Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO

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UXUS97 KGJT 241306
SRGGJT

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
706 AM MDT Tuesday, June 24, 2025

This forecast is for Tuesday, June 24, 2025:

If the trigger temperature of 84.4 F/29.1 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 1591 ft/min (8.1 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 20917 ft MSL (16078 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 92.0 F/33.8 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 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................. 13115 ft MSL (8275 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Wednesday 06/25.... Excellent

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

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:49:19 / 20:44:07 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 54 min 48 sec (894 min 48 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:16:43 MDT... 73.88 degrees

Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 06/24/2025 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 14902 ft MSL (10063 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 18920 ft MSL (14081 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 19635 ft MSL (14796 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -1.9
K index......................... +14.3

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  -65.2 -85.4   215   63   32   4.9   2.7   86.7 188.0    30.8      M    M
 45000  -59.7 -75.5   215   93   48   6.3   3.4   70.1 158.2    22.9      M    M
 40000  -50.3 -58.5   215   96   49   7.9   4.4   61.9 143.4    19.0      M    M
 38000  -45.7 -50.3   220   87   45   5.4   2.9   60.1 140.1    18.3      M    M
 36000  -42.6 -44.7   215   92   47   6.7   3.7   56.1 133.0    16.0      M    M
 34000  -39.5 -39.1   220   87   45   5.2   2.9   52.3 126.1    13.6      M    M
 32000  -36.7 -34.1   220   80   41   2.3   1.3   47.1 116.7    10.1      M    M
 30000  -31.7 -25.1   215   74   38   8.5   4.7   45.9 114.7     9.5      M    M
 29000  -29.5 -21.1   220   69   36   5.8   3.2   44.9 112.9     8.9      M    M
 28000  -27.6 -17.7   215   63   32   5.8   3.2   43.7 110.7     8.0      M    M
 27000  -26.6 -15.9   220   62   32   6.9   3.8   41.2 106.1     6.1      M    M
 26000  -24.3 -11.7   220   59   30   7.7   4.2   40.4 104.7     5.6      M    M
 25000  -22.0  -7.6   220   56   29   6.3   3.5   39.6 103.2     5.0      M    M
 24000  -20.9  -5.6   215   51   26  -3.9  -2.2   37.4  99.3     3.3      M    M
 23000  -20.0  -4.0   210   53   28   6.2   3.4   35.0  95.0     1.3      M    M
 22000  -18.1  -0.6   210   57   29   8.8   4.8   33.9  93.1     0.3      M    M
 21000  -15.3   4.5   205   55   28   7.4   4.1   33.9  93.0     0.2      M    M
 20000  -13.6   7.5   205   53   27   7.8   4.3   32.5  90.5    -1.1   1524  7.7
 19500  -12.2  10.0   210   51   26   9.8   5.4   32.5  90.5    -1.1   1466  7.4
 19000  -10.8  12.6   205   47   24   7.9   4.4   32.4  90.4    -1.1   1409  7.2
 18500   -9.7  14.5   200   43   22   6.2   3.4   31.9  89.4    -1.6   1363  6.9
 18000   -8.6  16.5   195   39   20   8.4   4.6   31.5  88.7    -1.9   1315  6.7
 17500   -7.5  18.5   195   37   19   7.6   4.1   31.1  88.0    -2.3   1267  6.4
 17000   -5.7  21.7   195   37   19   9.7   5.3   30.8  87.4    -2.7   1191  6.1
 16500   -4.3  24.3   190   35   18   9.5   5.2   30.8  87.4    -2.7   1134  5.8
 16000   -2.9  26.8   190   30   16   9.5   5.2   30.8  87.4    -2.7   1077  5.5
 15500   -1.5  29.3   195   31   16   9.5   5.2   30.7  87.3    -2.8   1019  5.2
 15000   -0.0  32.0   200   26   13   9.5   5.2   30.7  87.3    -2.8    962  4.9
 14500    1.4  34.5   200   26   13   9.5   5.2   30.7  87.2    -2.8    905  4.6
 14000    2.8  37.0   205   27   14   9.5   5.2   30.6  87.1    -2.9    848  4.3
 13500    4.2  39.6   205   28   14   9.5   5.2   30.6  87.1    -3.0    791  4.0
 13000    5.6  42.1   205   29   15   9.5   5.2   30.5  87.0    -3.0    733  3.7
 12500    7.0  44.6   215   27   14   9.5   5.2   30.5  86.8    -3.1    676  3.4
 12000    8.4  47.1   215   25   13   9.5   5.2   30.4  86.7    -3.2    619  3.1
 11500    9.9  49.8   215   25   13   9.5   5.2   30.3  86.5    -3.3    562  2.9
 11000   11.3  52.3   215   25   13   9.5   5.2   30.2  86.4    -3.4    504  2.6
 10500   12.7  54.9   220   25   13   9.4   5.2   30.1  86.2    -3.5    447  2.3
 10250   13.4  56.1   220   25   13   9.2   5.1   30.1  86.1    -3.5    419  2.1
 10000   14.1  57.4   220   25   13   9.1   5.0   30.0  86.0    -3.6    391  2.0
  9750   14.7  58.5   215   24   12   9.1   5.0   30.0  85.9    -3.7    364  1.8
  9500   15.4  59.7   215   23   12   9.1   5.0   29.9  85.8    -3.7    336  1.7
  9250   16.1  61.0   210   22   11   9.1   5.0   29.9  85.7    -3.8    308  1.6
  9000   16.7  62.1   205   21   11   8.0   4.4   29.8  85.6    -3.9    282  1.4
  8750   17.3  63.1   200   21   11   7.2   4.0   29.6  85.3    -4.1    259  1.3
  8500   17.8  64.0   195   20   10   7.5   4.1   29.4  84.9    -4.3    236  1.2
  8250   18.3  64.9   190   20   10   6.2   3.4   29.2  84.6    -4.6    214  1.1
  8000   18.7  65.7   185   20   10   5.3   2.9   28.9  84.0    -4.9    195  1.0
  7750   19.1  66.4   175   20   10   5.5   3.0   28.5  83.4    -5.3    175  0.9
  7500   19.4  66.9   165   22   11   5.8   3.2   28.2  82.8    -5.6    156  0.8
  7250   19.8  67.6   160   23   12   4.4   2.4   27.9  82.2    -6.0    137  0.7
  7000   20.0  68.0   150   25   13  -0.4  -0.2   27.3  81.2    -6.6    125  0.6
  6750   20.0  68.0   150   28   14   2.2   1.2   26.5  79.8    -7.3    118  0.6
  6500   20.2  68.4   145   28   14  -2.1  -1.1   26.0  78.8    -7.9    104  0.5
  6250   19.8  67.6   135   25   13  -0.3  -0.2   24.9  76.8    -9.0    108  0.5
  6000   20.3  68.5   130   23   12   8.2   4.5   24.6  76.3    -9.3     87  0.4
  5750   20.8  69.4   120   22   11   7.1   3.9   24.4  75.9    -9.5     65  0.3
  5500   21.3  70.3   115   21   11   4.7   2.6   24.2  75.6    -9.8     43  0.2
  5250   21.1  70.0   120   20   10 -10.6  -5.8   23.3  74.0   -10.7     40  0.2
  5000   19.6  67.3   120   24   12 -29.7 -16.3   21.0  69.8   -13.0     79  0.4

