Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO

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UXUS97 KGJT 201306
SRGGJT

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
706 AM MDT Sunday, July 20, 2025

This forecast is for Sunday, July 20, 2025:

If the trigger temperature of 82.2 F/27.9 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 1586 ft/min (8.1 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 20590 ft MSL (14982 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 96.0 F/36.0 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0930 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................. 18390 ft MSL (12782 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 07/21....... Excellent

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

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:04:56 / 20:36:11 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 31 min 15 sec (871 min 15 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:20:34 MDT... 70.86 degrees

Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 07/20/2025 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 15492 ft MSL (9884 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 16647 ft MSL (11039 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 18982 ft MSL (13374 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -2.0
K index......................... +26.1

Height  Temperature  Wind  Wind Spd  Lapse Rate  ConvectionT  Thermal  Lift Rate
ft MSL  deg C deg F   Dir   kt  m/s  C/km F/kft  deg C deg F   Index    fpm  m/s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 50000  -65.2 -85.4   225   17    9   0.7   0.4      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -61.6 -78.9   220   25   13   6.1   3.3      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -52.1 -61.8   235   37   19   7.4   4.1      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -47.1 -52.8   235   42   22   7.5   4.1      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -42.6 -44.7   230   46   24   7.5   4.1      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -38.1 -36.6   230   45   23   7.5   4.1      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -33.5 -28.3   225   44   23   8.1   4.4      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -29.1 -20.4   225   39   20   7.5   4.1   46.2 115.1     8.0      M    M
 29000  -26.8 -16.2   220   36   18   7.6   4.1   45.4 113.7     7.5      M    M
 28000  -24.6 -12.3   220   33   17   7.3   4.0   44.6 112.4     6.9      M    M
 27000  -22.5  -8.5   220   30   16   7.3   4.0   43.6 110.4     6.1      M    M
 26000  -20.3  -4.5   220   28   14   7.3   4.0   42.6 108.7     5.4      M    M
 25000  -18.2  -0.8   225   25   13   7.3   4.0   41.8 107.3     4.8      M    M
 24000  -16.2   2.8   225   26   13   6.8   3.7   40.7 105.2     3.8      M    M
 23000  -14.2   6.4   220   27   14   6.8   3.7   39.6 103.2     2.9      M    M
 22000  -12.2  10.0   220   27   14   6.7   3.7   38.6 101.5     2.0      M    M
 21000  -10.2  13.6   215   23   12   5.5   3.0   36.7  98.1     0.4      M    M
 20000   -8.6  16.5   210   20   10   5.5   3.0   35.3  95.5    -0.9   1332  6.8
 19500   -7.8  18.0   210   18    9   5.5   3.0   34.6  94.2    -1.5   1293  6.6
 19000   -7.0  19.4   205   16    8   5.1   2.8   33.8  92.8    -2.2   1256  6.4
 18500   -6.2  20.8   205   13    7   5.1   2.8   33.0  91.4    -2.9   1218  6.2
 18000   -5.5  22.1   200   11    6   5.6   3.1   32.2  90.0    -3.7   1181  6.0
 17500   -4.6  23.7   200    9    5   5.7   3.1   31.5  88.8    -4.3   1141  5.8
 17000   -3.8  25.2   200    8    4   6.5   3.6   30.8  87.5    -5.0   1101  5.6
 16500   -2.6  27.3   200    6    3   8.9   4.9   30.6  87.1    -5.2   1050  5.3
 16000   -1.3  29.7   205    5    3   8.8   4.8   30.4  86.8    -5.4    996  5.1
 15500    0.1  32.2   210    5    2   9.4   5.2   30.3  86.6    -5.5    940  4.8
 15000    1.5  34.7   215    5    2   9.3   5.1   30.3  86.5    -5.6    884  4.5
 14500    2.9  37.2   225    5    2   9.4   5.2   30.2  86.4    -5.7    827  4.2
 14000    4.3  39.7   225    5    3   9.5   5.2   30.2  86.3    -5.8    770  3.9
 13500    5.7  42.3   230    6    3   9.6   5.2   30.1  86.2    -5.9    713  3.6
 13000    7.1  44.8   235    6    3   9.6   5.3   30.1  86.2    -5.9    655  3.3
 12500    8.6  47.5   235    7    4   9.5   5.2   30.1  86.2    -6.0    597  3.0
 12000    9.9  49.8   235    8    4   8.9   4.9   30.0  86.0    -6.1    542  2.8
 11500   11.2  52.2   235    9    4   8.7   4.8   29.9  85.7    -6.3    487  2.5
 11000   12.4  54.3   240    9    5   7.4   4.1   29.6  85.2    -6.6    437  2.2
 10500   13.6  56.5   245   10    5   9.9   5.4   29.3  84.7    -6.9    386  2.0
 10250   14.4  57.9   245   11    5   9.1   5.0   29.3  84.8    -6.9    356  1.8
 10000   14.9  58.8   245   11    6   7.2   4.0   29.2  84.5    -7.1    331  1.7
  9750   15.5  59.9   245   11    6   7.6   4.2   29.0  84.2    -7.2    307  1.6
  9500   16.1  61.0   245   11    6   8.0   4.4   28.8  83.9    -7.4    283  1.4
  9250   16.7  62.1   245   11    6   7.8   4.3   28.7  83.7    -7.6    257  1.3
  9000   17.2  63.0   245   11    6   7.0   3.8   28.5  83.3    -7.8    234  1.2
  8750   17.7  63.9   240   10    5   7.4   4.1   28.3  83.0    -8.0    211  1.1
  8500   18.3  64.9   240   10    5   6.6   3.6   28.1  82.6    -8.2    187  1.0
  8250   18.7  65.7   235    9    5   5.6   3.1   27.8  82.1    -8.5    167  0.8
  8000   19.1  66.4   230    8    4   5.8   3.2   27.5  81.5    -8.9    147  0.7
  7750   19.6  67.3   225    8    4   6.0   3.3   27.2  81.0    -9.2    127  0.6
  7500   20.0  68.0   220    7    4   5.3   2.9   26.9  80.4    -9.5    106  0.5
  7250   20.3  68.5   205    7    3   4.3   2.4   26.5  79.7    -9.9     89  0.5
  7000   20.6  69.1   200    6    3   4.1   2.3   26.1  79.0   -10.4     72  0.4
  6750   20.9  69.6   195    6    3   3.9   2.1   25.7  78.2   -10.9     57  0.3
  6500   21.1  70.0   190    6    3   1.9   1.0   25.2  77.3   -11.4     42  0.2
  6250   21.2  70.2   175    6    3  -0.6  -0.3   24.5  76.0   -12.1     34  0.2
  6000   21.2  70.2   160    6    3   4.1   2.3   23.8  74.8   -12.8     25  0.1
  5750   21.6  70.9   150    6    3   0.6   0.4   23.4  74.1   -13.2      7  0.0
  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 * * * * * *

