Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO

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768
UXUS97 KGJT 151306
SRGGJT

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
706 AM MDT Tuesday, July 15, 2025

This forecast is for Tuesday, July 15, 2025:

If the trigger temperature of 80.6 F/27.0 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 1677 ft/min (8.5 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 23700 ft MSL (18092 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 100.0 F/38.2 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0845 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................. 20533 ft MSL (14925 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Wednesday 07/16.... Excellent

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

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:01:02 / 20:39:22 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 38 min 19 sec (878 min 19 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:20:12 MDT... 71.75 degrees

Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 07/15/2025 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 16107 ft MSL (10499 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 17027 ft MSL (11419 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 19485 ft MSL (13877 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -5.4
K index......................... +24.4

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  -63.1 -81.6   260   25   13   1.2   0.6      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -59.5 -75.1   255   33   17   5.2   2.8      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -51.8 -61.2   255   42   22   5.3   2.9      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -48.2 -54.8   245   42   22   5.3   2.9      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -45.0 -49.0   240   42   22   5.4   3.0      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -40.5 -40.9   240   39   20   7.7   4.2      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -35.9 -32.6   240   35   18   7.5   4.1      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -31.1 -24.0   240   32   17   7.9   4.3   43.7 110.6     4.4      M    M
 29000  -28.8 -19.8   245   31   16   7.9   4.3   43.0 109.4     3.9      M    M
 28000  -26.4 -15.5   245   30   15   7.4   4.1   42.4 108.3     3.5      M    M
 27000  -24.3 -11.7   250   30   15   7.1   3.9   41.3 106.3     2.7      M    M
 26000  -22.2  -8.0   255   30   15   7.1   3.9   40.3 104.5     1.9      M    M
 25000  -20.0  -4.0   255   30   15   7.1   3.9   39.4 103.0     1.2      M    M
 24000  -17.9  -0.2   260   29   15   7.0   3.8   38.4 101.0     0.3      M    M
 23000  -15.9   3.4   260   29   15   7.0   3.8   37.3  99.2    -0.5   1620  8.2
 22000  -13.8   7.2   260   29   15   7.0   3.8   36.4  97.6    -1.3   1529  7.8
 21000  -11.3  11.7   260   26   13   6.6   3.6   35.0  95.0    -2.6   1419  7.2
 20000   -9.4  15.1   265   23   12   6.7   3.7   33.9  93.1    -3.6   1331  6.8
 19500   -8.5  16.7   265   22   11   7.1   3.9   33.4  92.2    -4.1   1288  6.5
 19000   -7.3  18.9   270   22   11   8.6   4.7   33.2  91.7    -4.4   1238  6.3
 18500   -6.0  21.2   270   22   11   8.5   4.7   32.9  91.3    -4.7   1186  6.0
 18000   -4.8  23.4   275   22   11   9.0   4.9   32.8  91.0    -4.9   1133  5.8
 17500   -3.5  25.7   275   23   12   9.1   5.0   32.6  90.8    -5.1   1079  5.5
 17000   -2.1  28.2   275   24   12   9.0   4.9   32.5  90.6    -5.2   1024  5.2
 16500   -0.9  30.4   275   24   12   8.5   4.7   32.3  90.2    -5.5    971  4.9
 16000    0.4  32.7   275   24   12   8.6   4.7   32.1  89.9    -5.7    919  4.7
 15500    1.6  34.9   275   24   13   8.2   4.5   31.9  89.5    -6.0    867  4.4
 15000    2.8  37.0   275   24   12   8.2   4.5   31.7  89.0    -6.3    817  4.1
 14500    4.0  39.2   275   24   12   8.2   4.5   31.4  88.6    -6.6    766  3.9
 14000    5.2  41.4   270   23   12   8.2   4.5   31.2  88.1    -6.9    716  3.6
 13500    6.4  43.5   270   23   12   8.2   4.5   30.9  87.7    -7.2    665  3.4
 13000    7.6  45.7   270   22   11   8.2   4.5   30.7  87.2    -7.5    614  3.1
 12500    8.8  47.8   270   20   10   8.2   4.5   30.4  86.7    -7.8    563  2.9
 12000   10.0  50.0   270   19   10   8.1   4.5   30.2  86.3    -8.1    512  2.6
 11500   11.2  52.2   270   17    9   8.0   4.4   29.9  85.8    -8.4    461  2.3
 11000   12.2  54.0   270   15    8   6.2   3.4   29.5  85.0    -8.8    416  2.1
 10500   13.2  55.8   275   14    7   9.0   4.9   29.0  84.2    -9.3    371  1.9
 10250   13.9  57.0   275   13    7   7.8   4.3   29.0  84.1    -9.4    343  1.7
 10000   14.3  57.7   275   12    6   5.2   2.9   28.6  83.6    -9.8    323  1.6
  9750   14.8  58.6   275   10    5   5.5   3.0   28.3  83.0   -10.1    303  1.5
  9500   15.2  59.4   275    9    5   6.9   3.8   28.0  82.4   -10.4    284  1.4
  9250   15.7  60.3   275    8    4   7.2   4.0   27.9  82.2   -10.6    259  1.3
  9000   16.2  61.2   275    6    3   5.8   3.2   27.6  81.6   -10.9    238  1.2
  8750   16.6  61.9   270    5    2   6.4   3.5   27.3  81.1   -11.2    217  1.1
  8500   17.1  62.8   260    3    2   5.6   3.1   27.0  80.6   -11.5    196  1.0
  8250   17.5  63.5   210    2    1   4.5   2.5   26.7  80.0   -11.9    178  0.9
  8000   17.8  64.0   160    2    1   4.6   2.5   26.3  79.3   -12.3    160  0.8
  7750   18.1  64.6   135    4    2   4.7   2.6   25.9  78.6   -12.8    143  0.7
  7500   18.5  65.3   125    5    3   4.9   2.7   25.5  77.9   -13.2    125  0.6
  7250   18.8  65.8   125    7    4   4.9   2.7   25.1  77.2   -13.6    107  0.5
  7000   19.2  66.6   120    8    4   3.7   2.0   24.7  76.5   -14.0     89  0.5
  6750   19.4  66.9   115    9    4   3.5   1.9   24.2  75.6   -14.5     75  0.4
  6500   19.6  67.3   115    9    5   0.9   0.5   23.7  74.7   -15.1     62  0.3
  6250   19.5  67.1   110    9    5  -2.7  -1.5   22.9  73.1   -16.0     58  0.3
  6000   19.4  66.9   110    9    5   2.7   1.5   22.1  71.7   -16.8     53  0.3
  5750   19.6  67.3   105    9    5  -1.6  -0.9   21.6  70.8   -17.4     39  0.2
  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 * * * * * *

