Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
086
UXUS97 KGJT 111306
SRGGJT
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
706 AM MDT Friday, September 11, 2026
This forecast is for Friday, September 11, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 79.2 F/26.2 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1384 ft/min (7.0 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 18522 ft MSL (12915 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 90.0 F/32.7 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................. 15190 ft MSL (9583 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Saturday 09/12..... Excellent
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:52:15 / 19:29:07 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 12 hr 36 min 52 sec (756 min 52 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:10:41 MDT... 55.13 degrees
Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 09/11/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 15320 ft MSL (9713 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 15395 ft MSL (9788 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 16714 ft MSL (11106 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -3.0
K index......................... +30.7
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 -66.7 -88.1 280 51 26 0.4 0.2 M M M M M
45000 -63.2 -81.8 285 69 35 6.5 3.5 M M M M M
40000 -53.3 -63.9 290 63 32 8.2 4.5 M M M M M
38000 -48.4 -55.1 285 61 31 8.2 4.5 M M M M M
36000 -43.4 -46.1 280 59 30 8.3 4.6 M M M M M
34000 -39.1 -38.4 280 55 28 7.1 3.9 M M M M M
32000 -34.3 -29.7 280 49 25 7.1 3.9 M M M M M
30000 -29.8 -21.6 280 45 23 7.6 4.2 45.2 113.3 9.9 M M
29000 -27.5 -17.5 280 43 22 7.6 4.2 44.4 111.9 9.4 M M
28000 -25.3 -13.5 280 40 21 6.8 3.8 43.7 110.7 9.0 M M
27000 -23.3 -9.9 280 40 20 6.5 3.6 42.3 108.2 8.0 M M
26000 -21.4 -6.5 275 39 20 6.5 3.6 41.1 106.0 7.1 M M
25000 -19.4 -2.9 275 38 20 6.5 3.6 40.0 104.1 6.3 M M
24000 -17.5 0.5 275 37 19 6.8 3.7 38.9 102.0 5.4 M M
23000 -15.4 4.3 275 35 18 6.8 3.7 37.8 100.0 4.5 M M
22000 -13.4 7.9 275 33 17 6.8 3.7 36.8 98.2 3.7 M M
21000 -11.5 11.3 275 31 16 6.6 3.6 35.6 96.1 2.7 M M
20000 -9.7 14.5 270 29 15 6.8 3.7 34.5 94.2 1.6 M M
19500 -8.7 16.3 270 28 14 6.9 3.8 34.1 93.3 1.2 M M
19000 -7.8 18.0 270 27 14 6.5 3.6 33.6 92.5 0.7 M M
18500 -6.4 20.5 265 24 12 6.5 3.6 32.7 90.9 -0.2 1171 6.0
18000 -5.4 22.3 265 23 12 6.9 3.8 32.2 90.0 -0.7 1128 5.7
