Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
981 UXUS97 KGJT 061308 SRGGJT Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado 708 AM MDT Monday, May 6, 2024 This forecast is for Monday, May 6, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 42.5 F/5.8 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good Maximum rate of lift........................ 1463 ft/min (7.4 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 21315 ft MSL (16476 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 62.0 F/17.1 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0645 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ None Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None Surface winds during soaring window............ Between 20 mph and 30 mph Height of the -3 thermal index................. 18453 ft MSL (13613 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Tuesday 05/07...... Good Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:09:05 / 20:12:20 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 3 min 15 sec (843 min 15 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:10:42 MDT... 67.60 degrees Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 05/06/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 6322 ft MSL (1483 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 9634 ft MSL (4795 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 13870 ft MSL (9031 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -2.5 K index......................... +15.1 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 -54.6 -66.3 215 21 11 6.4 3.5 110.4 230.7 53.4 M M 45000 -51.0 -59.8 245 30 15 3.8 2.1 90.6 195.0 45.1 M M 40000 -46.7 -52.1 235 28 14 -2.6 -1.4 74.3 165.8 37.6 M M 38000 -44.8 -48.6 270 21 11 5.1 2.8 68.4 155.1 34.6 M M 36000 -41.8 -43.2 255 32 17 5.1 2.8 64.2 147.6 32.6 M M 34000 -41.1 -42.0 250 45 23 -4.4 -2.4 56.9 134.4 28.3 M M 32000 -39.5 -39.1 245 47 24 4.4 2.4 49.9 121.8 24.0 M M 30000 -40.4 -40.7 235 43 22 -2.5 -1.4 40.6 105.1 17.8 M M 29000 -39.7 -39.5 245 43 22 -0.2 -0.1 37.6 99.7 15.7 M M 28000 -40.1 -40.2 230 40 21 1.8 1.0 33.3 92.0 12.7 M M 27000 -39.5 -39.1 230 40 21 2.1 1.2 30.2 86.4 10.4 M M 26000 -38.4 -37.1 250 29 15 4.2 2.3 27.9 82.3 8.8 M M 25000 -37.2 -35.0 240 25 13 4.2 2.3 25.8 78.5 7.2 M M 24000 -35.9 -32.6 265 32 16 2.1 1.2 23.7 74.7 5.6 M M 23000 -35.6 -32.1 260 32 16 4.0 2.2 20.4 68.8 3.0 M M 22000 -34.5 -30.1 260 27 14 4.4 2.4 18.2 64.7 1.2 M M 21000 -33.4 -28.1 230 27 14 -1.1 -0.6 16.1 60.9 -0.5 1449 7.4 20000 -32.1 -25.8 255 29 15 8.2 4.5 14.0 57.2 -2.3 1383 7.0 19500 -30.9 -23.6 255 28 15 8.4 4.6 13.8 56.8 -2.5 1331 6.8 19000 -29.6 -21.3 260 28 15 8.5 4.7 13.6 56.4 -2.7 1278 6.5 18500 -28.3 -18.9 260 30 16 8.5 4.7 13.3 56.0 -2.9 1225 6.2 18000 -27.1 -16.8 260 33 17 8.5 4.6 13.1 55.6 -3.1 1172 6.0 17500 -25.8 -14.4 260 35 18 8.9 4.9 12.9 55.3 -3.3 1119 5.7 17000 -23.8 -10.8 260 36 18 9.0 4.9 12.7 54.9 -3.6 1037 5.3 16500 -22.5 -8.5 260 34 18 9.0 4.9 12.6 54.7 -3.7 983 5.0 16000 -21.2 -6.2 265 31 16 9.1 5.0 12.4 54.4 -3.9 928 4.7 15500 -19.9 -3.8 260 