           07/15/2025 at 0900 MDT          |       07/15/2025 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...   +35.4    LI...       +0.3        | CAPE...  +194.5    LI...       -0.3
CINH...  -154.5    K Index... +20.3        | CINH...   -39.6    K Index... +19.7
                                           |
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 -63.5 -82.3  305  17  9   1.5   0.8 | -63.3 -81.9  290  16  8   1.3   0.7
 45000 -59.7 -75.5  300  24 12   5.1   2.8 | -59.6 -75.3  280  23 12   5.2   2.9
 40000 -51.3 -60.3  280  25 13   6.8   3.7 | -51.2 -60.2  275  27 14   6.1   3.3
 38000 -47.2 -53.0  275  25 13   6.8   3.7 | -47.6 -53.7  275  26 13   6.0   3.3
 36000 -43.1 -45.6  270  24 12   6.8   3.7 | -43.9 -47.0  275  24 12   6.0   3.3
 34000 -39.4 -38.9  275  23 12   6.2   3.4 | -40.5 -40.9  280  22 11   5.7   3.1
 32000 -35.7 -32.3  280  23 12   6.1   3.3 | -37.1 -34.8  290  20 10   5.4   3.0
 30000 -31.8 -25.2  290  23 12   6.7   3.7 | -32.5 -26.5  290  21 11   7.9   4.3
 29000 -29.8 -21.6  295  23 12   6.7   3.7 | -30.2 -22.4  285  22 11   7.9   4.4
 28000 -27.7 -17.9  300  23 12   6.9   3.8 | -27.8 -18.0  285  22 12   7.9   4.3
 27000 -25.6 -14.1  300  24 12   7.1   3.9 | -25.4 -13.7  285  23 12   7.9   4.3
 26000 -23.5 -10.3  300  25 13   7.1   3.9 | -23.1  -9.6  285  23 12   7.9   4.3
 25000 -20.9  -5.6  305  26 13   7.2   3.9 | -20.1  -4.2  290  23 12   7.5   4.1
 24000 -18.8  -1.8  305  27 14   7.2   4.0 | -18.0  -0.4  295  22 12   7.4   4.0
 23000 -16.7   1.9  305  27 14   7.3   4.0 | -15.8   3.6  300  22 11   7.4   4.1
 22000 -14.6   5.7  305  28 14   8.0   4.4 | -13.6   7.5  300  22 11   7.5   4.1
 21000 -12.1  10.2  305  26 13   8.2   4.5 | -11.5  11.3  300  21 11   7.5   4.1
 20000  -9.7  14.5  305  23 12   8.3   4.5 |  -9.3  15.3  300  20 10   7.6   4.2
 19500  -8.5  16.7  300  22 11   8.2   4.5 |  -8.2  17.2  300  20 10   7.9   4.3
 19000  -7.3  18.9  300  21 11   8.1   4.4 |  -6.9  19.6  295  19 10   8.6   4.7
 18500  -6.1  21.0  300  20 10   8.1   4.4 |  -5.7  21.7  290  19 10   8.6   4.7
 18000  -4.9  23.2  295  19 10   8.8   4.8 |  -4.4  24.1  285  19 10   8.7   4.8
 17500  -3.6  25.5  295  18  9   8.9   4.9 |  -3.1  26.4  285  19 10   8.7   4.8
 17000  -2.3  27.9  295  18  9   9.0   4.9 |  -1.8  28.8  280  18  9   8.8   4.8
 16500  -0.9  30.4  295  17  9   9.3   5.1 |  -0.5  31.1  280  18  9   9.0   4.9
 16000   0.5  32.9  290  17  9   9.3   5.1 |   0.9  33.6  275  17  9   9.0   4.9
 15500   1.9  35.4  290  17  9   9.3   5.1 |   2.2  36.0  275  17  9   9.2   5.1