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

           06/24/2025 at 0900 MDT          |       06/24/2025 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +2.1        | CAPE...    +0.7    LI...       +1.8
CINH...    -1.1    K Index... +17.8        | CINH...    -0.2    K Index... +18.8
                                           |
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 -63.4 -82.1  215  58 30   0.7   0.4 | -63.9 -83.0  215  62 32   0.9   0.5
 45000 -59.8 -75.6  215  88 45   6.5   3.6 | -60.2 -76.4  215  89 46   6.3   3.5
 40000 -50.2 -58.4  210  97 50   5.8   3.2 | -50.7 -59.3  210  99 51   6.3   3.4
 38000 -46.7 -52.1  210  93 48   5.8   3.2 | -47.0 -52.6  210  94 49   6.3   3.4
 36000 -43.3 -45.9  210  89 46   5.8   3.2 | -42.8 -45.0  210  90 46   6.3   3.5
 34000 -39.4 -38.9  215  84 43   5.8   3.2 | -39.2 -38.6  210  85 44   5.9   3.2
 32000 -35.9 -32.6  215  79 41   5.8   3.2 | -35.7 -32.3  210  79 41   5.9   3.2
 30000 -32.1 -25.8  215  72 37   6.4   3.5 | -31.9 -25.4  210  72 37   6.5   3.5
 29000 -30.2 -22.4  215  68 35   6.4   3.5 | -29.9 -21.8  210  68 35   6.5   3.5
 28000 -28.3 -18.9  215  64 33   6.5   3.5 | -28.0 -18.4  210  64 33   6.6   3.6
 27000 -26.3 -15.3  215  60 31   6.6   3.6 | -25.9 -14.6  210  61 31   7.1   3.9
 26000 -24.3 -11.7  215  55 28   6.6   3.6 | -23.8 -10.8  210  57 29   7.1   3.9
 25000 -22.3  -8.1  215  51 26   6.7   3.6 | -21.6  -6.9  210  53 27   7.1   3.9
 24000 -20.4  -4.7  215  47 24   6.4   3.5 | -19.6  -3.3  210  50 26   6.8   3.7
 23000 -18.5  -1.3  215  45 23   6.4   3.5 | -17.5   0.5  210  46 24   6.8   3.7
 22000 -16.6   2.1  210  42 22   6.4   3.5 | -15.0   5.0  210  42 22   6.3   3.5
 21000 -14.4   6.1  210  42 22   6.0   3.3 | -13.3   8.1  210  42 21   5.7   3.1
 20000 -12.6   9.3  205  42 22   6.1   3.3 | -11.7  10.9  205  41 21   5.7   3.2
 19500 -11.8  10.8  205  42 22   6.0   3.3 | -10.8  12.6  205  41 21   5.8   3.2
 19000 -10.8  12.6  205  43 22   8.4   4.6 | -10.0  14.0  205  41 21   6.2   3.4
 18500  -9.6  14.7  205  43 22   8.2   4.5 |  -9.1  15.6  205  41 21   6.3   3.4
 18000  -8.4  16.9  205  43 22   8.3   4.6 |  -8.3  17.1  205  41 21   6.8   3.7
 17500  -7.2  19.0  205  43 22   8.4   4.6 |  -7.2  19.0  205  40 21   7.2   3.9
 17000  -6.1  21.0  205  43 22   8.4   4.6 |  -6.2  20.8  205  40 20   7.3   4.0
 16500  -4.9  23.2  205  42 21   8.3   4.5 |  -5.1  22.8  205  39 20   7.9   4.3
 16000  -3.7  25.3  205  41 21   8.3   4.6 |  -4.0  24.8  205  37 19   7.8   4.3
