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Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
917 UXUS97 KGJT 041307 SRGGJT Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado 707 AM MDT Thursday, July 4, 2024 This forecast is for Thursday, July 4, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 78.3 F/25.7 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1054 ft/min (5.4 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 17235 ft MSL (12396 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 92.0 F/33.8 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 1030 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................. 13410 ft MSL (8571 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Friday 07/05....... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:53:54 / 20:43:33 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 49 min 40 sec (889 min 40 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:18:43 MDT... 73.18 degrees Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 07/04/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 15669 ft MSL (10830 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 24258 ft MSL (19419 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 20888 ft MSL (16048 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... +6.3 K index......................... -14.7 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 -63.5 -82.3 295 26 13 6.5 3.6 87.3 189.1 31.4 M M 45000 -55.7 -68.3 280 48 25 4.8 2.6 75.8 168.4 26.5 M M 40000 -48.5 -55.3 275 56 29 2.2 1.2 64.4 147.8 20.7 M M 38000 -46.3 -51.3 285 55 28 3.1 1.7 58.9 137.9 17.4 M M 36000 -44.0 -47.2 280 59 30 6.1 3.3 52.7 126.9 13.6 M M 34000 -40.0 -40.0 280 49 25 6.9 3.8 50.2 122.3 12.2 M M 32000 -35.1 -31.2 275 53 27 8.6 4.7 48.8 119.8 11.4 M M 30000 -30.3 -22.5 285 48 25 8.0 4.4 47.4 117.3 10.7 M M 29000 -27.8 -18.0 285 49 25 9.5 5.2 46.8 116.2 10.3 M M 28000 -25.3 -13.5 290 50 26 8.0 4.4 46.2 115.2 10.0 M M 27000 -22.9 -9.2 295 52 27 8.0 4.4 45.6 114.0 9.6 M M 26000 -20.5 -4.9 295 51 26 8.0 4.4 44.8 112.7 9.1 M M 25000 -17.9 -0.2 295 51 26 7.8 4.3 44.4 112.0 8.9 M M 24000 -15.5 4.1 295 50 26 8.4 4.6 43.8 110.8 8.5 M M 23000 -13.0 8.6 295 51 26 7.7 4.2 43.3 109.9 8.1 M M 22000 -11.1 12.0 300 49 25 4.9 2.7 42.0 107.6 7.2 M M 21000 -9.6 14.7 295 49 25 5.3 2.9 40.4 104.6 5.9 M M 20000 -8.2 17.2 300 45 23 3.3 1.8 38.5 101.3 4.4 M M 19500 -7.7 18.1 300 40 21 3.1 1.7 37.4 99.2 3.4 M M 19000 -7.5 18.5 295 41 21 1.6 0.9 35.1 95.2 1.5 M M 18500 -6.9 19.6 295 39 20 6.2 3.4 34.2 93.5 0.7 M M 18000 -5.7 21.7 300 37 19 8.3 4.6 33.8 92.9 0.3 M M 17500 -4.5 23.9 305 36 19 8.2 4.5 33.5 92.4 0.1 M M 17000 -3.3 26.1 310 35 18 8.5 4.7 33.3 92.0 -0.1 1019 5.2 16500 -2.0 28.4 305 34 17 8.6 4.7 33.1 91.6 -0.3 965 4.9 16000 -0.7 30.7 300 33 17 8.6 4.7 32.9 91.3 -0.5 912 4.6 15500 0.6 33.1 300 31 16 9.1 5.0 32.7 90.9 -0.6 858 4.4 15000 1.6 34.9 295 27 14 3.2 1.8 32.2 89.9 -1.1 814 4.1 14500 2.5 36.5 295 27 14 8.3 4.6 31.5 88.8 -1.7 773 3.9 14000 3.7 38.7 300 28 14 8.4 4.6 31.2 88.2 -2.0 723 3.7 13500 4.3 39.7 305 29 15 0.6 0.3 30.3 86.6 -2.9 689 3.5 13000 4.4 39.9 310 29 15 1.5 0.8 29.0 84.2 -4.2 670 3.4 12500 4.6 40.3 315 21 11 2.4 1.3 27.7 81.8 -5.5 651 3.3 12000 5.3 41.5 320 12 6 8.6 4.7 27.0 80.5 -6.3 614 3.1 11500 6.7 44.1 325 9 5 9.4 5.2 26.9 80.4 -6.4 557 2.8 11000 8.1 46.6 340 6 3 9.5 5.2 26.9 80.4 -6.4 499 2.5 10500 9.6 49.3 320 4 2 9.1 5.0 26.8 80.3 -6.5 442 2.2 10250 10.2 50.4 320 3 1 8.2 4.5 26.7 80.1 -6.6 416 2.1 10000 10.8 51.4 005 1 1 8.2 4.5 26.6 79.9 -6.8 391 2.0 9750 11.4 52.5 025 2 1 8.5 4.7 26.5 79.7 -6.9 365 1.9 9500 12.0 53.6 025 3 2 8.5 4.7 26.4 79.5 -7.0 338 1.7 9250 12.7 54.9 030 5 2 8.5 4.7 26.3 79.4 -7.1 312 1.6 9000 13.3 55.9 030 6 3 8.5 4.7 26.2 79.2 -7.2 285 1.4 8750 13.9 57.0 030 6 3 8.5 4.7 26.2 79.1 -7.3 259 1.3 8500 14.6 58.3 035 4 2 8.5 4.7 26.1 78.9 -7.5 233 1.2 8250 15.2 59.4 035 5 3 8.5 4.7 26.0 78.7 -7.6 206 1.0 8000 15.8 60.4 040 6 3 8.5 4.7 25.9 78.6 -7.7 180 0.9 7750 16.5 61.7 040 6 3 8.5 4.7 25.8 78.4 -7.8 153 0.8 7500 17.1 62.8 045 4 2 8.5 4.7 25.7 78.2 -7.9 127 0.6 7250 17.8 64.0 060 2 1 8.5 4.7 25.6 78.0 -8.0 100 0.5 7000 18.4 65.1 130 1 0 8.5 4.7 25.5 77.9 -8.2 74 0.4 6750 19.0 66.2 155 1 1 8.5 4.7 25.4 77.7 -8.3 47 0.2 6500 19.7 67.5 160 2 1 8.5 4.6 25.3 77.5 -8.4 21 0.1 6250 20.3 68.5 135 3 2 8.7 4.8 25.2 77.3 -8.5 M M 6000 20.9 69.6 125 5 3 7.8 4.3 25.1 77.1 -8.7 M M 5750 21.4 70.5 165 5 3 6.1 3.4 24.8 76.7 -8.9 M M 5500 21.8 71.2 190 6 3 5.0 2.7 24.5 76.2 -9.3 M M 5250 22.2 72.0 205 7 4 7.6 4.2 24.2 75.6 -9.6 M M 5000 22.5 72.5 210 7 4 -2.9 -1.6 23.9 75.0 -10.1 M M * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 07/04/2024 at 0900 MDT | 07/04/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.7 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.1 CINH... -0.0 K Index... -10.5 | CINH... -1.0 K Index... -8.0 | 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 -60.8 -77.4 290 34 17 2.6 1.5 | -61.1 -78.0 295 34 18 2.6 1.4 45000 -55.4 -67.7 285 44 23 5.4 3.0 | -55.8 -68.4 290 