 15000   3.3  37.9  290  17  9   9.3   5.1 |   3.6  38.5  275  16  8   9.2   5.1
 14500   4.7  40.5  290  17  9   9.3   5.1 |   5.0  41.0  275  15  8   9.2   5.0
 14000   6.1  43.0  290  16  8   9.3   5.1 |   6.4  43.5  275  15  7   9.2   5.0
 13500   7.5  45.5  290  16  8   9.2   5.1 |   7.7  45.9  275  14  7   9.1   5.0
 13000   8.9  48.0  285  15  8   9.1   5.0 |   9.1  48.4  275  13  7   9.0   5.0
 12500  10.2  50.4  280  14  7   8.9   4.9 |  10.4  50.7  275  13  7   9.0   5.0
 12000  11.5  52.7  280  13  7   8.3   4.5 |  11.8  53.2  270  13  7   9.1   5.0
 11500  12.7  54.9  275  12  6   8.3   4.5 |  13.1  55.6  270  12  6   9.0   5.0
 11000  13.9  57.0  270  11  6   7.8   4.3 |  14.4  57.9  270  12  6   8.5   4.7
 10500  15.1  59.2  270  10  5   6.0   3.3 |  15.7  60.3  270  12  6  10.3   5.6
 10250  15.5  59.9  265  10  5   6.1   3.4 |  16.5  61.7  270  11  6  10.6   5.8
 10000  16.1  61.0  260   9  5   8.7   4.7 |  17.2  63.0  270  11  6   8.4   4.6
  9750  16.6  61.9  260   9  4   8.0   4.4 |  17.8  64.0  270  11  5   9.1   5.0
  9500  17.2  63.0  260   8  4   8.1   4.5 |  18.5  65.3  270  10  5   8.7   4.8
  9250  17.8  64.0  255   7  4   7.2   4.0 |  19.1  66.4  270  10  5   8.4   4.6
  9000  18.7  65.7  245   6  3   6.4   3.5 |  19.7  67.5  270   9  5   8.6   4.7
  8750  19.2  66.6  240   6  3   6.4   3.5 |  21.0  69.8  270   8  4   8.7   4.8
  8500  19.6  67.3  235   6  3   6.4   3.5 |  21.6  70.9  270   7  4   6.9   3.8
  8250  20.1  68.2  240   5  3   6.2   3.4 |  22.1  71.8  275   7  3   8.9   4.9
  8000  20.5  68.9  230   5  3   6.0   3.3 |  22.9  73.2  275   6  3  11.8   6.5
  7750  20.9  69.6  220   5  2   5.5   3.0 |  23.7  74.7  270   6  3  10.1   5.5
  7500  21.3  70.3  205   5  2   4.3   2.3 |  24.4  75.9  275   6  3   7.7   4.2
  7250  21.6  70.9  190   5  2   4.8   2.6 |  24.9  76.8  275   6  3   8.5   4.6
  7000  22.0  71.6  180   5  3   7.2   3.9 |  25.7  78.3  275   6  3  12.6   6.9
  6750  22.5  72.5  170   5  3   8.1   4.4 |  26.7  80.1  270   5  3  12.0   6.6
  6500  23.1  73.6  160   5  3   7.9   4.3 |  27.5  81.5  275   5  3  10.0   5.5
  6250  23.7  74.7  155   6  3   7.3   4.0 |  28.2  82.8  280   5  3   9.8   5.4
  6000  24.3  75.7  145   6  3   9.6   5.2 |  29.0  84.2  280   5  3  11.6   6.4
  5750  25.3  77.5  150   5  3  18.0   9.9 |  30.2  86.4  275   5  2  23.1  12.7
  5500  26.8  80.2  140   5  3  21.8  11.9 |  32.7  90.9  280   5  2  44.8  24.6
  5250     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  5000     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M