17500 -4.4 24.1 265 21 11 7.0 3.8 31.7 89.1 -1.1 1084 5.5
17000 -3.4 25.9 265 20 10 7.1 3.9 31.3 88.3 -1.6 1039 5.3
16500 -2.4 27.7 260 19 10 7.4 4.0 30.8 87.5 -2.0 993 5.0
16000 -1.3 29.7 260 18 9 7.3 4.0 30.5 86.8 -2.4 946 4.8
15500 -0.3 31.5 260 18 9 7.8 4.3 30.1 86.1 -2.8 899 4.6
15000 0.9 33.6 255 17 9 7.7 4.2 29.7 85.5 -3.2 851 4.3
14500 2.0 35.6 255 17 9 8.4 4.6 29.5 85.0 -3.5 802 4.1
14000 3.3 37.9 250 17 9 8.7 4.8 29.3 84.7 -3.7 749 3.8
13500 4.5 40.1 250 16 8 8.8 4.8 29.1 84.4 -3.9 697 3.5
13000 5.8 42.4 245 16 8 9.0 4.9 29.0 84.2 -4.1 642 3.3
12500 7.2 45.0 245 16 8 8.9 4.9 28.9 84.0 -4.2 588 3.0
12000 8.5 47.3 245 15 8 8.9 4.9 28.7 83.7 -4.4 534 2.7
11500 9.8 49.6 245 15 8 8.7 4.8 28.6 83.5 -4.6 480 2.4
11000 10.9 51.6 245 14 7 7.2 3.9 28.3 82.9 -4.9 431 2.2
10500 12.0 53.6 245 12 6 9.1 5.0 27.9 82.3 -5.3 383 1.9
10250 12.7 54.9 240 11 6 8.8 4.8 27.9 82.3 -5.3 355 1.8
10000 13.3 55.9 240 11 5 7.3 4.0 27.8 82.0 -5.5 330 1.7
9750 13.9 57.0 235 10 5 7.5 4.1 27.6 81.7 -5.7 306 1.6
9500 14.4 57.9 235 9 5 8.3 4.5 27.4 81.4 -5.8 281 1.4
9250 15.1 59.2 225 8 4 7.9 4.3 27.3 81.2 -5.9 255 1.3
9000 15.6 60.1 220 8 4 6.7 3.7 27.1 80.8 -6.2 232 1.2
8750 16.1 61.0 215 8 4 7.2 3.9 26.9 80.4 -6.4 209 1.1
8500 16.6 61.9 205 8 4 6.4 3.5 26.7 80.1 -6.6 186 0.9
8250 17.1 62.8 200 9 4 5.0 2.7 26.4 79.5 -6.9 166 0.8
8000 17.4 63.3 190 9 5 4.4 2.4 26.0 78.8 -7.3 148 0.8
7750 17.7 63.9 185 10 5 5.0 2.7 25.6 78.1 -7.7 131 0.7
7500 18.1 64.6 175 10 5 3.3 1.8 25.2 77.4 -8.1 113 0.6
7250 18.2 64.8 170 11 6 1.4 0.8 24.6 76.3 -8.7 101 0.5
7000 18.4 65.1 160 12 6 2.4 1.3 24.0 75.2 -9.3 89 0.5
6750 18.6 65.5 160 11 6 2.9 1.6 23.5 74.3 -9.9 76 0.4
6500 18.7 65.7 155 11 6 -2.8 -1.5 22.8 73.1 -10.5 66 0.3
6250 18.2 64.8 145 10 5 -8.9 -4.9 21.6 70.9 -11.8 73 0.4
6000 17.8 64.0 135 8 4 0.8 0.4 20.4 68.7 -13.0 79 0.4
5750 18.0 64.4 125 8 4 -2.7 -1.5 19.9 67.8 -13.5 65 0.3
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 * * * * * *
09/11/2026 at 0900 MDT | 09/11/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +2.4 | CAPE... +0.2 LI... +1.7
CINH... -0.0 K Index... +19.2 | CINH... -0.2 K Index... +22.7
|
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 -65.3 -85.5 270 41 21 2.9 1.6 | -65.4 -85.7 260 45 23 2.6 1.5
45000 -59.7 -75.5 270 52 27 5.6 3.1 | -59.9 -75.8 265 56 29 5.8 3.2
40000 -51.1 -60.0 270 59 30 6.8 3.7 | -50.9 -59.6 270 61 31 7.0 3.8
38000 -47.0 -52.6 270 60 31 6.9 3.8 | -46.8 -52.2 270 61 32 7.0 3.8
