  13.1   195   17    9   6.8   3.7   25.4  77.6     3.1      M    M
 16500   -9.5  14.9   195   16    8   6.7   3.7   24.9  76.7     2.7      M    M
 16000   -7.9  17.8   195   15    8   7.3   4.0   24.2  75.5     2.0      M    M
 15500   -6.9  19.6   195   15    8   7.4   4.0   23.8  74.8     1.6      M    M
 15000   -5.8  21.6   195   15    8   7.8   4.3   23.4  74.1     1.3      M    M
 14500   -4.7  23.5   195   15    8   7.8   4.3   23.1  73.5     0.9      M    M
 14000   -3.6  25.5   195   15    8   7.8   4.3   22.8  73.0     0.6      M    M
 13500   -2.5  27.5   195   15    7   7.9   4.3   22.4  72.4     0.2      M    M
 13000   -1.4  29.5   195   14    7   7.6   4.2   22.1  71.8    -0.1    622  3.2
 12500   -0.3  31.5   195   13    7   7.6   4.1   21.8  71.2    -0.5    576  2.9
 12000    0.8  33.4   200   13    6   7.4   4.1   21.4  70.5    -0.9    529  2.7
 11500    1.8  35.2   200   12    6   7.4   4.1   21.0  69.9    -1.4    482  2.5
 11000    2.9  37.2   205   11    6   6.4   3.5   20.6  69.1    -1.8    437  2.2
 10500    3.7  38.7   205   10    5   5.1   2.8   20.0  68.1    -2.4    395  2.0
 10250    4.2  39.6   205   10    5   9.8   5.4   19.8  67.6    -2.7    375  1.9
 10000    5.0  41.0   210    9    4  10.5   5.7   20.0  67.9    -2.5    342  1.7
  9750    5.6  42.1   215    8    4   6.1   3.3   19.7  67.5    -2.8    319  1.6
  9500    6.1  43.0   215    7    4   7.8   4.3   19.5  67.2    -3.0    296  1.5
  9250    6.6  43.9   220    6    3   5.3   2.9   19.3  66.8    -3.2    273  1.4
  9000    6.9  44.4   225    6    3   5.5   3.0   18.9  66.0    -3.6    256  1.3
  8750    7.5  45.5   235    6    3   8.1   4.5   18.7  65.7    -3.8    232  1.2
  8500    8.0  46.4   245    5    3   8.2   4.5   18.6  65.5    -4.0    208  1.1
  8250    8.6  47.5   260    5    3   6.6   3.6   18.4  65.2    -4.1    183  0.9
  8000    9.0  48.2   270    5    3   5.5   3.0   18.1  64.6    -4.5    163  0.8
  7750    9.5  49.1   280    5    3   7.7   4.2   17.9  64.2    -4.7    141  0.7
  7500   10.1  50.2   290    6    3   8.6   4.7   17.8  64.0    -4.9    116  0.6
  7250   10.7  51.3   295    6    3   6.4   3.5   17.6  63.7    -5.0     91  0.5
  7000   11.1  52.0   300    7    4   4.8   2.6   17.3  63.1    -5.4     72  0.4
  6750   11.5  52.7   300    7    4   6.6   3.6   17.0  62.5    -5.7     52  0.3
  6500   12.0  53.6   305    8    4   5.3   2.9   16.7  62.1    -6.0     31  0.2
  6250   12.2  54.0   300    7    4   1.7   0.9   16.2  61.2    -6.5     17  0.1
  6000   12.2  54.0   295    7    3   1.3   0.7   15.6  60.1    -7.2      7  0.0
  5750   12.3  54.1   290    6    3   1.0   0.6   15.0  59.0    -7.9      M    M