 15500  -2.5  27.5  210  40 20   8.0   4.4 |  -2.8  27.0  205  35 18   8.4   4.6
 15000  -1.3  29.7  210  39 20   7.9   4.3 |  -1.6  29.1  205  34 17   8.5   4.7
 14500  -0.1  31.8  210  38 19   8.0   4.4 |  -0.3  31.5  205  32 16   8.7   4.8
 14000   1.1  34.0  210  36 19   8.1   4.4 |   1.0  33.8  205  29 15   8.9   4.9
 13500   2.4  36.3  210  35 18   8.1   4.4 |   2.4  36.3  210  27 14   9.0   4.9
 13000   3.6  38.5  210  33 17   8.2   4.5 |   3.7  38.7  210  26 13   9.1   5.0
 12500   4.8  40.6  210  31 16   8.2   4.5 |   5.1  41.2  210  24 12   9.1   5.0
 12000   6.1  43.0  210  29 15   8.4   4.6 |   6.5  43.7  210  22 12   9.1   5.0
 11500   7.4  45.3  205  27 14   8.4   4.6 |   7.8  46.0  210  21 11   9.1   5.0
 11000   8.7  47.7  205  25 13   8.8   4.8 |   9.2  48.6  210  20 10   9.0   4.9
 10500  10.1  50.2  205  23 12   7.2   4.0 |  10.6  51.1  210  19 10   7.3   4.0
 10250  10.5  50.9  210  22 11   7.6   4.2 |  11.0  51.8  210  17  9   7.8   4.3
 10000  11.2  52.2  210  22 11   9.9   5.5 |  11.8  53.2  215  17  9  10.4   5.7
  9750  11.9  53.4  210  21 11   9.3   5.1 |  12.5  54.5  215  17  9   9.7   5.3
  9500  12.7  54.9  210  21 11   9.5   5.2 |  13.3  55.9  215  17  9  10.0   5.5
  9250  13.4  56.1  210  20 10   9.5   5.2 |  14.0  57.2  220  16  8  10.2   5.6
  9000  14.0  57.2  210  19 10   8.6   4.7 |  14.8  58.6  220  15  8   9.7   5.3
  8750  14.6  58.3  210  19 10   8.0   4.4 |  15.5  59.9  220  15  8   9.3   5.1
  8500  15.3  59.5  210  19 10   8.1   4.5 |  16.2  61.2  220  15  8   9.4   5.2
  8250  15.8  60.4  210  18  9   7.8   4.3 |  17.6  63.7  225  14  7   9.9   5.4
  8000  17.0  62.6  205  17  9   8.5   4.7 |  18.4  65.1  225  14  7  10.7   5.9
  7750  17.6  63.7  205  16  8   7.7   4.2 |  19.1  66.4  225  14  7  10.0   5.5
  7500  18.1  64.6  200  15  8   6.3   3.5 |  19.8  67.6  225  13  7   8.8   4.8
  7250  18.6  65.5  200  14  7   6.5   3.6 |  20.5  68.9  225  13  7   9.2   5.1
  7000  19.1  66.4  195  14  7   8.4   4.6 |  21.3  70.3  230  13  7  11.3   6.2
  6750  19.7  67.5  195  13  7   9.1   5.0 |  22.1  71.8  230  13  6  11.5   6.3
  6500  20.4  68.7  190  12  6   9.0   4.9 |  23.0  73.4  230  12  6  11.2   6.1
  6250  21.0  69.8  190  11  6   8.4   4.6 |  23.8  74.8  230  12  6  10.0   5.5
  6000  21.7  71.1  190  10  5   9.9   5.5 |  24.6  76.3  230  11  6  12.9   7.1
  5750  22.6  72.7  190   9  5  17.4   9.5 |  26.0  78.8  235  11  5  27.0  14.8
  5500  24.1  75.4  185   8  4  22.0  12.1 |  28.5  83.3  235  10  5  37.2  20.4
  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