36000 -42.4 -44.3 265 61 31 7.0 3.9 | -42.0 -43.6 265 62 32 7.0 3.8
34000 -37.7 -35.9 265 58 30 7.8 4.3 | -38.0 -36.4 265 60 31 6.7 3.7
32000 -33.1 -27.6 265 55 28 7.8 4.3 | -34.0 -29.2 265 58 30 6.7 3.7
30000 -29.1 -20.4 270 48 25 6.3 3.5 | -30.0 -22.0 265 53 27 6.7 3.7
29000 -27.2 -17.0 270 45 23 6.3 3.5 | -28.0 -18.4 265 50 26 6.7 3.7
28000 -25.3 -13.5 270 42 21 6.0 3.3 | -26.0 -14.8 265 47 24 6.8 3.7
27000 -23.7 -10.7 270 39 20 5.7 3.1 | -24.0 -11.2 265 44 23 6.8 3.7
26000 -22.0 -7.6 270 37 19 5.7 3.1 | -22.0 -7.6 265 42 22 6.8 3.7
25000 -20.4 -4.7 270 34 18 5.7 3.1 | -20.0 -4.0 265 40 20 6.9 3.8
24000 -18.5 -1.3 270 33 17 6.6 3.6 | -18.1 -0.6 260 38 19 6.6 3.6
23000 -16.1 3.0 270 32 16 6.6 3.6 | -16.1 3.0 260 35 18 6.6 3.6
22000 -14.1 6.6 270 31 16 6.9 3.8 | -13.7 7.3 260 33 17 6.6 3.6
21000 -12.1 10.2 265 31 16 7.1 3.9 | -11.8 10.8 260 33 17 6.6 3.6
20000 -10.0 14.0 265 31 16 7.2 3.9 | -9.9 14.2 255 33 17 6.6 3.6
19500 -8.9 16.0 265 31 16 7.2 3.9 | -8.9 16.0 255 33 17 6.7 3.7
19000 -7.9 17.8 265 30 16 6.9 3.8 | -7.9 17.8 255 32 17 6.7 3.7
18500 -6.9 19.6 265 30 15 6.9 3.8 | -7.0 19.4 255 32 16 6.7 3.7
18000 -5.9 21.4 265 29 15 7.3 4.0 | -6.0 21.2 255 31 16 7.0 3.9
17500 -4.8 23.4 265 28 14 7.6 4.2 | -5.0 23.0 255 30 15 7.2 4.0
17000 -3.7 25.3 265 27 14 7.7 4.2 | -3.9 25.0 250 29 15 7.3 4.0
16500 -2.5 27.5 265 26 14 8.5 4.7 | -2.8 27.0 250 28 14 8.2 4.5
16000 -1.3 29.7 260 25 13 8.4 4.6 | -1.6 29.1 250 27 14 8.1 4.5
15500 0.0 32.0 260 25 13 8.7 4.8 | -0.4 31.3 255 26 13 8.5 4.7
15000 1.3 34.3 260 24 12 8.7 4.8 | 0.9 33.6 255 25 13 8.6 4.7
14500 2.6 36.7 260 23 12 8.8 4.8 | 2.2 36.0 255 24 13 8.6 4.7
14000 4.0 39.2 260 23 12 8.8 4.8 | 3.5 38.3 255 23 12 8.6 4.7
13500 5.3 41.5 260 22 11 8.7 4.8 | 4.8 40.6 255 22 12 8.6 4.7
13000 6.6 43.9 255 21 11 8.6 4.7 | 6.1 43.0 255 21 11 8.4 4.6
12500 7.9 46.2 255 20 10 8.6 4.7 | 7.4 45.3 255 20 10 8.4 4.6
12000 9.2 48.6 255 19 10 8.4 4.6 | 8.7 47.7 255 19 10 8.3 4.5
11500 10.5 50.9 255 18 9 8.5 4.6 | 9.9 49.8 255 17 9 8.4 4.6
11000 11.6 52.9 250 17 9 7.1 3.9 | 11.1 52.0 255 16 8 6.5 3.6
10500 12.7 54.9 250 16 8 9.3 5.1 | 12.0 53.6 255 15 7 8.3 4.6
10250 13.5 56.3 250 15 7 9.5 5.2 | 12.8 55.0 255 13 7 8.5 4.6
10000 14.0 57.2 250 14 7 6.8 3.7 | 13.3 55.9 260 12 6 6.3 3.5
9750 14.6 58.3 245 13 7 7.5 4.1 | 13.8 56.8 260 11 6 6.9 3.8
9500 15.2 59.4 245 12 6 7.5 4.1 | 14.3 57.7 260 10 5 6.8 3.7
9250 15.7 60.3 240 11 6 5.9 3.3 | 14.8 58.6 265 9 5 6.4 3.5