  5500   12.1  53.8   275    5    3  -5.8  -3.2   14.1  57.4    -8.8      M    M

 * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *

           06/02/2023 at 0900 MDT          |       06/02/2023 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...  +181.7    LI...       -1.3        | CAPE...  +310.5    LI...       -2.4
CINH...   -62.1    K Index... +15.6`        | CINH...    -6.8    K Index... +21.3`
                                           |
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 -55.2 -67.4  195  21 11   3.7   2.0 | -54.7 -66.5  180  24 12   4.1   2.3
 45000 -50.2 -58.4  205  33 17   0.9   0.5 | -49.3 -56.7  195  30 15   1.3   0.7
 40000 -48.9 -56.0  185  31 16   0.8   0.4 | -47.3 -53.1  180  29 15   1.4   0.8
 38000 -47.9 -54.2  170  31 16   1.8   1.0 | -47.0 -52.6  170  31 16   0.4   0.2
 36000 -46.8 -52.2  160  33 17   1.8   1.0 | -46.8 -52.2  160  33 17   0.4   0.2
 34000 -45.1 -49.2  155  34 18   4.3   2.4 | -45.5 -49.9  155  35 18   4.1   2.2
 32000 -42.2 -44.0  165  34 17   4.3   2.4 | -43.0 -45.4  155  36 19   4.1   2.2
 30000 -38.7 -37.7  175  34 17   7.8   4.3 | -39.5 -39.1  160  34 18   8.2   4.5
 29000 -36.3 -33.3  180  34 18   7.8   4.3 | -37.0 -34.6  165  32 16   8.2   4.5
 28000 -34.0 -29.2  185  35 18   7.8   4.3 | -34.6 -30.3  170  30 15   8.2   4.5
 27000 -31.7 -25.1  185  36 18   7.9   4.3 | -32.1 -25.8  180  28 14   8.0   4.4
 26000 -29.3 -20.7  190  37 19   7.8   4.3 | -29.8 -21.6  185  27 14   8.0   4.4
 25000 -27.0 -16.6  190  37 19   7.9   4.3 | -27.4 -17.3  185  26 13   8.0   4.4
 24000 -24.7 -12.5  195  38 20   7.1   3.9 | -25.1 -13.2  190  25 13   6.7   3.7
 23000 -22.5  -8.5  195  37 19   7.0   3.9 | -23.1  -9.6  190  25 13   6.6   3.6
 22000 -20.4  -4.7  195  35 18   7.0   3.9 | -21.1  -6.0  185  25 13   6.6   3.6
 21000 -18.5  -1.3  195  33 17   5.1   2.8 | -19.1  -2.4  185  25 13   6.2   3.4
 20000 -16.9   1.6  195  31 16   5.3   2.9 | -17.3   0.9  185  24 13   6.3   3.4
 19500 -16.1   3.0  195  30 15   5.3   2.9 | -16.4   2.5  190  24 12   6.3   3.4
 19000 -15.3   4.5  195  28 15   5.3   2.9 | -15.4   4.3  190  24 12   6.2   3.4
 18500 -14.5   5.9  195  27 14   5.9   3.3 | -14.5   5.9  190  23 12   6.9   3.8
 18000 -13.6   7.5  195  25 13   6.0   3.3 | -13.5   7.7  190  23 12   6.9   3.8
 17500 -12.2  10.0  195  23 12   7.6   4.1 | -11.9  10.6  190  22 11   7.5   4.1
 17000 -11.1  12.0  195  21 11   7.7   4.2 | -10.8  12.6  190  22 11   7.6   4.2
 16500 -10.0  14.0  195  20 10   7.9   4.4 |  -9.7  14.5  190  21 11   7.7   4.2
 16000  -8.8  16.2  195  20 10   8.3   4.5 |  -8.5  16.7  190  21 11   7.9   4.3
 15500  -7.5  18.5  190  19 10   8.3   4.5 |  -7.4  18.7  185  21 11   8.0   4.4