           06/24/2025 at 1500 MDT          |       06/24/2025 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...   +19.5    LI...       +0.1        | CAPE...   +26.1    LI...       -0.2
CINH...    -1.6    K Index... +18.9        | CINH...    -7.4    K Index... +20.2
                                           |
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 -63.8 -82.8  215  62 32   1.0   0.5 | -63.3 -81.9  220  57 29   1.1   0.6
 45000 -60.1 -76.2  215  86 45   6.0   3.3 | -59.7 -75.5  215  84 43   5.5   3.0
 40000 -51.0 -59.8  205  96 49   6.9   3.8 | -51.3 -60.3  205  96 49   6.8   3.7
 38000 -46.9 -52.4  205  93 48   6.9   3.8 | -47.3 -53.1  205  93 48   6.7   3.7
 36000 -42.2 -44.0  205  90 46   7.1   3.9 | -42.7 -44.9  205  89 46   6.9   3.8
 34000 -38.8 -37.8  210  84 43   5.4   3.0 | -39.2 -38.6  205  83 43   5.8   3.2
 32000 -35.5 -31.9  210  78 40   5.4   3.0 | -35.7 -32.3  205  76 39   5.7   3.1
 30000 -31.7 -25.1  210  71 37   6.7   3.7 | -31.8 -25.2  210  69 36   6.9   3.8
 29000 -29.7 -21.5  210  67 35   6.7   3.7 | -29.7 -21.5  210  65 34   6.9   3.8
 28000 -27.7 -17.9  210  63 33   6.9   3.8 | -27.6 -17.7  210  62 32   7.1   3.9
 27000 -25.5 -13.9  210  60 31   7.4   4.1 | -25.4 -13.7  210  58 30   7.6   4.2
 26000 -23.3  -9.9  210  56 29   7.4   4.1 | -23.1  -9.6  210  54 28   7.6   4.2
 25000 -21.1  -6.0  210  53 27   7.5   4.1 | -20.8  -5.4  210  51 26   7.7   4.2
 24000 -19.1  -2.4  205  49 25   6.3   3.4 | -18.8  -1.8  210  47 24   6.1   3.4
 23000 -17.2   1.0  205  46 23   6.3   3.4 | -17.0   1.4  210  43 22   6.2   3.4
 22000 -14.9   5.2  205  41 21   5.8   3.2 | -14.8   5.4  210  38 20   5.9   3.2
 21000 -13.4   7.9  205  38 19   5.2   2.9 | -13.2   8.2  210  33 17   5.5   3.0
 20000 -11.9  10.6  205  35 18   5.4   3.0 | -11.6  11.1  205  29 15   5.7   3.1
 19500 -11.1  12.0  205  34 17   5.4   3.0 | -10.8  12.6  205  26 14   5.7   3.1
 19000 -10.2  13.6  205  32 17   7.9   4.3 |  -9.8  14.4  205  25 13   8.4   4.6
 18500  -9.1  15.6  205  31 16   7.8   4.3 |  -8.7  16.3  205  24 12   8.2   4.5
 18000  -8.0  17.6  205  30 15   8.3   4.6 |  -7.5  18.5  205  23 12   8.6   4.7
 17500  -6.7  19.9  205  29 15   8.7   4.8 |  -6.2  20.8  205  22 11   8.9   4.9
 17000  -5.4  22.3  205  28 14   8.7   4.8 |  -4.8  23.4  205  22 11   9.0   4.9
 16500  -4.1  24.6  205  27 14   9.3   5.1 |  -3.5  25.7  205  21 11   9.3   5.1
 16000  -2.7  27.1  205  26 13   9.3   5.1 |  -2.1  28.2  205  21 11   9.2   5.1
 15500  -1.4  29.5  205  25 13   9.2   5.0 |  -0.7  30.7  205  20 10   9.4   5.1