           07/15/2025 at 1500 MDT          |       07/15/2025 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...  +132.9    LI...       +0.2        | CAPE...  +147.2    LI...       -0.0
CINH...   -20.4    K Index... +21.2        | CINH...   -85.8    K Index... +21.7
                                           |
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  270  15  8   1.6   0.9 | -63.5 -82.3  275  19 10   1.6   0.9
 45000 -59.4 -74.9  265  21 11   5.0   2.7 | -59.6 -75.3  260  26 13   4.9   2.7
 40000 -51.4 -60.5  270  27 14   5.7   3.1 | -51.6 -60.9  260  30 15   6.1   3.3
 38000 -48.0 -54.4  270  27 14   5.7   3.1 | -48.0 -54.4  265  28 14   6.1   3.3
 36000 -44.6 -48.3  275  27 14   5.7   3.1 | -44.3 -47.7  265  26 14   6.2   3.4
 34000 -40.7 -41.3  280  23 12   6.4   3.5 | -40.1 -40.2  270  24 12   7.0   3.8
 32000 -36.9 -34.4  285  20 10   6.2   3.4 | -35.9 -32.6  270  21 11   6.8   3.7
 30000 -32.1 -25.8  290  20 10   8.2   4.5 | -31.2 -24.2  260  19 10   8.0   4.4
 29000 -29.7 -21.5  290  20 10   8.2   4.5 | -28.9 -20.0  260  19 10   8.0   4.4
 28000 -27.2 -17.0  290  20 10   7.7   4.2 | -26.5 -15.7  255  18  9   7.5   4.1
 27000 -25.0 -13.0  290  20 10   7.4   4.1 | -24.3 -11.7  250  18  9   7.3   4.0
 26000 -22.3  -8.1  285  20 10   7.4   4.1 | -22.2  -8.0  250  18  9   7.3   4.0
 25000 -20.0  -4.0  280  20 10   7.5   4.1 | -19.5  -3.1  245  18  9   7.2   3.9
 24000 -17.8  -0.0  275  19 10   7.6   4.2 | -17.4   0.7  245  18  9   7.1   3.9
 23000 -15.6   3.9  275  19 10   7.6   4.2 | -15.3   4.5  245  19 10   7.2   3.9
 22000 -13.3   8.1  275  18  9   8.0   4.4 | -13.2   8.2  245  19 10   7.8   4.3
 21000 -10.9  12.4  275  17  9   8.2   4.5 | -10.8  12.6  245  18  9   8.0   4.4
 20000  -8.5  16.7  275  16  8   8.2   4.5 |  -8.5  16.7  245  17  9   8.1   4.4
 19500  -7.3  18.9  275  15  8   8.3   4.6 |  -7.3  18.9  245  17  9   8.2   4.5
 19000  -6.1  21.0  275  15  8   8.5   4.7 |  -6.0  21.2  250  17  9   8.7   4.8
 18500  -4.8  23.4  275  15  8   8.5   4.6 |  -4.8  23.4  250  16  8   8.7   4.7
 18000  -3.6  25.5  275  15  8   9.1   5.0 |  -3.5  25.7  250  16  8   8.9   4.9
 17500  -2.2  28.0  275  15  8   9.2   5.0 |  -2.1  28.2  255  16  8   9.0   4.9
 17000  -0.9  30.4  275  15  8   9.2   5.1 |  -0.8  30.6  255  16  8   9.0   5.0
 16500   0.5  32.9  275  14  7   9.3   5.1 |   0.6  33.1  255  15  8   9.1   5.0
 16000   1.9  35.4  275  14  7   9.2   5.1 |   1.9  35.4  260  15  8   9.1   5.0
 15500   3.3  37.9  275  14  7   9.6   5.3 |   3.3  37.9  260  15  8   9.0   5.0