30 15 7.3 4.0 12.2 54.0 -4.1 877 4.5 15000 -18.9 -2.0 260 28 14 7.2 3.9 11.8 53.2 -4.5 830 4.2 14500 -17.8 -0.0 265 27 14 7.2 3.9 11.4 52.5 -5.0 783 4.0 14000 -16.7 1.9 260 25 13 7.2 3.9 10.9 51.7 -5.4 737 3.7 13500 -15.7 3.7 260 23 12 7.2 3.9 10.5 50.9 -5.8 690 3.5 13000 -14.6 5.7 265 20 10 7.2 3.9 10.1 50.1 -6.3 644 3.3 12500 -13.6 7.5 265 21 11 7.4 4.1 9.7 49.4 -6.7 597 3.0 12000 -12.5 9.5 265 25 13 7.4 4.1 9.3 48.7 -7.1 550 2.8 11500 -11.4 11.5 265 27 14 6.7 3.7 8.9 48.1 -7.5 502 2.6 11000 -10.5 13.1 270 33 17 5.6 3.1 8.3 46.9 -8.2 462 2.3 10500 -9.7 14.5 270 33 17 5.6 3.1 7.6 45.7 -8.9 423 2.1 10250 -9.3 15.3 270 33 17 5.8 3.2 7.3 45.1 -9.2 403 2.0 10000 -8.9 16.0 265 34 18 4.9 2.7 7.0 44.5 -9.6 383 1.9 9750 -8.5 16.7 265 33 17 6.9 3.8 6.6 43.9 -9.9 364 1.8 9500 -7.9 17.8 265 32 17 9.3 5.1 6.5 43.7 -10.0 338 1.7 9250 -7.2 19.0 265 32 17 8.3 4.6 6.4 43.6 -10.2 311 1.6 9000 -6.6 20.1 255 33 17 9.7 5.3 6.3 43.4 -10.3 284 1.4 8750 -5.9 21.4 255 33 17 5.1 2.8 6.3 43.3 -10.4 258 1.3 8500 -5.8 21.6 250 32 17 3.5 1.9 5.7 42.3 -11.0 245 1.2 8250 -5.3 22.5 245 32 16 8.7 4.8 5.5 41.8 -11.2 223 1.1 8000 -4.6 23.7 240 31 16 9.2 5.1 5.4 41.8 -11.3 195 1.0 7750 -3.9 25.0 240 31 16 9.1 5.0 5.4 41.7 -11.4 168 0.9 7500 -3.2 26.2 240 30 15 9.1 5.0 5.3 41.6 -11.5 140 0.7 7250 -2.6 27.3 240 29 15 9.1 5.0 5.3 41.5 -11.6 112 0.6 7000 -1.9 28.6 230 31 16 9.1 5.0 5.2 41.4 -11.7 85 0.4 6750 -1.2 29.8 230 29 15 9.3 5.1 5.2 41.3 -11.8 57 0.3 6500 -0.5 31.1 225 26 13 8.5 4.7 5.1 41.2 -11.9 30 0.2 6250 0.0 32.0 225 22 12 7.3 4.0 5.0 40.9 -12.1 5 0.0 6000 0.6 33.1 230 17 9 8.6 4.7 4.8 40.7 -12.3 M M 5750 1.3 34.3 230 15 8 9.6 5.3 4.8 40.6 -12.3 M M 5500 2.0 35.6 235 12 6 9.6 5.2 4.8 40.6 -12.4 M M 5250 2.7 36.9 245 10 5 9.1 5.0 4.7 40.5 -12.4 M M 5000 3.4 38.1 240 8 4 11.0 6.0 4.7 40.5 -12.5 M M * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 05/06/2024 at 0900 MDT | 05/06/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +52.0 LI... +0.9 | CAPE... +53.4 LI... +2.0 CINH... -4.8 K Index... +11.1 | CINH... -0.2 K Index... +11.4 | 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 -50.9 -59.6 240 24 12 2.0 1.1 | -50.6 -59.1 250 20 10 2.4 1.3 45000 -47.9 -54.2 240 35 18 2.1 1.2 | -47.0 -52.6 255 35 18 2.0 1.1 40000 -44.5 -48.1 250 27 14 2.3 1.3 | -45.1 -49.2 260 32 17 1.2 0.7 38000 -43.4 -46.1 255 26 14 0.9 0.5 | -44.5 -48.1 270 33 17 0.3 0.2 36000 -42.8 -45.0 265 32 17 0.9 0.5 | -44.3 -47.7 275 35 18 0.3 0.2 34000 -42.2 -44.0 265 38 19 0.9 0.5 | -44.1 -47.4 280 38 19 0.3 0.1 32000 -41.6 -42.9 275 39 20 1.1 0.6 | -44.6 -48.3 285 46 23 -0.9 -0.5 30000 -40.9 -41.6 280 41 21 1.2 0.6 | -45.1 -49.2 290 54 28 -1.5 -0.8 29000 -40.6 -41.1 285 41 21 0.8 0.4 | -44.4 -47.9 295 55 29 3.8 2.1 28000 -40.4 -40.7 285 41 21 0.8 0.4 | -43.3 -45.9 295 56 29 3.7 2.1 27000 -40.1 -40.2 290 40 21 0.8 0.4 | -42.1 -43.8 295 56 29 3.7 2.1 26000 -39.8 -39.6 290 40 20 3.2 1.7 | -40.7 -41.3 295 56 29 7.7 4.2 25000 -38.8 -37.8 290 37 19 3.4 1.9 | -38.5 -37.3 295 54 28 7.3 4.0 24000 -37.7 -35.9 290 33 17 3.4 1.9 | -36.3 -33.3 295 53 27 7.3 4.0 23000 -36.7 -34.1 290 31 16 5.4 3.0 | -33.6 -28.5 300 51 26 6.9 3.8 22000 -34.4 -29.9 290 34 17 6.0 3.3 | -31.6 -24.9 300 50 26 6.9 3.8 21000 -32.6 -26.7 295 36 18 5.9 3.3 | -29.5 -21.1 300 48 25 7.1 3.9 20000 -30.7 -23.3 290 37 19 6.8 3.7 | -27.7 -17.9 300 46 24 5.9 3.2 19500 -29.7 -21.5 290 37 19 6.8 3.7 | -26.8 -16.2 300 45 23 5.9 3.2 19000 -28.7 -19.7 285 37 19 6.8 3.7 | -25.9 -14.6 300 44 23 5.9 3.2 18500 -27.7 -17.9 285 37 19 6.8 3.7 | -25.1 -13.2 300 43 22 5.9 3.2 18000 -26.6 -15.9 285 37 19 7.4 4.0 | -24.2 -11.6 300 41 21 5.9 3.2 17500 -25.5 -13.9 285 36 18 7.5 4.1 | -23.3 -9.9 300 39 20 5.9 3.3 17000 -24.4 -11.9 280 34 18 7.7 4.2 | -22.4 -8.3 300 37 19 6.4 3.5 16500 -23.2 -9.8 280 33 17 8.1 4.4 | -21.4 -6.5 295 35 18 6.9 3.8 16000 -22.0 -7.6 280 31 16 8.1 4.4 | -20.4 -4.7 295 33 17 7.6 3.8 15500 -20.8 -5.4 280 30 15 8.0 4.4 | -19.3 -2.7 290 32 16 7.1 3.9 15000 -19.6 -3.3 280 29 15 8.1 4.4 | -18.3 -0.9 290 30 15 7.1 3.9 14500 -18.5 -1.3 280 28 14 7.6 4.2 | -17.3 0.9 285 29 15 6.6 3.6 14000 -17.3 0.9 280 26 14 7.6 4.2 | -16.3 2.7 285 27 14 6.6 3.6 13500 -16.2 2.8 280 25 13 7.4 4.0 | -15.3 4.5 280 26 14 7.3 4.0 13000 -15.2 4.6 280 24 12 7.3 4.0 | -14.2 6.4 280 25 13 7.3 4.0 12500 -14.1 6.6 280 23 12 7.2 4.0 | -13.1 8.4 275 25 13 7.8 4.3 12000 -13.0 8.6 280 22 11 7.2 3.9 | -11.9 10.6 275 24 13 7.9 4.3 11500 -11.9 10.6 280 21 11 7.9 4.4 | -10.7 12.7 270 24 12 8.0 4.4 11000 -10.7 12.7 275 21 11 8.2 4.5 | -9.5 14.9 270 23 12 8.1 4.4 10500 -9.6 14.7 275 21 11 7.2 3.9 | -8.4 16.9 265 23 12 7.4 4.0 10250 -9.1 15.6 275 21 11 6.0 3.3 | -7.9 17.8 265 23 12 6.4 3.5 10000 -8.5 16.7 275 21 11 9.4 5.1 | -7.4 18.7 265 23 12 9.8 5.4 9750 -7.7 18.1 270 22 11 11.0 6.0 | -6.5 20.3 260 23 12 11.1 6.1 9500 -7.0 19.4 270 22 12 8.1 4.5 | -5.8 21.6 260 24 12 8.5 4.7 9250 -6.4 20.5 270 23 12 8.1 4.5 | -5.2 22.6 260 24 12 8.7 4.8 9000 -5.8 21.6 270 23 12 8.3 4.6 | -4.5 23.9 255 24 12 9.6 5.3 8750 -5.2 22.6 265 24 12 8.4 4.6 | -3.8 25.2 255 24 12 10.2 5.6 8500 -4.6 23.7 260 23 12 8.3 4.5 | -2.3 27.9 255 23 12 10.0 5.5 8250 -3.4 25.9 255 23 12 8.3 4.6 | -1.6 29.1 255 23 12 9.1 5.0 8000 -2.7 27.1 255 24 12 8.8 4.8 | -0.9 30.4 250 24 12 9.3 5.1 7750 -2.1 28.2 255 23 12 8.9 4.9 | -0.2 31.6 250 23 12 10.3 5.7 7500 -1.4 29.5 250 22 11 9.2 5.0 | 0.6 33.1 250 23 12 10.3 5.7 7250 -0.8 30.6 250 22 11 7.9 4.3 | 1.3 34.3 250 22 12 8.5 4.7 7000 -0.2 31.6 250 23 12 8.9 4.9 | 1.9 35.4 250 24 12 9.2 5.1 6750 0.6 33.1 250 22 11 10.8 5.9 | 2.8 37.0 250 22 11 11.5 6.3 6500 1.3 34.3 250 20 10 10.3 5.6 | 3.6 38.5 250 21 11 10.9 6.0 6250 2.1 35.8 250 20 10 11.3 6.2 | 4.4 39.9 250 21 11 12.1 6.6 6000 2.9 37.2 250 20 11 9.1 5.0 | 5.3 41.5 250 22 11 9.3 5.1 5750 3.5 38.3 250 18 9 9.7 5.3 | 6.0 42.8 250 19 10 13.3 7.3 5500 5.3 41.5 250 15 8 50.0 27.4 | 8.7 47.7 250 17 9 78.7 43.2 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 05/06/2024 at 1500 MDT | 05/06/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +23.2 LI... +1.5 | CAPE... +31.7 LI... +0.5 CINH... 0.0 K Index... +17.5 | CINH... -2.0 K Index... +18.6 | 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 -51.7 -61.1 255 23 12 3.1 1.7 | -52.7 -62.9 260 26 13 2.7 1.5 45000 -47.1 -52.8 270 33 17 2.0 1.1 | -48.6 -55.5 270 32 17 1.5 0.8 40000 -46.1 -51.0 275 46 23 0.6 0.4 | -48.0 -54.4 285 50 26 0.4 0.2 38000 -45.8 -50.4 280 49 25 0.2 0.1 | -47.4 -53.3 285 58 30 1.8 1.0 36000 -45.6 -50.1 285 49 25 0.2 0.1 | -46.3 -51.3 290 63 33 1.8 1.0 34000 -45.5 -49.9 290 49 25 0.1 0.1 | -45.2 -49.4 290 69 36 1.5 0.8 32000 -45.6 -50.1 290 49 25 -0.2 -0.1 | -44.5 -48.1 290 68 35 1.2 0.7 30000 -45.7 -50.3 290 49 25 0.3 0.2 | -43.7 -46.7 290 68 35 1.7 0.9 29000 -44.7 -48.5 290 49 25 3.9 2.2 | -43.0 -45.4 290 64 33 2.5 1.4 28000 -43.6 -46.5 290 49 25 3.9 2.1 | -42.2 -44.0 290 61 31 2.5 1.4 27000 -42.4 -44.3 290 49 25 4.0 2.2 | -41.5 -42.7 290 57 29 2.6 1.4 26000 -40.7 -41.3 290 48 25 8.1 4.5 | -40.2 -40.4 290 53 27 6.6 3.6 25000 -38.3 -36.9 290 47 24 8.0 4.4 | -38.2 -36.8 290 50 26 6.7 3.7 24000 -35.3 -31.5 290 45 23 8.0 4.4 | -36.2 -33.2 290 47 24 6.7 3.7 23000 -33.0 -27.4 290 44 23 7.8 4.3 | -33.4 -28.1 290 44 23 8.0 4.4 22000 -30.7 -23.3 290 43 22 7.8 4.3 | -31.0 -23.8 290 43 22 8.0 4.4 21000 -28.3 -18.9 295 41 21 7.8 4.3 | -28.6 -19.5 295 42 22 7.9 4.3 20000 -26.3 -15.3 295 40 21 6.7 3.7 | -26.4 -15.5 295 41 21 7.3 4.0 19500 -25.3 -13.5 295 39 20 6.7 3.7 | -25.3 -13.5 295 40 21 7.3 4.0 19000 -24.3 -11.7 295 39 20 6.7 3.7 | -24.3 -11.7 295 39 20 7.3 4.0 18500 -23.3 -9.9 295 38 20 6.7 3.7 | -23.2 -9.8 295 38 20 7.3 4.0 18000 -22.3 -8.1 295 37 19 6.4 3.5 | -22.1 -7.8 295 37 19 7.0 3.9 17500 -21.4 -6.5 295 36 19 6.4 3.5 | -21.1 -6.0 295 36 19 7.1 3.9 17000 -20.4 -4.7 295 36 18 6.4 3.5 | -20.0 -4.0 295 35 18 7.2 4.0 16500 -19.5 -3.1 290 35 18 6.4 3.5 | -19.0 -2.2 295 34 18 7.3 4.0 16000 -18.5 -1.3 290 34 18 6.7 3.7 | -17.9 -0.2 295 33 17 7.6 4.2 15500 -17.5 0.5 290 33 17 7.4 4.1 | -16.7 1.9 295 33 17 7.9 4.4 15000 -16.4 2.5 285 33 17 7.4 4.1 | -15.6 3.9 290 32 17 8.0 4.4 14500 -15.3 4.5 285 32 17 7.6 4.2 | -14.4 6.1 290 32 16 8.0 4.4 14000 -14.2 6.4 280 32 16 7.6 4.2 | -13.2 8.2 290 32 16 8.0 4.4 13500 -13.0 8.6 280 32 16 8.0 4.4 | -12.0 10.4 285 31 16 8.4 4.6 13000 -11.8 10.8 275 31 16 8.0 4.4 | -10.8 12.6 285 31 16 8.3 4.6 12500 -10.7 12.7 275 31 16 8.0 4.4 | -9.5 14.9 280 31 16 8.5 4.7 12000 -9.5 14.9 275 30 16 8.0 4.4 | -8.3 17.1 280 31 16 8.5 4.7 11500 -8.3 17.1 270 30 15 8.3 4.5 | -7.0 19.4 280 31 16 8.8 4.8 11000 -7.0 19.4 270 30 15 8.3 4.6 | -5.7 21.7 275 31 16 8.9 4.9 10500 -5.8 21.6 265 29 15 8.0 4.4 | -4.4 24.1 275 30 16 7.7 4.2 10250 -5.2 22.6 265 29 15 7.8 4.3 | -3.8 25.2 275 30 16 8.1 4.4 10000 -4.6 23.7 265 29 15 10.8 5.9 | -3.1 26.4 275 30 16 12.0 6.6 9750 -3.7 25.3 265 29 15 11.3 6.2 | -2.2 28.0 275 30 16 11.5 6.3 9500 -2.9 26.8 265 29 15 9.3 5.1 | -1.5 29.3 275 30 16 8.7 4.8 9250 -2.2 28.0 265 29 15 9.9 5.4 | -0.8 30.6 275 30 16 9.1 5.0 9000 -1.5 29.3 265 29 15 9.7 5.3 | -0.1 31.8 275 30 15 10.2 5.6 8750 -0.0 32.0 265 28 14 9.9 5.5 | 0.7 33.3 275 30 15 10.7 5.9 8500 0.7 33.3 265 27 14 9.8 5.4 | 2.2 36.0 270 29 15 10.0 5.5 8250 1.5 34.7 265 27 14 10.2 5.6 | 2.9 37.2 270 29 15 9.7 5.3 8000 2.3 36.1 265 28 14 10.4 5.7 | 3.7 38.7 270 30 15 9.8 5.4 7750 3.0 37.4 260 27 14 10.0 