 15000   0.0  32.0  205  24 13   9.2   5.0 |   0.7  33.3  205  20 10   9.4   5.1
 14500   1.4  34.5  205  24 12   9.2   5.1 |   2.1  35.8  210  19 10   9.4   5.1
 14000   2.8  37.0  205  23 12   9.3   5.1 |   3.5  38.3  210  19 10   9.3   5.1
 13500   4.2  39.6  205  22 11   9.3   5.1 |   4.9  40.8  210  18  9   9.3   5.1
 13000   5.5  41.9  210  21 11   9.1   5.0 |   6.3  43.3  215  18  9   9.3   5.1
 12500   6.9  44.4  210  21 11   9.1   5.0 |   7.6  45.7  215  17  9   9.3   5.1
 12000   8.2  46.8  210  20 10   9.0   4.9 |   9.0  48.2  215  17  9   9.2   5.1
 11500   9.6  49.3  210  19 10   9.1   5.0 |  10.4  50.7  220  16  8   9.4   5.2
 11000  10.9  51.6  215  18  9   8.4   4.6 |  11.7  53.1  220  16  8   7.8   4.3
 10500  12.1  53.8  220  16  8   9.7   5.3 |  12.8  55.0  225  15  8  10.9   6.0
 10250  12.9  55.2  220  16  8  10.4   5.7 |  13.8  56.8  225  15  8  12.0   6.6
 10000  13.6  56.5  220  16  8   9.1   5.0 |  14.5  58.1  230  15  8   8.5   4.7
  9750  14.3  57.7  225  16  8   9.4   5.2 |  15.2  59.4  230  15  8   9.2   5.1
  9500  15.0  59.0  225  16  8   9.4   5.1 |  15.9  60.6  235  14  7   9.3   5.1
  9250  15.8  60.4  230  15  8  10.2   5.6 |  16.5  61.7  235  14  7   7.8   4.3
  9000  16.5  61.7  230  14  7  10.0   5.5 |  17.1  62.8  235  13  7   8.2   4.5
  8750  17.2  63.0  230  15  8   9.3   5.1 |  17.8  64.0  240  13  7   9.9   5.4
  8500  18.7  65.7  230  15  8   9.3   5.1 |  19.2  66.6  240  14  7   8.8   4.8
  8250  19.4  66.9  235  14  7   9.9   5.4 |  19.9  67.8  245  13  7   9.3   5.1
  8000  20.1  68.2  235  14  7  10.6   5.8 |  20.6  69.1  245  13  7  10.4   5.7
  7750  20.9  69.6  235  14  7  10.1   5.6 |  21.4  70.5  245  13  7  10.0   5.5
  7500  21.6  70.9  235  14  7   8.9   4.9 |  22.1  71.8  245  13  7   9.1   5.0
  7250  22.3  72.1  235  14  7   9.2   5.0 |  22.8  73.0  245  13  7   9.1   5.0
  7000  23.0  73.4  240  14  7  11.1   6.1 |  23.5  74.3  250  13  7  10.6   5.8
  6750  23.9  75.0  240  14  7  11.5   6.3 |  24.3  75.7  250  13  7  10.9   6.0
  6500  24.7  76.5  240  13  7  11.2   6.2 |  25.1  77.2  250  13  6  10.5   5.8
  6250  25.6  78.1  240  13  7  10.8   5.9 |  25.9  78.6  250  12  6  10.6   5.8
  6000  26.4  79.5  240  13  6  10.9   6.0 |  26.7  80.1  250  12  6   8.8   4.8
  5750  27.4  81.3  240  12  6  21.6  11.9 |  27.3  81.1  250  11  6  12.5   6.9
  5500  30.3  86.5  245  11  6  63.6  34.9 |  29.4  84.9  255  10  5  53.3  29.2
  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
________________________________________________________________________________

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