 15000  -6.3  20.7  190  18  9   8.1   4.5 |  -6.2  20.8  185  21 11   8.2   4.5
 14500  -5.1  22.8  190  18  9   8.2   4.5 |  -5.0  23.0  185  21 11   8.2   4.5
 14000  -3.9  25.0  190  17  9   8.2   4.5 |  -3.7  25.3  185  21 11   8.4   4.6
 13500  -2.8  27.0  190  17  9   8.2   4.5 |  -2.5  27.5  185  20 10   8.4   4.6
 13000  -1.6  29.1  190  16  8   8.4   4.6 |  -1.3  29.7  185  19 10   8.4   4.6
 12500  -0.3  31.5  190  16  8   8.4   4.6 |  -0.0  32.0  185  19 10   8.4   4.6
 12000   0.9  33.6  190  15  8   8.3   4.5 |   1.2  34.2  185  18  9   8.5   4.6
 11500   2.1  35.8  190  14  7   8.3   4.5 |   2.4  36.3  185  17  9   8.5   4.7
 11000   3.3  37.9  190  14  7   7.1   3.9 |   3.6  38.5  185  15  8   7.2   4.0
 10500   4.2  39.6  195  13  7   5.9   3.2 |   4.6  40.3  180  13  7   6.0   3.3
 10250   4.7  40.5  195  13  7   9.8   5.4 |   5.0  41.0  180  12  6  10.5   5.8
 10000   5.5  41.9  195  13  6  10.1   5.6 |   6.0  42.8  175  11  6  11.7   6.4
  9750   6.1  43.0  195  12  6   6.4   3.5 |   6.6  43.9  175  10  5   7.9   4.3
  9500   6.6  43.9  195  11  6   7.8   4.3 |   7.2  45.0  175   9  5   9.3   5.1
  9250   7.1  44.8  200  11  6   5.9   3.3 |   7.8  46.0  170   8  4   7.5   4.1
  9000   7.5  45.5  200  10  5   6.0   3.3 |   8.4  47.1  170   8  4   8.6   4.7
  8750   8.0  46.4  200   9  5   7.6   4.2 |   9.1  48.4  170   8  4  10.8   5.9
  8500   8.5  47.3  205   8  4   7.3   4.0 |   9.9  49.8  170   7  4  10.5   5.8
  8250   9.0  48.2  210   7  3   7.0   3.8 |  10.7  51.3  165   7  4   9.6   5.3
  8000   9.5  49.1  210   6  3   6.6   3.6 |  11.3  52.3  170   7  4   9.0   4.9
  7750  10.0  50.0  220   5  3   6.9   3.8 |  12.0  53.6  165   7  4  10.1   5.6
  7500  10.5  50.9  230   4  2   7.0   3.9 |  12.8  55.0  165   6  3  10.3   5.6
  7250  11.0  51.8  245   3  2   6.3   3.5 |  13.5  56.3  160   6  3   9.0   5.0
  7000  11.4  52.5  250   3  2   5.9   3.2 |  14.2  57.6  165   6  3   8.5   4.7
  6750  11.9  53.4  255   3  2   7.9   4.3 |  14.9  58.8  165   6  3  11.3   6.2
  6500  12.5  54.5  265   3  1   8.9   4.9 |  15.8  60.4  160   5  3  12.0   6.6
  6250  13.1  55.6  265   2  1   8.2   4.5 |  16.6  61.9  160   5  3  10.3   5.7
  6000  13.6  56.5  265   2  1   7.7   4.2 |  17.4  63.3  160   5  2  10.0   5.5
  5750  14.2  57.6  260   2  1  10.3   5.6 |  18.1  64.6  160   5  2  10.8   5.9
  5500  15.2  59.4  285   2  1  18.0   9.9 |  19.1  66.4  155   4  2  19.1  10.5

           06/02/2023 at 1500 MDT          |       06/02/2023 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...  +309.9    LI...       -2.1        | CAPE...  +222.9    LI...       -1.6
