Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO

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346
UXUS97 KPUB 131210
SRGPUB

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado
0609 MDT Sunday, July 13, 2025

This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Sunday, July 13, 2025:

If the trigger temperature of 68.6 F/20.3 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 1488 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 23894 ft MSL (14926 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 82.0 F/28.2 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0930 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1500 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 20467 ft MSL (11499 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 07/14....... Excellent

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

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:51:25 / 20:27:27 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 36 min 1 sec (876 min 1 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:09:26 MDT... 73.31 degrees

Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 07/13/2025 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 16290 ft MSL (7322 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 16383 ft MSL (7415 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 18782 ft MSL (9814 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -7.4
K index......................... +18.5

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  -62.3 -80.1   015   12    6   0.1   0.0      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -60.9 -77.6   010   16    8   3.2   1.7      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -55.4 -67.7   350   20   10   7.6   4.2      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -50.7 -59.3   355   20   10   7.8   4.3      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -46.1 -51.0   360   21   11   7.8   4.3      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -40.7 -41.3   360   21   11   8.0   4.4      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -35.8 -32.4   360   20   10   8.3   4.6      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -31.2 -24.2   355   19   10   7.7   4.2   32.6  90.7     3.8      M    M
 29000  -29.0 -20.2   355   19   10   7.7   4.2   31.9  89.4     3.3      M    M
 28000  -26.7 -16.1   355   18    9   7.8   4.3   31.2  88.2     2.7      M    M
 27000  -24.3 -11.7   355   17    9   7.8   4.3   30.4  86.7     2.1      M    M
 26000  -22.0  -7.6   355   17    9   7.8   4.3   29.7  85.5     1.5      M    M
 25000  -19.6  -3.3   355   16    8   7.5   4.1   29.1  84.4     1.0      M    M
 24000  -17.6   0.3   360   15    8   6.9   3.8   28.1  82.5     0.1      M    M
 23000  -15.5   4.1   360   15    8   6.9   3.8   27.1  80.7    -0.8   1408  7.2
 22000  -13.4   7.9   005   15    8   7.0   3.9   26.2  79.2    -1.5   1317  6.7
 21000  -11.3  11.7   005   15    8   7.2   3.9   25.2  77.4    -2.5   1224  6.2
 20000   -9.2  15.4   360   16    8   7.2   4.0   24.4  75.8    -3.3   1131  5.7
 19500   -8.2  17.2   360   16    8   7.2   4.0   24.0  75.1    -3.7   1085  5.5
 19000   -7.0  19.4   360   16    8   8.4   4.6   23.7  74.6    -4.0   1034  5.3
 18500   -5.7  21.7   355   15    8   8.3   4.6   23.4  74.1    -4.2    982  5.0
 18000   -4.5  23.9   355   15    8   8.3   4.6   23.2  73.7    -4.4    929  4.7
 17500   -3.2  26.2   355   14    7   8.4   4.6   22.9  73.3    -4.7    877  4.5
 17000   -2.0  28.4   355   13    7   8.4   4.6   22.7  72.9    -5.0    826  4.2
 16500   -0.8  30.6   355   12    6   8.5   4.6   22.5  72.5    -5.3    775  3.9
 16000    0.4  32.7   360   11    6   8.5   4.7   22.3  72.1    -5.6    724  3.7
 15500    2.3  36.1   010   10    5   9.0   5.0   22.1  71.7    -5.9    645  3.3
 15000    3.6  38.5   020    9    4   9.5   5.2   21.9  71.5    -6.1    592  3.0
 14500    4.7  40.5   030    8    4   7.5   4.1   21.6  70.9    -6.5    544  2.8
 14000    6.0  42.8   040    7    4   9.1   5.0   21.5  70.8    -6.7    490  2.5
 13500    7.3  45.1   045    7    4   9.3   5.1   21.5  70.6    -6.9    435  2.2
 13000    8.5  47.3   050    7    4   8.1   4.4   21.3  70.3    -7.2    384  1.9
 12500    9.7  49.5   050    7    4   8.1   4.4   21.0  69.9    -7.5    334  1.7
 12000   10.8  51.4   050    7    3   8.0   4.4   20.8  69.4    -7.9    285  1.4
 11750   11.4  52.5   050    6    3   8.2   4.5   20.6  69.2    -8.1    261  1.3
 11500   11.9  53.4   045    6    3   7.0   3.9   20.5  68.9    -8.3    237  1.2
 11250   12.4  54.3   040    5    3   5.9   3.3   20.2  68.4    -8.6    217  1.1
 11000   12.8  55.0   035    5    3   5.9   3.2   20.0  67.9    -8.9    196  1.0
 10750   13.2  55.8   030    4    2   7.4   4.1   19.7  67.4    -9.2    176  0.9
 10500   13.7  56.7   020    4    2   4.3   2.4   19.5  67.1    -9.5    154  0.8
 10250   13.8  56.8   005    4    2   0.9   0.5   18.8  65.9   -10.2    145  0.7
 10000   13.8  56.8   355    4    2  -0.5  -0.3   18.2  64.7   -10.9    136  0.7
  9750   13.9  57.0   340    4    2   7.8   4.3   17.5  63.6   -11.7    128  0.6
  9500   14.3  57.7   330    5    2  -4.7  -2.6   17.4  63.3   -11.9    106  0.5
  9250   12.3  54.1   310    4    2 -50.3 -27.6   14.5  58.1   -14.7    160  0.8
  9000   10.2  50.4   290    4    2  38.2  20.9   11.7  53.0   -17.6    214  1.1
  8750      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M
  8500      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M
  8250      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M
  8000      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M