47 24 5.4 3.0 40000 -47.7 -53.9 285 52 27 3.5 1.9 | -47.9 -54.2 285 55 28 4.1 2.2 38000 -45.4 -49.7 285 52 27 3.4 1.9 | -45.2 -49.4 285 54 28 4.0 2.2 36000 -43.3 -45.9 290 52 27 3.7 2.0 | -42.8 -45.0 285 53 27 4.3 2.4 34000 -39.5 -39.1 290 54 28 6.6 3.6 | -39.0 -38.2 285 52 27 6.4 3.5 32000 -35.6 -32.1 290 55 28 6.5 3.6 | -35.2 -31.4 285 52 27 6.4 3.5 30000 -31.2 -24.2 285 52 27 7.4 4.1 | -31.1 -24.0 290 51 26 6.9 3.8 29000 -29.0 -20.2 285 51 26 7.4 4.1 | -29.0 -20.2 290 50 26 6.9 3.8 28000 -26.8 -16.2 285 49 25 7.6 4.2 | -26.9 -16.4 290 49 25 7.2 3.9 27000 -24.4 -11.9 285 48 25 7.8 4.3 | -24.7 -12.5 290 48 25 7.3 4.0 26000 -22.1 -7.8 285 46 24 7.8 4.3 | -22.5 -8.5 290 47 24 7.4 4.0 25000 -19.8 -3.6 285 45 23 7.8 4.3 | -20.3 -4.5 290 46 24 7.3 4.0 24000 -17.4 0.7 290 45 23 7.8 4.3 | -18.0 -0.4 290 45 23 7.8 4.3 23000 -14.5 5.9 290 45 23 7.8 4.3 | -15.1 4.8 290 45 23 7.8 4.3 22000 -12.2 10.0 295 45 23 6.1 3.3 | -12.8 9.0 290 45 23 6.4 3.5 21000 -10.7 12.7 295 42 22 5.2 2.9 | -11.1 12.0 295 42 21 5.9 3.2 20000 -9.1 15.6 300 39 20 5.2 2.9 | -9.3 15.3 295 38 20 5.9 3.2 19500 -8.3 17.1 300 38 20 5.3 2.9 | -8.4 16.9 300 37 19 5.8 3.2 19000 -7.5 18.5 300 36 19 5.8 3.2 | -7.6 18.3 300 34 18 5.6 3.1 18500 -6.6 20.1 300 34 18 5.7 3.1 | -6.8 19.8 300 32 17 5.6 3.1 18000 -5.8 21.6 300 32 17 6.5 3.6 | -5.9 21.4 300 30 15 6.2 3.4 17500 -4.7 23.5 300 31 16 6.7 3.7 | -4.9 23.2 300 28 15 6.4 3.5 17000 -3.7 25.3 300 29 15 6.9 3.8 | -4.0 24.8 300 27 14 6.6 3.6 16500 -2.7 27.1 300 28 15 7.5 4.1 | -2.9 26.8 300 25 13 7.3 4.0 16000 -1.5 29.3 300 27 14 7.5 4.1 | -1.9 28.6 300 24 12 7.3 4.0 15500 -0.4 31.3 300 26 13 7.7 4.2 | -0.8 30.6 300 23 12 7.4 4.0 15000 0.7 33.3 300 25 13 7.7 4.2 | 0.3 32.5 300 22 11 7.4 4.0 14500 1.9 35.4 300 24 13 6.9 3.8 | 1.4 34.5 300 21 11 7.3 4.0 14000 2.9 37.2 300 23 12 6.6 3.6 | 2.5 36.5 300 20 10 7.2 4.0 13500 3.8 38.8 300 22 12 6.3 3.5 | 3.6 38.5 300 19 10 7.3 4.0 13000 4.7 40.5 300 21 11 6.0 3.3 | 4.7 40.5 300 18 9 7.5 4.1 12500 5.6 42.1 300 20 10 6.1 3.3 | 5.8 42.4 300 17 9 7.6 4.2 12000 6.5 43.7 300 18 9 6.4 3.5 | 6.9 44.4 300 16 8 7.8 4.3 11500 7.4 45.3 300 16 8 6.5 3.6 | 8.1 46.6 295 15 8 7.9 4.3 11000 8.4 47.1 300 13 7 7.2 4.0 | 9.3 48.7 295 14 7 8.1 4.4 10500 9.5 49.1 295 11 5 7.2 4.0 | 10.5 50.9 295 12 6 5.6 3.0 10250 10.0 50.0 300 10 5 7.7 4.2 | 10.8 51.4 295 12 6 6.5 3.5 10000 10.6 51.1 300 9 4 8.2 4.5 | 11.5 52.7 295 11 6 10.7 5.8 9750 11.2 52.2 300 7 4 8.1 4.5 | 12.2 54.0 295 10 5 10.0 5.5 9500 11.8 53.2 300 6 3 8.5 4.6 | 13.0 55.4 295 10 5 9.1 5.0 9250 12.4 