CINH...   -13.9    K Index... +27.1`        | CINH...   -49.4    K Index... +27.5`
                                           |
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 -55.0 -67.0  170  19 10   4.5   2.4 | -55.8 -68.4  145  23 12   4.4   2.4
 45000 -49.3 -56.7  175  22 11   0.9   0.5 | -50.0 -58.0  150  29 15   1.4   0.8
 40000 -47.9 -54.2  170  30 15   0.9   0.5 | -47.9 -54.2  165  32 16   1.4   0.8
 38000 -47.3 -53.1  170  29 15   1.0   0.5 | -47.0 -52.6  165  30 15   1.2   0.7
 36000 -46.7 -52.1  165  28 14   1.0   0.5 | -46.3 -51.3  160  28 14   1.2   0.7
 34000 -45.5 -49.9  165  23 12   3.9   2.1 | -44.9 -48.8  155  22 11   3.6   2.0
 32000 -42.9 -45.2  175  11  6   3.9   2.1 | -42.8 -45.0  150  13  7   3.6   2.0
 30000 -39.3 -38.7  200   6  3   8.4   4.6 | -39.4 -38.9  140   6  3   8.3   4.5
 29000 -36.8 -34.2  200   6  3   8.4   4.6 | -36.9 -34.4  160   3  2   8.3   4.5
 28000 -34.3 -29.7  205   6  3   8.4   4.6 | -34.5 -30.1  215   2  1   8.3   4.5
 27000 -31.8 -25.2  210   6  3   7.9   4.3 | -32.0 -25.6  250   4  2   8.3   4.6
 26000 -29.5 -21.1  205   6  3   7.9   4.4 | -29.5 -21.1  250   5  3   8.3   4.6
 25000 -27.1 -16.8  200   7  3   8.0   4.4 | -26.4 -15.5  245   7  3   8.3   4.6
 24000 -24.8 -12.6  200   8  4   7.0   3.8 | -24.1 -11.4  240   8  4   6.8   3.7
 23000 -22.6  -8.7  200  10  5   7.1   3.9 | -22.1  -7.8  230   9  5   6.9   3.8
 22000 -20.5  -4.9  200  13  7   7.1   3.9 | -20.1  -4.2  220  10  5   6.9   3.8
 21000 -18.5  -1.3  195  15  8   6.4   3.5 | -18.0  -0.4  210  12  6   6.8   3.7
 20000 -16.6   2.1  195  17  9   6.5   3.5 | -16.0   3.2  205  15  8   6.8   3.8
 19500 -15.6   3.9  195  18  9   6.5   3.6 | -15.0   5.0  200  16  8   6.9   3.8
 19000 -14.7   5.5  195  18  9   6.4   3.5 | -14.0   6.8  200  17  9   6.9   3.8
 18500 -13.6   7.5  190  19 10   8.0   4.4 | -13.0   8.6  195  18  9   7.9   4.3
 18000 -12.5   9.5  185  18  9   7.9   4.4 | -11.8  10.8  190  17  9   7.8   4.3
 17500 -11.3  11.7  185  18  9   7.6   4.2 | -10.7  12.7  185  17  9   7.8   4.3
 17000 -10.2  13.6  180  18  9   7.3   4.0 |  -9.6  14.7  180  16  8   7.8   4.3
 16500  -9.2  15.4  175  19 10   7.3   4.0 |  -8.5  16.7  175  16  8   7.8   4.3
 16000  -8.2  17.2  170  19 10   7.1   3.9 |  -7.3  18.9  175  16  8   7.7   4.2
 15500  -7.1  19.2  165  19 10   7.2   3.9 |  -6.2  20.8  175  16  8   7.7   4.2
 15000  -6.1  21.0  165  19 10   7.6   4.2 |  -5.1  22.8  175  16  8   7.8   4.3
 14500  -4.4  24.1  155  19 10   7.6   4.2 |  -4.0  24.8  180  16  8   7.8   4.3
 14000  -3.2  26.2  155  18  9   9.1   5.0 |  -2.8  27.0  180  16  8   8.1   4.4
 13500  -1.9  28.6  150  16  8   8.9   4.9 |  -1.6  29.1  175  15  8   8.2   4.5