           07/20/2025 at 0900 MDT          |       07/20/2025 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...    +7.6    LI...       -0.6        | CAPE...   +79.8    LI...       -0.6
CINH...   -40.6    K Index... +21.6        | CINH...   -21.4    K Index... +21.4
                                           |
Height Temperature  Wnd WndSpd  Lapse Rate | Temperature  Wnd WndSpd  Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F  Dir kt m/s  C/km F/kft | deg C deg F  Dir kt m/s  C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 50000 -64.9 -84.8  230  19 10   1.6   0.9 | -64.6 -84.3  225  22 12   1.8   1.0
 45000 -60.5 -76.9  225  34 17   5.9   3.2 | -60.1 -76.2  220  33 17   5.8   3.2
 40000 -50.8 -59.4  230  48 25   7.3   4.0 | -50.8 -59.4  225  43 22   6.5   3.6
 38000 -46.4 -51.5  225  51 26   7.3   4.0 | -46.9 -52.4  225  48 25   6.5   3.6
 36000 -42.1 -43.8  225  53 27   7.4   4.0 | -43.0 -45.4  225  52 27   6.9   3.8
 34000 -37.5 -35.5  230  51 26   7.7   4.2 | -38.1 -36.6  225  51 26   8.2   4.5
 32000 -32.9 -27.2  230  49 25   7.7   4.2 | -33.1 -27.6  230  49 25   8.2   4.5
 30000 -28.6 -19.5  230  44 23   7.0   3.8 | -28.7 -19.7  230  44 22   7.2   4.0
 29000 -26.5 -15.7  235  41 21   7.0   3.8 | -26.5 -15.7  230  41 21   7.2   4.0
 28000 -24.4 -11.9  235  39 20   5.8   3.2 | -24.4 -11.9  230  38 20   6.0   3.3
 27000 -23.0  -9.4  235  34 17   4.7   2.6 | -22.8  -9.0  230  34 17   5.2   2.8
 26000 -21.3  -6.3  240  28 14   4.8   2.6 | -20.9  -5.6  230  28 15   5.2   2.9
 25000 -19.9  -3.8  240  23 12   5.4   2.9 | -19.3  -2.7  230  24 12   5.2   2.9
 24000 -18.1  -0.6  240  22 11   6.0   3.3 | -17.8  -0.0  235  22 11   5.3   2.9
 23000 -16.4   2.5  240  21 11   6.0   3.3 | -16.2   2.8  235  19 10   5.4   3.0
 22000 -14.6   5.7  245  20 10   6.6   3.6 | -14.6   5.7  240  17  9   6.8   3.7
 21000 -12.6   9.3  245  19 10   6.8   3.7 | -12.5   9.5  245  18  9   7.4   4.1
 20000 -10.6  12.9  245  17  9   6.9   3.8 | -10.3  13.5  245  18  9   7.4   4.1
 19500  -9.6  14.7  245  17  9   7.0   3.8 |  -9.2  15.4  245  18  9   7.4   4.1
 19000  -8.6  16.5  250  16  8   7.4   4.0 |  -8.1  17.4  250  18  9   7.3   4.0
 18500  -7.5  18.5  250  15  8   7.4   4.0 |  -7.1  19.2  250  17  9   7.4   4.0
 18000  -6.4  20.5  255  14  7   7.6   4.2 |  -6.0  21.2  250  16  8   7.8   4.3
 17500  -5.3  22.5  255  13  7   7.7   4.2 |  -4.8  23.4  250  15  8   7.9   4.3
 17000  -4.1  24.6  260  12  6   7.9   4.3 |  -3.7  25.3  250  14  7   8.0   4.4
 16500  -2.9  26.8  265  12  6   8.7   4.8 |  -2.5  27.5  250  13  7   8.4   4.6
 16000  -1.6  29.1  270  11  6   8.6   4.7 |  -1.2  29.8  250  12  6   8.4   4.6
