Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
512 UXUS97 KPUB 141219 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0619 MDT Sunday, July 14, 2024 This forecast is for the Air Force Academy for Sunday, July 14, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 80.1 F/26.7 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1616 ft/min (8.2 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 25523 ft MSL (17906 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 93.0 F/34.3 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0845 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1500 MDT Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Overcast opaque high Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 21705 ft MSL (14088 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 07/15....... Good Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:46:00 / 20:24:32 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 38 min 32 sec (878 min 32 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:05:16 MDT... 72.49 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 07/14/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 17018 ft MSL (9401 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 18750 ft MSL (11133 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 20849 ft MSL (13232 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -5.5 K index......................... +25.0 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 -60.8 -77.4 265 17 9 1.2 0.7 M M M M M 45000 -57.8 -72.0 275 20 10 3.3 1.8 M M M M M 40000 -52.2 -62.0 315 22 11 5.7 3.1 M M M M M 38000 -48.8 -55.8 315 25 13 5.7 3.1 M M M M M 36000 -44.9 -48.8 320 28 15 7.7 4.2 M M M M M 34000 -40.1 -40.2 315 21 11 7.9 4.3 M M M M M 32000 -35.4 -31.7 315 13 7 8.6 4.7 38.8 101.9 3.7 M M 30000 -30.5 -22.9 310 10 5 8.3 4.5 37.5 99.5 2.8 M M 29000 -28.0 -18.4 310 9 5 8.3 4.6 37.0 98.7 2.4 M M 28000 -25.6 -14.1 305 8 4 7.3 4.0 36.4 97.5 1.9 M M 27000 -23.5 -10.3 280 7 3 7.3 4.0 35.4 95.8 1.1 M M 26000 -21.3 -6.3 255 7 3 7.4 4.0 34.6 94.2 0.4 M M 25000 -19.1 -2.4 235 8 4 7.3 4.0 33.8 92.8 -0.3 1772 9.0 24000 -17.0 1.4 230 7 4 7.3 4.0 32.8 91.1 -1.2 1678 8.5 23000 -14.9 5.2 225 7 3 7.3 4.0 32.0 89.5 -2.0 1585 8.1 22000 -12.7 9.1 215 7 3 7.8 4.3 31.2 88.2 -2.7 1490 7.6 21000 -9.8 14.4 225 8 4 7.8 4.3 30.3 86.6 -3.6 1367 6.9 20000 -7.5 18.5 230 9 5 7.8 4.3 29.7 85.5 -4.2 1268 6.4 19500 -6.3 20.7 230 9 5 9.0 4.9 29.5 85.1 -4.4 1217 6.2 19000 -4.9 23.2 230 10 5 9.0 5.0 29.4 84.9 -4.6 1162 5.9 18500 -3.6 25.5 230 10 5 8.9 4.9 29.3 84.7 -4.7 1107 5.6 18000 -2.4 27.7 235 11 6 8.4 4.6 29.0 84.3 -4.9 1055 5.4 17500 -1.1 30.0 235 12 6 8.4 4.6 28.8 83.9 -5.2 1003 5.1 17000 0.2 32.4 240 13 7 9.2 5.1 28.7 83.6 -5.4 950 4.8 16500 