5.5 | 4.4 39.9 270 29 15 10.0 5.5 7500 3.8 38.8 260 26 13 10.3 5.6 | 5.1 41.2 270 28 14 10.0 5.5 7250 4.5 40.1 260 25 13 8.7 4.7 | 5.9 42.6 270 28 14 8.5 4.6 7000 5.1 41.2 260 27 14 9.5 5.2 | 6.5 43.7 270 29 15 9.3 5.1 6750 5.9 42.6 260 25 13 11.5 6.3 | 7.3 45.1 270 27 14 11.1 6.1 6500 6.8 44.2 260 23 12 10.9 6.0 | 8.1 46.6 270 25 13 10.6 5.8 6250 7.6 45.7 260 23 12 12.3 6.7 | 8.9 48.0 270 25 13 11.8 6.5 6000 8.5 47.3 260 24 12 9.0 5.0 | 9.7 49.5 270 26 13 9.1 5.0 5750 9.2 48.6 260 21 11 13.3 7.3 | 10.3 50.5 270 23 12 9.6 5.3 5500 12.2 54.0 260 19 10 87.7 48.1 | 12.3 54.1 270 19 10 55.2 30.3 5250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 5000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M ________________________________________________________________________________ This product is issued twice per day, once by approximately 0630 MST/0730 MDT (1330 UTC) and again by approximately 1830 MST/1930 MDT (0130 UTC). It is not continuously monitored nor updated after its initial issuance. The information contained herein is based on rawinsonde observation and/or numerical weather prediction model data taken at Walker Field in Grand Junction, Colorado at North Latitude: 39 deg 07 min 00.001 sec West Longitude: 108 deg 31 min 59.998 sec Elevation: 4839 feet (1475 meters) and may not be representative of other areas along the Western Slope of Colorado. Note that some elevations in numerical weather prediction models differ from actual station elevations, which can lead to data which appear to be below ground. Erroneous data such as these should not be used. The content and format of this report as well as the issuance times are subject to change without prior notice. Comments and suggestions are welcome and should be directed to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this page. To expedite a response to comments, be sure to mention your interest in the soaring forecast. DEFINITIONS: CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) - An integrated measure of the energy available for convective development, also known as the positive area on a thermodynamic diagram. Units are Joules per kilogram. Larger values are indicative of greater instability and the possibility of stronger convective activity, including thunderstorms. Values around or greater than 1000 suggest the possibility of severe weather should convective activity develop. CINH (Convective Inhibition) - An integrated measure of the amount of energy needed to initiate convective activity, also known as the negative area on a thermodynamic diagram. Units are Joules per kilogram. The more negative this number, the more energy is required to initiate convection. This inhibitive energy can be overcome through surface heating, cooling aloft, lifting mechanisms (orographic, frontal, gravity waves, etc.) Convective Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the average saturation mixing ratio in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass, if heated sufficiently from below, will rise dry adiabatically until it just becomes saturated. It