 15500  -0.2  31.6  270  11  5   9.3   5.1 |   0.0  32.0  255  11  5   8.7   4.8
 15000   1.1  34.0  275  10  5   9.3   5.1 |   1.3  34.3  255  10  5   8.7   4.8
 14500   2.5  36.5  280  10  5   9.3   5.1 |   2.6  36.7  260   9  5   9.1   5.0
 14000   3.9  39.0  280  10  5   9.3   5.1 |   4.0  39.2  260   8  4   9.3   5.1
 13500   5.3  41.5  280  10  5   9.3   5.1 |   5.4  41.7  265   8  4   9.3   5.1
 13000   6.7  44.1  280  10  5   9.4   5.1 |   6.8  44.2  270   8  4   9.3   5.1
 12500   8.1  46.6  280  10  5   9.3   5.1 |   8.2  46.8  270   7  4   9.4   5.2
 12000   9.4  48.9  280  10  5   9.1   5.0 |   9.6  49.3  275   7  4   9.6   5.3
 11500  10.7  51.3  280   9  5   9.0   4.9 |  11.0  51.8  275   7  4   9.6   5.3
 11000  12.0  53.6  275   9  5   8.5   4.6 |  12.5  54.5  280   7  4   9.3   5.1
 10500  13.3  55.9  270   9  5   6.1   3.3 |  13.9  57.0  280   7  3   6.6   3.6
 10250  13.6  56.5  270   9  5   6.4   3.5 |  14.3  57.7  285   7  3   7.2   3.9
 10000  14.3  57.7  265   9  4   9.8   5.4 |  15.0  59.0  285   7  3  11.2   6.1
  9750  14.9  58.8  265   8  4   9.1   5.0 |  15.8  60.4  285   6  3  10.3   5.7
  9500  15.6  60.1  265   8  4   8.6   4.7 |  16.6  61.9  285   6  3   9.8   5.4
  9250  16.1  61.0  260   8  4   6.8   3.7 |  17.2  63.0  285   6  3   8.4   4.6
  9000  17.1  62.8  250   7  3   7.4   4.1 |  17.9  64.2  290   6  3   9.1   5.0
  8750  17.6  63.7  245   6  3   6.5   3.6 |  19.3  66.7  285   6  3   9.0   4.9
  8500  18.1  64.6  235   6  3   4.9   2.7 |  19.8  67.6  285   6  3   6.7   3.7
  8250  18.4  65.1  230   6  3   5.6   3.1 |  20.3  68.5  290   5  3   8.7   4.8
  8000  18.9  66.0  220   5  3   7.3   4.0 |  21.1  70.0  285   5  3  11.9   6.5
  7750  19.4  66.9  210   5  2   6.2   3.4 |  21.9  71.4  285   5  3   9.7   5.3
  7500  19.8  67.6  200   5  2   4.6   2.5 |  22.5  72.5  285   5  3   7.4   4.1
  7250  20.2  68.4  195   5  3   5.6   3.1 |  23.1  73.6  290   5  3   8.9   4.9
  7000  20.7  69.3  185   5  3   9.1   5.0 |  23.9  75.0  290   5  2  13.2   7.2
  6750  21.4  70.5  180   5  2   9.0   4.9 |  24.9  76.8  280   5  2  11.9   6.5
  6500  22.0  71.6  175   4  2   7.3   4.0 |  25.7  78.3  285   5  2   9.7   5.3
  6250  22.6  72.7  170   4  2   7.1   3.9 |  26.4  79.5  290   5  2   9.0   5.0
  6000  23.2  73.8  165   4  2  11.1   6.1 |  27.2  81.0  290   5  2  13.7   7.5
  5750  24.3  75.7  160   3  2  21.1  11.6 |  28.7  83.7  285   4  2  28.9  15.8
  5500  25.7  78.3  160   3  2   7.0   3.9 |  30.9  87.6  295   4  2  20.7  11.3
  5250     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  5000     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M