1.5 34.7 245 13 7 9.3 5.1 28.6 83.5 -5.5 894 4.5 16000 2.9 37.2 245 14 7 9.2 5.0 28.5 83.4 -5.6 838 4.3 15500 4.2 39.6 250 14 7 9.1 5.0 28.4 83.1 -5.8 783 4.0 15000 5.6 42.1 250 14 7 9.1 5.0 28.3 82.9 -5.9 728 3.7 14500 6.9 44.4 255 14 7 9.4 5.2 28.2 82.8 -6.0 672 3.4 14000 8.3 46.9 255 14 7 9.5 5.2 28.2 82.7 -6.2 616 3.1 13500 9.6 49.3 255 14 7 8.3 4.5 28.0 82.5 -6.3 562 2.9 13000 10.9 51.6 255 14 7 9.1 5.0 27.8 82.0 -6.6 511 2.6 12500 12.3 54.1 255 14 7 9.5 5.2 27.8 82.1 -6.6 452 2.3 12000 13.7 56.7 255 13 7 9.1 5.0 27.7 81.9 -6.8 397 2.0 11750 14.4 57.9 250 13 7 9.5 5.2 27.7 81.9 -6.8 369 1.9 11500 15.1 59.2 250 13 7 9.0 5.0 27.7 81.8 -6.9 341 1.7 11250 15.7 60.3 250 13 7 8.2 4.5 27.6 81.6 -7.0 315 1.6 11000 16.3 61.3 250 12 6 8.4 4.6 27.5 81.5 -7.1 289 1.5 10750 16.9 62.4 250 12 6 8.4 4.6 27.4 81.3 -7.2 263 1.3 10500 17.6 63.7 250 12 6 10.4 5.7 27.3 81.2 -7.3 235 1.2 10250 18.4 65.1 245 11 6 9.3 5.1 27.4 81.3 -7.3 204 1.0 10000 18.9 66.0 245 11 6 7.2 4.0 27.2 81.0 -7.5 180 0.9 9750 19.5 67.1 245 10 5 7.3 4.0 27.1 80.7 -7.6 156 0.8 9500 20.1 68.2 240 10 5 9.4 5.2 26.9 80.5 -7.8 131 0.7 9250 20.8 69.4 240 9 5 7.7 4.2 26.9 80.5 -7.8 102 0.5 9000 21.1 70.0 245 9 4 3.8 2.1 26.5 79.8 -8.3 85 0.4 8750 21.4 70.5 245 8 4 4.4 2.4 26.1 79.0 -8.7 69 0.3 8500 21.7 71.1 250 8 4 2.4 1.3 25.7 78.2 -9.2 54 0.3 8250 21.7 71.1 255 9 4 -0.7 -0.4 25.0 77.0 -9.9 45 0.2 8000 21.6 70.9 260 9 5 -1.4 -0.8 24.2 75.5 -10.8 42 0.2 7750 21.0 69.8 265 10 5 -20.9 -11.5 22.9 73.1 -12.2 53 0.3 7500 M M M M M M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M M M M M M 6750 M M M M M M M M M M M M * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 07/14/2024 at 0900 MDT | 07/14/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +692.3 LI... -0.9 | CAPE... +586.5 LI... -1.0 CINH... -39.2 K Index... +22.2 | CINH... -2.7 K Index... +24.9 | 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 -61.4 -78.5 275 15 8 1.7 0.9 | -61.7 -79.1 285 15 8 1.4 0.7 45000 -57.7 -71.9 285 18 9 3.8 2.1 | -58.2 -72.8 285 18 9 4.0 2.2 40000 -51.6 -60.9 320 16 8 5.5 3.0 | -51.9 -61.4 290 13 7 5.5 3.0 38000 -48.4 -55.1 330 23 12 5.5 3.0 | -48.6 -55.5 320 17 9 5.5 3.0 36000 -44.6 -48.3 330 30 16 7.5 4.1 | -45.4 -49.7 335 23 12 6.7 3.7 34000 -40.0 -40.0 325 25 13 7.6 4.2 | -39.8 -39.6 330 22 11 8.3 4.5 32000 -35.4 -31.7 310 20 10 8.3 4.6 | -34.9 -30.8 330 20 11 8.6 4.7 30000 -30.6 -23.1 305 15 7 8.1 4.5 | -29.9 -21.8 320 17 9 8.4 4.6 29000 -28.2 -18.8 295 12 6 8.1 4.5 | -27.4 -17.3 310 15 8 8.3 4.6 28000 -25.9 -14.6 285 11 6 7.2 3.9 | -25.1 -13.2 305 14 7 6.7 3.7 27000 -23.8 -10.8 280 12 6 7.2 4.0 | -23.1 -9.6 295 14 7 6.8 3.7 26000 -21.6 -6.9 270 13 7 7.2 4.0 | -21.1 -6.0 285 13 7 6.8 3.7 25000 -19.5 -3.1 265 14 7 7.7 4.2 | -19.1 -2.4 280 13 7 7.5 