9000 16.1 61.0 240 11 5 5.2 2.8 | 15.3 59.5 270 9 5 6.9 3.8
8750 16.5 61.7 235 9 5 6.0 3.3 | 15.9 60.6 270 8 4 7.6 4.2
8500 17.0 62.6 225 8 4 5.7 3.1 | 16.5 61.7 275 7 4 7.4 4.1
8250 17.7 63.9 210 7 4 4.5 2.4 | 17.4 63.3 280 7 3 6.7 3.7
8000 18.1 64.6 200 7 3 4.9 2.7 | 18.1 64.6 285 6 3 10.0 5.5
7750 18.4 65.1 190 7 3 4.2 2.3 | 18.8 65.8 285 5 3 8.9 4.9
7500 18.7 65.7 180 7 4 2.5 1.4 | 19.4 66.9 290 5 3 6.7 3.7
7250 18.9 66.0 175 8 4 2.0 1.1 | 19.9 67.8 290 5 3 7.2 3.9
7000 19.0 66.2 165 8 4 2.6 1.4 | 20.6 69.1 295 5 3 12.0 6.6
6750 19.3 66.7 160 8 4 1.9 1.0 | 21.6 70.9 295 4 2 11.9 6.6
6500 19.4 66.9 150 7 4 1.1 0.6 | 22.3 72.1 295 4 2 9.5 5.2
6250 19.4 66.9 145 7 4 0.9 0.5 | 23.0 73.4 295 4 2 9.4 5.1
6000 19.6 67.3 140 7 3 4.0 2.2 | 23.8 74.8 300 4 2 11.4 6.2
5750 20.1 68.2 125 4 2 10.0 5.5 | 24.9 76.8 295 4 2 20.6 11.3
5500 20.6 69.1 110 4 2 -4.0 -2.2 | 26.8 80.2 305 4 2 30.1 16.5
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
09/11/2026 at 1500 MDT | 09/11/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +16.8 LI... -0.8 | CAPE... +51.9 LI... -0.9
CINH... -8.5 K Index... +27.0 | CINH... -16.4 K Index... +27.8
|
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 -66.1 -87.0 260 49 25 2.4 1.3 | -66.0 -86.8 265 54 28 2.2 1.2
45000 -60.7 -77.3 265 62 32 5.8 3.2 | -60.9 -77.6 270 66 34 5.6 3.1
40000 -51.6 -60.9 270 65 33 7.7 4.2 | -52.1 -61.8 270 65 34 7.7 4.2
38000 -47.0 -52.6 270 63 32 7.7 4.2 | -47.5 -53.5 270 64 33 7.8 4.3
36000 -42.4 -44.3 270 60 31 7.8 4.3 | -42.8 -45.0 270 62 32 7.8 4.3
34000 -37.9 -36.2 270 57 29 6.5 3.6 | -38.0 -36.4 270 57 29 7.0 3.8
32000 -34.0 -29.2 265 53 27 6.5 3.6 | -33.8 -28.8 270 52 27 7.0 3.9
30000 -30.1 -22.2 260 47 24 6.5 3.6 | -30.1 -22.2 270 46 24 6.0 3.3
29000 -28.1 -18.6 255 44 23 6.6 3.6 | -28.3 -18.9 270 43 22 6.0 3.3
28000 -26.2 -15.2 255 41 21 6.9 3.8 | -26.6 -15.9 270 41 21 6.6 3.6
27000 -24.1 -11.4 255 40 21 7.1 3.9 | -24.4 -11.9 270 39 20 7.1 3.9
26000 -21.9 -7.4 260 39 20 7.1 3.9 | -22.3 -8.1 275 38 19 7.2 3.9
25000 -19.8 -3.6 265 39 20 7.2 4.0 | -20.2 -4.4 275 37 19 7.1 3.9
24000 -17.8 -0.0 265 38 19 6.7 3.7 | -18.0 -0.4 275 35 18 7.5 4.1
23000 -15.8 3.6 265 37 19 6.8 3.7 | -15.8 3.6 275 34 17 7.5 4.1
22000 -13.9 7.0 265 35 18 6.9 3.8 | -13.0 8.6 275 32 16 6.8 3.7
21000 -11.5 11.3 270 34 17 6.5 3.6 | -11.2 11.8 275 31 16 6.2 3.4
20000 -9.6 14.7 270 32 17 6.6 3.6 | -9.4 15.1 275 31 16 6.3 3.5
19500 -8.7 16.3 270 31 16 6.6 3.6 | -8.5 16.7 280 31 16 6.4 3.5