           07/20/2025 at 1500 MDT          |       07/20/2025 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...   +23.4    LI...       -0.1        | CAPE...   +14.6    LI...       +0.5
CINH...    -5.9    K Index... +20.6        | CINH...   -12.8    K Index... +19.8
                                           |
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 -64.5 -84.1  230  25 13   1.6   0.9 | -64.6 -84.3  240  25 13   1.2   0.6
 45000 -60.3 -76.5  225  37 19   5.7   3.1 | -60.7 -77.3  235  38 19   5.8   3.2
 40000 -51.0 -59.8  220  44 23   6.6   3.6 | -51.4 -60.5  225  45 23   6.8   3.7
 38000 -47.1 -52.8  225  47 24   6.6   3.6 | -47.3 -53.1  230  47 24   6.8   3.7
 36000 -43.1 -45.6  230  50 26   6.9   3.8 | -43.3 -45.9  230  50 26   7.1   3.9
 34000 -38.4 -37.1  225  48 25   7.9   4.3 | -38.5 -37.3  230  48 25   7.9   4.4
 32000 -33.7 -28.7  225  47 24   7.8   4.3 | -33.8 -28.8  230  46 24   7.8   4.3
 30000 -29.2 -20.6  230  44 23   7.4   4.0 | -29.2 -20.6  230  43 22   7.6   4.1
 29000 -27.0 -16.6  230  43 22   7.4   4.0 | -26.9 -16.4  230  42 22   7.6   4.2
 28000 -24.8 -12.6  235  41 21   6.5   3.6 | -24.7 -12.5  235  41 21   6.4   3.5
 27000 -23.0  -9.4  235  36 19   6.0   3.3 | -23.0  -9.4  235  36 18   5.8   3.2
 26000 -20.8  -5.4  235  30 15   6.0   3.3 | -20.8  -5.4  235  30 15   5.8   3.2
 25000 -19.0  -2.2  235  25 13   5.8   3.2 | -19.0  -2.2  235  25 13   6.1   3.4
 24000 -17.3   0.9  235  21 11   5.7   3.1 | -17.1   1.2  235  22 11   6.4   3.5
 23000 -15.7   3.7  235  17  9   5.7   3.1 | -15.3   4.5  230  19 10   6.5   3.5
 22000 -14.0   6.8  235  14  7   6.8   3.7 | -13.4   7.9  230  16  8   7.0   3.9
 21000 -11.9  10.6  235  14  7   7.3   4.0 | -11.3  11.7  230  14  7   7.2   4.0
 20000  -9.8  14.4  240  14  7   7.3   4.0 |  -9.2  15.4  235  13  7   7.3   4.0
 19500  -8.7  16.3  240  13  7   7.6   4.1 |  -8.1  17.4  235  12  6   7.5   4.1
 19000  -7.5  18.5  240  13  7   8.2   4.5 |  -7.0  19.4  235  12  6   8.1   4.5
 18500  -6.3  20.7  245  13  7   8.1   4.5 |  -5.8  21.6  235  11  6   8.1   4.5
 18000  -5.1  22.8  245  13  6   8.7   4.8 |  -4.6  23.7  240  11  6   8.6   4.7
 17500  -3.8  25.2  245  12  6   8.8   4.8 |  -3.3  26.1  240  11  6   8.6   4.7
 17000  -2.5  27.5  245  12  6   8.8   4.8 |  -2.0  28.4  240  11  5   8.8   4.8
 16500  -1.2  29.8  250  12  6   8.9   4.9 |  -0.7  30.7  245  10  5   9.3   5.1
 16000   0.1  32.2  250  11  6   8.9   4.9 |   0.7  33.3  245  10  5   9.2   5.1
 15500   1.4  34.5  250  11  6   9.1   5.0 |   2.1  35.8  245  10  5   9.5   5.2