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

           07/13/2025 at 0900 MDT          |       07/13/2025 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE... +1417.4    LI...       -3.9        | CAPE...  +851.0    LI...       -2.8
CINH...   -23.7    K Index... +25.5        | CINH...    -0.7    K Index... +28.9
                                           |
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 -63.0 -81.4  020  11  6  -1.0  -0.5 | -62.6 -80.7  035   9  5   0.2   0.1
 45000 -62.3 -80.1  020  18  9   4.0   2.2 | -61.2 -78.2  030  16  8   2.8   1.5
 40000 -55.2 -67.4  360  18  9   7.7   4.3 | -55.9 -68.6  010  15  8   7.7   4.2
 38000 -50.6 -59.1  010  17  9   7.7   4.2 | -51.3 -60.3  025  12  6   7.7   4.2
 36000 -45.9 -50.6  015  16  8   7.8   4.3 | -46.7 -52.1  045  11  6   7.9   4.3
 34000 -41.1 -42.0  020  15  8   8.1   4.5 | -41.5 -42.7  055  11  6   8.6   4.7
 32000 -36.2 -33.2  025  14  7   8.1   4.4 | -36.4 -33.5  065  11  6   8.5   4.7
 30000 -31.4 -24.5  020  14  7   8.1   4.5 | -31.3 -24.3  070  12  6   8.6   4.7
 29000 -28.9 -20.0  020  15  8   8.1   4.5 | -28.7 -19.7  070  12  6   8.6   4.7
 28000 -26.5 -15.7  015  15  8   7.8   4.3 | -25.6 -14.1  070  12  6   7.8   4.3
 27000 -23.7 -10.7  015  15  8   7.7   4.2 | -23.2  -9.8  065  12  6   7.9   4.3
 26000 -21.4  -6.5  010  14  7   7.7   4.2 | -20.9  -5.6  065  11  6   7.9   4.3
 25000 -19.1  -2.4  005  14  7   6.9   3.8 | -18.6  -1.5  060  10  5   6.0   3.3
 24000 -17.2   1.0  005  12  6   6.5   3.6 | -17.0   1.4  040   8  4   5.4   2.9
 23000 -15.3   4.5  360  10  5   6.5   3.6 | -15.4   4.3  015   8  4   5.4   2.9
 22000 -13.3   8.1  360   9  4   6.9   3.8 | -13.8   7.2  355   9  5   7.3   4.0
 21000 -11.3  11.7  010  10  5   7.1   3.9 | -11.6  11.1  350   9  5   7.8   4.3
 20000  -9.3  15.3  015  11  6   7.2   4.0 |  -9.4  15.1  345   9  5   7.9   4.3
 19500  -8.3  17.1  015  12  6   7.5   4.1 |  -8.3  17.1  340   9  5   8.3   4.5
 19000  -7.1  19.2  020  12  6   8.1   4.4 |  -7.0  19.4  345   8  4   9.0   4.9
 18500  -6.0  21.2  020  11  6   8.1   4.4 |  -5.7  21.7  345   8  4   9.1   5.0
 18000  -4.8  23.4  025  11  6   8.1   4.4 |  -4.5  23.9  350   7  4   7.6   4.1
 17500  -3.6  25.5  025  10  5   8.1   4.5 |  -3.5  25.7  350   6  3   7.4   4.1
 17000  -2.4  27.7  025   9  5   8.3   4.5 |  -2.4  27.7  350   5  2   7.9   4.3
 16500  -1.2  29.8  030   9  5   8.7   4.8 |  -1.1  30.0  005   3  2   9.0   4.9
 16000   0.1  32.2  035   9  4   8.7   4.8 |   0.2  32.4  030   3  1   8.9   4.9
 15500   1.4  34.5  040   8  4   9.1   5.0 |   1.5  34.7  060   3  1   9.7   5.3
 15000   2.7  36.9  045   8  4   9.1   5.0 |   2.9  37.2  075   3  2   9.7   5.3
 14500   4.0  39.2  055   7  4   8.5   4.7 |   4.3  39.7  085   4  2   8.6   4.7
 14000   5.3  41.5  060   7  3   9.4   5.2 |   5.7  42.3  090   4  2  10.4   5.7
 13500   7.4  45.3  065   6  3   9.5   5.2 |   8.0  46.4  090   5  3  10.1   5.6
 13000   8.6  47.5  065   6  3   7.7   4.2 |   9.5  49.1  090   5  3   9.8   5.4
 12500   9.9  49.8  070   5  3   8.6   4.7 |  10.9  51.6  085   6  3   9.8   5.4
 12000  11.2  52.2  070   5  3   8.7   4.8 |  12.4  54.3  085   6  3   9.9   5.5
 11750  11.8  53.2  070   5  3   8.5   4.7 |  13.1  55.6  085   6  3  10.0   5.5
 11500  12.4  54.3  070   5  3   7.7   4.2 |  13.9  57.0  085   6  3   9.9   5.4
 11250  12.9  55.2  065   5  2   7.2   4.0 |  14.6  58.3  085   6  3   9.8   5.4
 11000  13.4  56.1  060   4  2   7.3   4.0 |  15.3  59.5  085   6  3   9.8   5.4
 10750  13.9  57.0  055   4  2   8.1   4.4 |  16.1  61.0  085   7  3  10.2   5.6
 10500  14.4  57.9  050   4  2   7.8   4.3 |  16.9  62.4  080   7  3  10.7   5.9
 10250  14.9  58.8  035   3  2   6.8   3.8 |  17.7  63.9  080   7  3  10.9   6.0
 10000  15.3  59.5  010   3  1   7.2   3.9 |  18.5  65.3  080   7  3  10.7   5.9
  9750  15.8  60.4  350   3  2   7.1   3.9 |  19.3  66.7  080   7  3  11.2   6.1
  9500  16.3  61.3  335   3  2  12.0   6.6 |  20.3  68.5  080   7  3  18.9  10.3
  9250  17.5  63.5  325   3  2  20.0  11.0 |  22.1  71.8  080   7  3  29.9  16.4
  9000  18.6  65.5  315   3  1   6.0   3.3 |  24.0  75.2  080   6  3  10.8   5.9
  8750     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8500     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8250     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8000     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M