19000 -7.7 18.1 270 31 16 7.2 4.0 | -7.6 18.3 280 30 16 6.9 3.8
18500 -6.7 19.9 270 30 15 7.2 3.9 | -6.6 20.1 280 29 15 6.9 3.8
18000 -5.6 21.9 270 29 15 7.4 4.0 | -5.6 21.9 280 28 14 7.4 4.1
17500 -4.6 23.7 270 28 14 7.5 4.1 | -4.5 23.9 280 27 14 7.7 4.2
17000 -3.5 25.7 270 27 14 7.5 4.1 | -3.4 25.9 280 25 13 7.8 4.3
16500 -2.4 27.7 270 26 13 7.6 4.2 | -2.3 27.9 280 24 12 8.3 4.5
16000 -1.3 29.7 265 25 13 7.6 4.2 | -1.1 30.0 275 22 12 8.2 4.5
15500 -0.2 31.6 265 24 12 7.6 4.2 | 0.1 32.2 275 21 11 8.5 4.7
15000 0.9 33.6 265 23 12 7.6 4.2 | 1.4 34.5 275 20 10 8.6 4.7
14500 2.0 35.6 260 22 11 7.9 4.3 | 2.6 36.7 270 18 9 8.6 4.7
14000 3.2 37.8 260 21 11 8.2 4.5 | 3.9 39.0 270 17 9 8.7 4.8
13500 4.4 39.9 260 21 11 8.3 4.5 | 5.2 41.4 265 16 8 8.7 4.8
13000 5.7 42.3 255 20 11 8.5 4.7 | 6.5 43.7 265 15 8 8.9 4.9
12500 6.9 44.4 255 20 10 8.5 4.7 | 7.8 46.0 260 14 7 8.9 4.9
12000 8.2 46.8 255 20 10 9.1 5.0 | 9.1 48.4 260 14 7 9.0 4.9
11500 9.6 49.3 255 19 10 9.1 5.0 | 10.4 50.7 255 14 7 9.0 5.0
11000 10.8 51.4 250 18 9 7.3 4.0 | 11.7 53.1 255 14 7 8.3 4.6
10500 11.9 53.4 250 17 9 9.9 5.4 | 12.9 55.2 255 13 7 9.8 5.4
10250 12.8 55.0 250 17 9 10.2 5.6 | 13.7 56.7 250 13 7 10.6 5.8
10000 13.3 55.9 250 16 8 7.0 3.9 | 14.4 57.9 250 13 7 9.0 5.0
9750 13.9 57.0 250 16 8 7.9 4.3 | 15.1 59.2 250 13 7 9.3 5.1
9500 14.5 58.1 250 15 8 7.7 4.2 | 15.7 60.3 250 12 6 9.2 5.0
9250 15.1 59.2 250 14 7 7.1 3.9 | 16.4 61.5 250 12 6 9.2 5.1
9000 15.6 60.1 250 12 6 7.1 3.9 | 17.1 62.8 255 11 6 8.7 4.8
8750 16.2 61.2 250 12 6 7.7 4.2 | 17.7 63.9 250 10 5 8.2 4.5
8500 16.7 62.1 245 11 6 7.6 4.2 | 18.4 65.1 245 10 5 8.5 4.7
8250 17.3 63.1 245 10 5 6.7 3.7 | 19.5 67.1 245 8 4 7.4 4.1
8000 18.4 65.1 250 8 4 9.6 5.3 | 20.1 68.2 240 8 4 8.8 4.8
7750 19.1 66.4 245 7 4 8.7 4.8 | 20.8 69.4 235 8 4 8.4 4.6
7500 19.6 67.3 250 7 3 6.8 3.7 | 21.4 70.5 230 8 4 7.8 4.3
7250 20.1 68.2 255 6 3 7.0 3.8 | 22.0 71.6 235 8 4 8.1 4.4
7000 20.7 69.3 255 5 2 9.7 5.3 | 22.6 72.7 235 7 4 10.1 5.6
6750 21.4 70.5 255 4 2 10.7 5.9 | 23.4 74.1 230 7 4 10.7 5.8
6500 22.2 72.0 255 4 2 10.5 5.7 | 24.2 75.6 230 7 4 10.1 5.6
6250 23.0 73.4 260 3 2 10.0 5.5 | 25.0 77.0 235 7 4 10.3 5.7
6000 23.7 74.7 260 3 2 10.1 5.6 | 25.7 78.3 240 7 3 8.3 4.6
5750 24.7 76.5 255 3 1 18.6 10.2 | 26.3 79.3 230 6 3 9.0 5.0
5500 27.0 80.6 270 2 1 48.3 26.5 | 27.7 81.9 240 5 3 38.2 21.0
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.
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