estimates the base of cumulus clouds that are produced by surface heating only. Convection Temperature (ConvectionT) - The surface temperature required to make the airmass dry adiabatic up to the given level. It can be considered a "trigger temperature" for that level. Freezing Level - The height where the temperature is zero degrees Celsius. Height of Stable Layer - The height (between 12,000 and 18,000 feet above mean sea level) where the smallest lapse rate exists. The location and existence of this feature is important in the generation of mountain waves. K Index - A measure of stability which combines the temperature difference between approximately 5,000 and 18,000 feet above the surface, the amount of moisture at approximately 5,000 feet above the surface, and a measure of the dryness at approximately 10,000 feet above the surface. Larger positive numbers indicate more instability and a greater likelihood of thunderstorm development. One interpretation of K index values regarding soaring in the western United States is given in WMO Technical Note 158 and is reproduced in the following table: below -10 no or weak thermals -10 to 5 dry thermals or 1/8 cumulus with moderate thermals 5 to 15 good soaring conditions 15 to 20 good soaring conditions with occasional showers 20 to 30 excellent soaring conditions, but increasing probability of showers and thunderstorms above 30 more than 60 percent probability of thunderstorms Lapse Rate - The change with height of the temperature. Negative values indicate inversions. Lifted Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the average dew point in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass and the forecast maximum temperature must be lifted dry adiabatically to attain saturation. Lifted Index (LI) - The difference between the environmental temperature at a level approximately 18,000 feet above the surface and the temperature of an air parcel lifted dry adiabatically from the surface to its lifted condensation level and then pseudoadiabatically thereafter to this same level. The parcel`s initial temperature is the forecast maximum temperature and its dew point is the average dew point in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass. Negative values are indicative of instability with positive values showing stable conditions. Lift Rate - An experimental estimate of the strength of thermals. It is computed the same way as the maximum rate of lift but uses the actual level rather than the maximum height of thermals in the calculation. Also, none of the empirical adjustments based on cloudiness and K-index are applied to these calculations. Maximum Height of Thermals - The height where the dry adiabat through the forecast maximum temperature intersects the environmental temperature. Maximum Rate of Lift - An estimate of the maximum strength of thermals. It is computed from an empirical formula which combines the expected maximum height of thermals with the difference in the environmental temperatures between the maximum height of thermals and the temperature 