 13000  -0.5  31.1  150  15  8   9.4   5.1 |  -0.4  31.3  175  15  8   8.6   4.7
 12500   0.8  33.4  145  13  7   9.4   5.1 |   0.9  33.6  170  14  7   9.0   4.9
 12000   2.2  36.0  145  11  6   9.2   5.1 |   2.2  36.0  170  13  7   8.9   4.9
 11500   3.6  38.5  145  10  5   9.4   5.1 |   4.1  39.4  175  10  5   8.9   4.9
 11000   4.8  40.6  140   8  4   7.1   3.9 |   5.3  41.5  180   9  4   6.4   3.5
 10500   5.8  42.4  140   7  4   5.4   3.0 |   6.2  43.2  185   7  4   5.1   2.8
 10250   6.3  43.3  145   6  3  12.4   6.8 |   6.7  44.1  190   6  3  11.6   6.3
 10000   7.5  45.5  145   5  2  13.8   7.6 |   7.8  46.0  200   5  3  12.5   6.8
  9750   8.2  46.8  145   4  2   7.5   4.1 |   8.3  46.9  210   4  2   6.2   3.4
  9500   8.8  47.8  150   3  2  10.1   5.5 |   8.9  48.0  225   4  2   9.0   5.0
  9250   9.5  49.1  155   3  1   6.1   3.3 |   9.5  49.1  245   4  2   4.1   2.2
  9000   9.9  49.8  165   2  1   7.1   3.9 |   9.6  49.3  260   4  2   5.1   2.8
  8750  10.6  51.1  185   2  1  11.1   6.1 |  10.3  50.5  275   5  2  10.1   5.6
  8500  11.4  52.5  215   1  1  10.9   6.0 |  11.0  51.8  285   6  3   9.4   5.1
  8250  12.2  54.0  245   2  1   7.8   4.3 |  11.6  52.9  290   7  4   5.9   3.2
  8000  12.6  54.7  255   2  1   6.9   3.8 |  11.9  53.4  290   8  4   5.2   2.8
  7750  13.3  55.9  265   3  1  11.0   6.0 |  12.5  54.5  295  10  5   9.9   5.4
  7500  14.2  57.6  275   4  2  11.0   6.0 |  13.2  55.8  295  11  5   9.6   5.3
  7250  14.9  58.8  280   4  2   8.6   4.7 |  13.9  57.0  295  12  6   7.4   4.0
  7000  15.5  59.9  280   5  2   7.6   4.2 |  14.4  57.9  295  12  6   6.8   3.7
  6750  16.2  61.2  280   5  3  11.4   6.3 |  15.0  59.0  300  13  7  11.4   6.3
  6500  17.1  62.8  285   6  3  11.5   6.3 |  15.9  60.6  300  13  7  11.7   6.4
  6250  17.8  64.0  285   6  3   8.8   4.8 |  16.6  61.9  300  13  7   8.7   4.8
  6000  18.5  65.3  285   7  3   8.1   4.4 |  17.3  63.1  300  12  6   8.6   4.7
  5750  19.1  66.4  285   7  3  12.1   6.6 |  18.0  64.4  300  12  6  12.0   6.6
  5500  20.4  68.7  285   6  3  22.3  12.2 |  19.1  66.4  300  11  6  18.7  10.3
________________________________________________________________________________

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 near the old Stapleton
Airport site in Denver, Colorado at

                   North Latitude:  39 deg 46 min 5.016 sec
                   West Longitude: 104 deg 52 min 9.984 sec
                   Elevation: 5285 feet (1611 meters)

and may not be representative of other areas along the Front Range of the
Colorado Rocky Mountains.  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


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