 15000   2.8  37.0  250  11  5   9.1   5.0 |   3.5  38.3  245  10  5   9.5   5.2
 14500   4.1  39.4  250  10  5   9.2   5.1 |   5.0  41.0  250  10  5   9.5   5.2
 14000   5.5  41.9  255  10  5   9.3   5.1 |   6.4  43.5  250  10  5   9.5   5.2
 13500   6.9  44.4  255  10  5   9.2   5.0 |   7.8  46.0  250  10  5   9.4   5.2
 13000   8.3  46.9  255  10  5   9.1   5.0 |   9.2  48.6  250   9  5   9.3   5.1
 12500   9.6  49.3  260   9  5   9.2   5.0 |  10.6  51.1  255   9  5   9.4   5.1
 12000  11.0  51.8  260   9  5   9.4   5.1 |  12.0  53.6  255   9  5   9.4   5.2
 11500  12.4  54.3  260   8  4   9.2   5.1 |  13.4  56.1  255   9  5   9.3   5.1
 11000  13.7  56.7  265   8  4   8.4   4.6 |  14.7  58.5  260   9  4   7.7   4.2
 10500  15.0  59.0  270   8  4  10.2   5.6 |  15.8  60.4  260   9  4  12.0   6.6
 10250  15.8  60.4  265   8  4  10.8   5.9 |  16.9  62.4  255   9  4  13.0   7.1
 10000  16.5  61.7  265   8  4   9.0   4.9 |  17.6  63.7  255   8  4   8.0   4.4
  9750  17.2  63.0  265   8  4   9.4   5.2 |  18.3  64.9  255   8  4   9.5   5.2
  9500  17.9  64.2  265   7  4   9.5   5.2 |  18.9  66.0  255   8  4   8.6   4.7
  9250  18.6  65.5  270   8  4  10.0   5.5 |  19.6  67.3  260   8  4   8.0   4.4
  9000  19.4  66.9  270   8  4   9.8   5.3 |  20.2  68.4  260   8  4   9.2   5.0
  8750  20.8  69.4  265   8  4   9.5   5.2 |  21.7  71.1  255   7  4   9.8   5.4
  8500  21.5  70.7  265   8  4   8.6   4.7 |  22.4  72.3  255   7  4   8.7   4.8
  8250  22.1  71.8  270   8  4   9.6   5.3 |  23.0  73.4  260   7  4   9.0   4.9
  8000  22.9  73.2  265   8  4  11.0   6.1 |  23.7  74.7  255   7  4  10.0   5.5
  7750  23.7  74.7  260   8  4  10.0   5.5 |  24.4  75.9  250   7  4   9.5   5.2
  7500  24.4  75.9  260   8  4   8.6   4.7 |  25.1  77.2  250   7  4   8.6   4.7
  7250  25.0  77.0  265   8  4   9.1   5.0 |  25.7  78.3  255   7  4   8.9   4.9
  7000  25.8  78.4  265   8  4  11.2   6.2 |  26.5  79.7  250   7  4  10.5   5.8
  6750  26.7  80.1  255   8  4  11.2   6.2 |  27.3  81.1  245   7  4  10.8   5.9
  6500  27.5  81.5  260   8  4  10.8   5.9 |  28.1  82.6  245   7  4  10.4   5.7
  6250  28.3  82.9  260   8  4  10.0   5.5 |  28.8  83.8  250   7  4  10.3   5.6
  6000  29.1  84.4  265   8  4  12.4   6.8 |  29.6  85.3  250   7  4   9.2   5.1
  5750  30.4  86.7  255   7  4  25.2  13.8 |  30.3  86.5  245   6  3  13.4   7.4
  5500  32.9  91.2  265   7  4  41.4  22.7 |  32.2  90.0  255   6  3  42.9  23.5
  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
________________________________________________________________________________

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