54.3 300 5 3 9.3 5.1 | 13.5 56.3 295 9 5 7.3 4.0 9000 13.1 55.6 305 5 2 8.3 4.6 | 14.1 57.4 295 9 5 9.0 5.0 8750 13.7 56.7 310 4 2 7.5 4.1 | 14.9 58.8 295 9 4 10.8 5.9 8500 14.2 57.6 315 3 1 7.3 4.0 | 15.6 60.1 295 8 4 9.2 5.0 8250 15.2 59.4 325 2 1 7.0 3.8 | 16.7 62.1 295 8 4 9.2 5.1 8000 15.8 60.4 345 1 1 8.5 4.7 | 17.6 63.7 295 8 4 13.0 7.1 7750 16.4 61.5 020 1 1 6.5 3.6 | 18.5 65.3 295 7 4 10.0 5.5 7500 16.7 62.1 030 1 1 4.2 2.3 | 19.1 66.4 295 7 4 6.9 3.8 7250 17.1 62.8 045 1 1 5.6 3.1 | 19.7 67.5 295 7 4 9.0 5.0 7000 17.6 63.7 060 1 1 8.8 4.8 | 20.5 68.9 295 7 3 12.8 7.0 6750 18.3 64.9 065 1 1 8.0 4.4 | 21.4 70.5 295 6 3 11.7 6.4 6500 18.7 65.7 070 1 1 6.0 3.3 | 22.2 72.0 295 6 3 10.0 5.5 6250 19.2 66.6 080 2 1 6.0 3.3 | 23.0 73.4 295 6 3 9.0 5.0 6000 19.7 67.5 080 2 1 11.2 6.1 | 23.7 74.7 295 6 3 15.5 8.5 5750 21.0 69.8 080 2 1 21.6 11.9 | 25.5 77.9 295 5 3 31.5 17.3 5500 22.2 72.0 085 2 1 2.1 1.1 | 27.3 81.1 295 5 3 4.5 2.5 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 07/04/2024 at 1500 MDT | 07/04/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +4.0 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +1.5 CINH... 0.0 K Index... -0.9 | CINH... -0.1 K Index... +1.7 | 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 -61.0 -77.8 295 34 17 2.3 1.3 | -61.4 -78.5 295 35 18 2.1 1.1 45000 -56.3 -69.3 290 48 25 4.8 2.6 | -56.8 -70.2 295 49 25 5.1 2.8 40000 -48.6 -55.5 290 56 29 5.2 2.9 | -48.6 -55.5 295 56 29 5.6 3.1 38000 -45.4 -49.7 290 55 28 5.2 2.9 | -45.2 -49.4 295 55 29 5.6 3.1 36000 -42.3 -44.1 290 54 28 5.3 2.9 | -41.8 -43.2 295 55 28 5.6 3.1 34000 -38.8 -37.8 290 52 27 5.9 3.3 | -38.5 -37.3 295 54 28 5.4 3.0 32000 -35.2 -31.4 290 50 26 5.8 3.2 | -35.3 -31.5 295 52 27 5.2 2.9 30000 -31.1 -24.0 290 48 25 7.0 3.8 | -31.1 -24.0 295 49 25 7.3 4.0 29000 -29.0 -20.2 290 47 24 7.0 3.8 | -28.9 -20.0 295 48 25 7.3 4.0 28000 -26.9 -16.4 295 46 24 7.2 3.9 | -26.7 -16.1 295 47 24 7.2 4.0 27000 -24.7 -12.5 295 45 23 7.3 4.0 | -24.5 -12.1 295 47 24 7.1 3.9 26000 -22.5 -8.5 295 44 23 7.3 4.0 | -22.4 -8.3 300 46 24 7.1 3.9 25000 -20.3 -4.5 295 44 22 7.3 4.0 | -20.3 -4.5 300 46 24 7.2 3.9 24000 -17.6 0.3 295 42 22 7.3 4.0 | -17.8 -0.0 300 44 23 6.5 3.6 23000 -15.4 4.3 295 41 21 7.3 4.0 | -15.8 3.6 305 43 22 6.5 3.6 22000 -13.3 8.1 300 40 21 6.5 3.6 | -13.9 7.0 305 41 21 5.9 3.2 21000 -11.4 11.5 300 38 19 6.3 3.5 | -12.3 9.9 305 35 18 5.6 3.1 20000 -9.5 14.9 300 35 18 6.3 3.4 | -10.6 12.9 300 29 15 5.7 3.1 19500 -8.6 16.5 305 33 17 6.0 3.3 | -9.8 14.4 300 26 14 6.1 3.3 