4,000 feet above the ground. After this computation, further empirical adjustments are made based on the value of the K-index and the amount and opacity of middle and high level cloudiness expected between the time of trigger temperature and the time of overdevelopment. Middle/High Clouds - The amount and opacity of middle (altostratus, altocumulus) or high (cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus) clouds. Broken means that between 60% and 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud, with overcast conditions occurring when more than 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud. Thin implies that the clouds are predominantly transparent, meaning that some sunlight is reaching the ground, in contrast to opaque which suggests that little sunlight is reaching the ground. Potential Height of Wave - The minimum of the following two heights: 1. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists) where the wind direction changes by 30 degrees or more 2. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists) where the wind speed no longer increases with height PVA/NVA - Positive vorticity advection (PVA)/negative vorticity advection (NVA) on the 500 millibar isobaric surface (approximately 18,000 feet above mean sea level). Weak PVA has been shown to assist in mountain wave soaring. Soaring Window - The time between the time the trigger temperature is reached and the time of overdevelopment. Thermal Index - The difference between the environmental temperature and the temperature at a particular level determined by following the dry adiabat through the forecast maximum temperature up to that level. Negative values are indicative of thermal lift. Thermal Soaring Index - An adjective rating (for sailplanes) based on the computed maximum rate of lift, and the wind speed and middle and high cloud cover expected during the soaring window (the time of the trigger temperature and the time of overdevelopment) according to the following: Maximum rate of lift Adjective Rating >= 800 fpm Excellent >= 400 and < 800 fpm Good >= 200 and < 400 fpm Fair < 200 fpm Poor Time of Overdevelopment - The time one or more of the following phenomena, which essentially shut off thermal lift, is expected to occur: 1. formation of broken to overcast convective cloud cover 2. formation of scattered to numerous downbursts 3. initiation of widespread precipitation Time of Trigger Temperature - The time the surface temperature is expected to reach the trigger temperature. Trigger Temperature - The surface temperature required to make the first 4000 feet of the atmosphere dry adiabatic. Wave Soaring Index - An empirical, adjective rating (for sailplanes) which attempts to combine a variety of phenomena important in mountain wave soaring into a single index number. Objective points are assigned to these phenomena: wind speed and direction at 14,000 ft MSL, the static stability in the 12,000-18,000 ft MSL layer, the wind speed gradient above the stable layer, jet stream location and frontal and upper trough movements. 042613