           07/13/2025 at 1500 MDT          |       07/13/2025 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE... +1036.2    LI...       -2.8        | CAPE...  +968.0    LI...       -2.7
CINH...    -8.5    K Index... +28.6        | CINH...    -2.2    K Index... +30.5
                                           |
Height Temperature  Wnd WndSpd  Lapse Rate | Temperature  Wnd WndSpd  Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F  Dir kt m/s  C/km F/kft | deg C deg F  Dir kt m/s  C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 50000 -63.2 -81.8  030   7  4   1.0   0.5 | -63.7 -82.7  015   8  4   0.4   0.2
 45000 -61.0 -77.8  040  12  6   2.8   1.5 | -61.8 -79.2  020  10  5   3.3   1.8
 40000 -55.6 -68.1  025   7  3   7.8   4.3 | -55.3 -67.5  340  10  5   8.5   4.7
 38000 -50.9 -59.6  035   4  2   7.8   4.3 | -50.3 -58.5  325   9  5   8.5   4.7
 36000 -46.2 -51.2  070   3  1   8.0   4.4 | -45.2 -49.4  310   9  5   8.3   4.6
 34000 -41.2 -42.2  075   5  2   8.4   4.6 | -40.3 -40.5  340   4  2   8.1   4.4
 32000 -36.1 -33.0  080   7  3   8.6   4.7 | -35.5 -31.9  070   5  2   8.2   4.5
 30000 -30.5 -22.9  080   9  5   8.5   4.6 | -30.5 -22.9  095   8  4   8.4   4.6
 29000 -27.9 -18.2  080  10  5   8.5   4.6 | -27.3 -17.1  100   9  5   8.4   4.6
 28000 -25.4 -13.7  080  11  6   8.0   4.4 | -24.9 -12.8  100  10  5   7.9   4.4
 27000 -23.1  -9.6  080  11  5   8.0   4.4 | -22.5  -8.5  095  11  5   8.0   4.4
 26000 -20.7  -5.3  080  10  5   8.0   4.4 | -20.1  -4.2  095  11  6   8.0   4.4
 25000 -18.3  -0.9  075  10  5   6.8   3.8 | -17.8  -0.0  090  11  6   7.2   3.9
 24000 -16.4   2.5  055   8  4   6.5   3.6 | -15.7   3.7  090  10  5   7.1   3.9
 23000 -14.5   5.9  025   8  4   6.6   3.6 | -13.6   7.5  090   9  4   7.2   3.9
 22000 -12.6   9.3  005  10  5   7.1   3.9 | -11.6  11.1  090   8  4   6.7   3.7
 21000 -10.5  13.1  355  11  6   7.2   4.0 |  -9.7  14.5  065   7  4   6.7   3.7
 20000  -8.4  16.9  345  13  7   7.3   4.0 |  -7.8  18.0  040   9  4   6.9   3.8
 19500  -7.4  18.7  340  15  7   7.7   4.2 |  -6.9  19.6  030   9  5   7.0   3.8
 19000  -6.2  20.8  340  13  7   8.4   4.6 |  -5.9  21.4  035   7  4   7.0   3.9
 18500  -5.1  22.8  335  11  6   8.5   4.6 |  -4.9  23.2  040   5  2   7.0   3.8
 18000  -3.9  25.0  330   9  5   8.4   4.6 |  -3.8  25.2  065   3  1   7.8   4.3
 17500  -2.7  27.1  330   7  3   8.4   4.6 |  -2.7  27.1  110   2  1   7.9   4.4
 17000  -1.5  29.3  325   4  2   8.3   4.6 |  -1.6  29.1  145   4  2   8.2   4.5