19000 -7.8 18.0 305 31 16 5.3 2.9 | -8.8 16.2 295 24 12 7.2 4.0 18500 -7.0 19.4 300 28 14 5.3 2.9 | -7.7 18.1 295 22 12 7.1 3.9 18000 -6.2 20.8 300 25 13 6.1 3.4 | -6.6 20.1 295 21 11 8.4 4.6 17500 -5.3 22.5 300 23 12 6.3 3.5 | -5.3 22.5 295 20 10 8.6 4.7 17000 -4.4 24.1 300 21 11 6.9 3.8 | -4.0 24.8 295 19 10 8.8 4.8 16500 -3.2 26.2 300 19 10 8.1 4.5 | -2.7 27.1 295 18 9 9.3 5.1 16000 -2.0 28.4 300 18 9 8.0 4.4 | -1.3 29.7 295 17 9 9.3 5.1 15500 -0.7 30.7 295 17 9 8.9 4.9 | 0.1 32.2 295 17 9 9.3 5.1 15000 0.6 33.1 295 17 9 8.8 4.8 | 1.5 34.7 295 16 8 9.3 5.1 14500 1.9 35.4 295 16 8 9.0 4.9 | 2.9 37.2 295 15 8 9.3 5.1 14000 3.2 37.8 295 16 8 9.1 5.0 | 4.2 39.6 295 15 8 9.3 5.1 13500 4.6 40.3 295 15 8 9.1 5.0 | 5.6 42.1 295 14 7 9.4 5.2 13000 5.9 42.6 295 15 8 9.1 5.0 | 7.1 44.8 295 14 7 9.6 5.2 12500 7.3 45.1 295 15 8 9.1 5.0 | 8.5 47.3 300 13 7 9.6 5.3 12000 8.6 47.5 295 14 7 9.0 5.0 | 9.9 49.8 300 13 7 9.6 5.3 11500 10.0 50.0 295 14 7 9.0 5.0 | 11.4 52.5 300 12 6 9.6 5.3 11000 11.3 52.3 295 14 7 8.9 4.9 | 12.8 55.0 300 12 6 9.3 5.1 10500 12.7 54.9 295 13 7 6.5 3.5 | 14.2 57.6 300 11 6 7.1 3.9 10250 13.1 55.6 295 13 7 7.3 4.0 | 14.7 58.5 305 10 5 7.8 4.3 10000 13.9 57.0 295 13 6 11.2 6.2 | 15.4 59.7 305 10 5 11.3 6.2 9750 14.6 58.3 295 12 6 10.4 5.7 | 16.2 61.2 300 10 5 10.5 5.8 9500 15.4 59.7 290 12 6 9.8 5.4 | 17.0 62.6 300 10 5 10.1 5.5 9250 16.1 61.0 290 12 6 8.5 4.7 | 17.7 63.9 305 10 5 8.9 4.9 9000 16.7 62.1 290 11 6 9.2 5.1 | 18.4 65.1 305 9 5 9.3 5.1 8750 17.5 63.5 290 11 6 10.0 5.5 | 19.1 66.4 305 9 5 9.9 5.4 8500 18.2 64.8 290 11 6 9.1 5.0 | 20.5 68.9 305 9 5 7.3 4.0 8250 19.3 66.7 290 11 5 9.5 5.2 | 21.0 69.8 305 8 4 8.8 4.9 8000 20.2 68.4 290 10 5 12.7 7.0 | 21.8 71.2 305 8 4 11.2 6.1 7750 21.1 70.0 290 10 5 10.0 5.5 | 22.6 72.7 305 8 4 9.5 5.2 7500 21.7 71.1 290 10 5 7.4 4.1 | 23.2 73.8 305 8 4 7.9 4.3 7250 22.3 72.1 285 10 5 9.3 5.1 | 23.8 74.8 305 7 4 9.0 4.9 7000 23.1 73.6 285 10 5 12.6 6.9 | 24.6 76.3 305 7 4 11.7 6.4 6750 24.1 75.4 290 9 5 11.7 6.4 | 25.5 77.9 305 7 4 11.1 6.1 6500 24.9 76.8 285 9 5 10.3 5.7 | 26.2 79.2 305 7 3 9.9 5.4 6250 25.6 78.1 285 9 5 9.0 4.9 | 27.0 80.6 310 6 3 9.4 5.1 6000 26.4 79.5 285 9 4 14.9 8.2 | 27.7 81.9 310 6 3 11.2 6.2 5750 28.1 82.6 285 8 4 32.1 17.6 | 28.8 83.8 310 6 3 19.5 10.7 5500 30.2 86.4 285 8 4 10.7 5.9 | 30.3 86.5 315 5 3 18.7 10.3 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 ________________________________________________________________________________ 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