 15000   4.7  40.5  270  13  7   9.6   5.2 |   4.6  40.3  265  15  8   9.0   5.0
 14500   6.1  43.0  270  13  7   9.5   5.2 |   6.0  42.8  265  15  8   9.0   4.9
 14000   7.6  45.7  270  13  7   9.5   5.2 |   7.3  45.1  270  14  7   8.9   4.9
 13500   9.0  48.2  270  13  6   9.5   5.2 |   8.6  47.5  275  14  7   8.9   4.9
 13000  10.4  50.7  270  12  6   9.4   5.2 |   9.9  49.8  280  14  7   8.7   4.8
 12500  11.8  53.2  270  12  6   9.4   5.1 |  11.2  52.2  285  13  7   8.7   4.8
 12000  13.2  55.8  270  12  6   9.3   5.1 |  12.5  54.5  290  13  6   8.7   4.8
 11500  14.6  58.3  270  12  6   9.3   5.1 |  13.8  56.8  295  12  6   8.8   4.8
 11000  15.8  60.4  275  11  6   7.8   4.3 |  14.9  58.8  305  12  6   7.1   3.9
 10500  17.0  62.6  275  11  6  12.2   6.7 |  16.0  60.8  310  12  6  10.5   5.8
 10250  18.1  64.6  275  11  6  13.4   7.3 |  16.9  62.4  320  12  6  11.3   6.2
 10000  18.8  65.8  275  11  6   8.4   4.6 |  17.5  63.5  325  12  6   7.4   4.1
  9750  19.5  67.1  275  11  5   9.9   5.5 |  18.1  64.6  330  12  6   8.4   4.6
  9500  20.2  68.4  275  11  5   8.8   4.8 |  18.7  65.7  330  12  6   8.2   4.5
  9250  20.8  69.4  275  11  5   7.8   4.3 |  19.3  66.7  335  13  7   8.2   4.5
  9000  21.5  70.7  280  10  5   9.6   5.3 |  20.5  68.9  340  15  8   7.7   4.2
  8750  23.0  73.4  275  10  5  10.6   5.8 |  21.0  69.8  345  15  8   7.6   4.2
  8500  23.8  74.8  280  10  5   8.7   4.8 |  21.6  70.9  350  16  8   9.2   5.0
  8250  24.4  75.9  285  10  5   9.3   5.1 |  22.3  72.1  350  18  9   8.5   4.7
  8000  25.2  77.4  280  10  5  11.3   6.2 |  22.8  73.0  355  18  9   6.6   3.6
  7750  26.0  78.8  280  10  5  10.4   5.7 |  23.3  73.9  360  18  9   7.2   4.0
  7500  26.7  80.1  280  10  5   8.3   4.6 |  23.9  75.0  360  19 10   8.1   4.5
  7250  27.3  81.1  285  10  5   8.7   4.8 |  24.5  76.1  360  20 10   8.5   4.6
  7000  28.1  82.6  285  10  5  12.0   6.6 |  25.1  77.2  360  20 10   7.2   3.9
  6750  29.0  84.2  280  10  5  11.9   6.5 |  25.6  78.1  005  18  9   8.2   4.5
  6500  29.9  85.8  280  10  5  10.3   5.7 |  26.3  79.3  005  18  9  10.2   5.6
  6250  30.6  87.1  285  10  5  10.6   5.8 |  27.1  80.8  360  19 10  10.8   5.9
  6000  31.4  88.5  290  10  5   8.5   4.7 |  27.8  82.0  360  18 10   7.7   4.2
  5750  32.1  89.8  280   9  4  15.3   8.4 |  28.3  82.9  005  15  8  10.4   5.7
  5500  35.1  95.2  290   9  5  80.1  44.0 |  30.5  86.9  360  15  8  62.0  34.0
  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