 16500  -0.3  31.5  310   2  1   8.1   4.4 |  -0.4  31.3  150   4  2   8.7   4.8
 16000   0.8  33.4  250   1  0   7.9   4.4 |   0.8  33.4  155   5  3   8.7   4.8
 15500   2.1  35.8  170   2  1   9.4   5.2 |   2.1  35.8  155   5  3   9.3   5.1
 15000   4.2  39.6  145   3  2   9.1   5.0 |   3.5  38.3  155   5  3   9.4   5.1
 14500   5.5  41.9  135   4  2   9.7   5.3 |   5.5  41.9  160   5  3   9.5   5.2
 14000   7.0  44.6  125   5  3   9.9   5.4 |   6.9  44.4  155   5  2   9.9   5.4
 13500   8.5  47.3  120   6  3  10.4   5.7 |   8.5  47.3  150   5  2  10.7   5.8
 13000   9.9  49.8  115   7  4   8.6   4.7 |   9.9  49.8  140   4  2   9.0   4.9
 12500  11.2  52.2  110   8  4   9.7   5.3 |  11.3  52.3  130   5  2   9.7   5.3
 12000  12.7  54.9  110   8  4   9.1   5.0 |  12.7  54.9  120   5  3   9.2   5.0
 11750  13.3  55.9  110   8  4   8.6   4.7 |  13.4  56.1  115   5  3   8.7   4.8
 11500  14.0  57.2  110   8  4   9.2   5.0 |  14.1  57.4  115   5  3   9.3   5.1
 11250  14.7  58.5  110   8  4   9.4   5.2 |  14.8  58.6  110   5  3   9.7   5.3
 11000  15.4  59.7  110   8  4   9.3   5.1 |  15.5  59.9  110   5  3   9.6   5.2
 10750  16.1  61.0  110   8  4   9.7   5.3 |  16.2  61.2  110   6  3  10.7   5.9
 10500  16.8  62.2  110   8  4  10.0   5.5 |  17.1  62.8  105   6  3  10.8   5.9
 10250  17.5  63.5  110   8  4   9.9   5.5 |  17.8  64.0  105   6  3  10.0   5.5
 10000  18.3  64.9  110   8  4  10.0   5.5 |  18.6  65.5  105   6  3  10.2   5.6
  9750  19.0  66.2  110   8  4   9.7   5.3 |  19.3  66.7  105   6  3  10.0   5.5
  9500  19.8  67.6  110   8  4  15.2   8.3 |  20.1  68.2  100   6  3  14.1   7.8
  9250  21.3  70.3  115   8  4  24.9  13.6 |  21.5  70.7  100   5  3  21.6  11.8
  9000  22.8  73.0  115   8  4   7.6   4.1 |  22.8  73.0  100   5  2   8.3   4.5
  8750     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8500     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8250     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  8000     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).  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 Villa Grove, Colorado at:

                   North Latitude:  38 deg 16 min 03 sec
                   West Longitude: 105 deg 53 min 37 sec
                   Elevation: 7986 feet (2434 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.

CIN (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.

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