4.1 24000 -17.1 1.2 260 14 7 7.8 4.3 | -16.8 1.8 275 13 7 7.6 4.2 23000 -14.8 5.4 255 14 7 7.8 4.3 | -14.5 5.9 270 12 6 7.6 4.2 22000 -12.5 9.5 255 13 7 8.4 4.6 | -12.2 10.0 265 12 6 8.2 4.5 21000 -9.4 15.1 255 11 6 8.4 4.6 | -9.8 14.4 265 11 6 8.3 4.5 20000 -6.9 19.6 255 9 5 8.4 4.6 | -6.8 19.8 265 10 5 8.3 4.6 19500 -5.7 21.7 260 8 4 8.6 4.7 | -5.6 21.9 265 10 5 8.5 4.7 19000 -4.4 24.1 260 8 4 8.6 4.7 | -4.3 24.3 265 10 5 8.5 4.7 18500 -3.1 26.4 260 8 4 8.8 4.8 | -3.1 26.4 265 10 5 8.6 4.7 18000 -1.8 28.8 260 9 5 9.2 5.0 | -1.8 28.8 270 10 5 8.8 4.8 17500 -0.5 31.1 260 9 5 9.2 5.0 | -0.5 31.1 270 9 5 8.8 4.8 17000 0.9 33.6 260 10 5 9.2 5.0 | 0.8 33.4 270 8 4 8.8 4.8 16500 2.2 36.0 265 10 5 9.2 5.0 | 2.0 35.6 275 7 4 8.8 4.8 16000 3.6 38.5 265 10 5 9.0 5.0 | 3.3 37.9 280 6 3 9.2 5.0 15500 4.9 40.8 270 10 5 8.9 4.9 | 4.7 40.5 285 5 2 9.5 5.2 15000 6.2 43.2 275 11 5 8.9 4.9 | 6.1 43.0 295 4 2 9.5 5.2 14500 7.5 45.5 280 11 6 8.8 4.8 | 7.5 45.5 300 4 2 9.5 5.2 14000 8.8 47.8 280 11 6 9.0 4.9 | 8.9 48.0 300 3 2 9.5 5.2 13500 10.1 50.2 280 11 6 7.9 4.3 | 10.3 50.5 300 3 2 9.4 5.2 13000 11.2 52.2 280 10 5 8.8 4.8 | 11.6 52.9 300 3 1 10.5 5.8 12500 12.6 54.7 280 10 5 9.3 5.1 | 13.3 55.9 300 3 1 10.2 5.6 12000 13.9 57.0 280 9 5 9.0 4.9 | 14.8 58.6 300 2 1 10.2 5.6 11750 14.6 58.3 280 9 5 9.4 5.1 | 15.5 59.9 300 2 1 9.3 5.1 11500 15.3 59.5 280 9 4 9.3 5.1 | 16.2 61.2 305 2 1 9.3 5.1 11250 16.0 60.8 280 8 4 8.9 4.9 | 17.0 62.6 305 2 1 10.3 5.6 11000 16.6 61.9 280 8 4 8.9 4.9 | 17.7 63.9 305 2 1 9.8 5.4 10750 17.3 63.1 280 8 4 9.4 5.1 | 18.5 65.3 310 2 1 10.8 5.9 10500 18.0 64.4 275 7 4 10.3 5.6 | 19.3 66.7 310 2 1 11.9 6.5 10250 18.7 65.7 275 7 4 8.9 4.9 | 20.2 68.4 310 2 1 9.9 5.4 10000 19.3 66.7 275 7 4 7.8 4.3 | 20.8 69.4 310 1 1 8.7 4.8 9750 19.9 67.8 270 7 4 8.1 4.4 | 21.5 70.7 315 1 1 8.7 4.8 9500 20.5 68.9 270 7 3 8.5 4.6 | 22.2 72.0 315 1 1 11.0 6.0 9250 21.1 70.0 265 6 3 7.9 4.3 | 23.1 73.6 315 1 1 11.2 6.2 9000 21.6 70.9 260 6 3 7.0 3.8 | 23.8 74.8 320 1 1 9.3 5.1 8750 22.2 72.0 255 6 3 7.2 4.0 | 24.5 76.1 325 1 0 9.7 5.3 8500 22.7 72.9 255 6 3 9.3 5.1 | 25.3 77.5 330 1 0 10.7 5.9 8250 23.5 74.3 255 5 3 11.0 6.0 | 26.1 79.0 335 1 0 12.0 6.6 8000 24.2 75.6 255 5 2 8.5 4.7 | 26.9 80.4 340 1 0 9.1 5.0 7750 24.8 76.6 250 4 2 11.2 6.2 | 27.7 81.9 355 1 0 15.1 8.3 7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 6750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 07/14/2024 at 1500 MDT | 07/14/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +308.3 LI... -0.4 | CAPE... +359.3 LI... -1.7 CINH... -18.1 K Index... +29.8 | CINH... -116.6 K Index... +28.8 | 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 -61.4 -78.5 290 13 7 1.4 0.8 | -61.2 -78.2 325 11 6 1.2 0.6 45000 -58.5 -73.3 295 19 10 2.9 1.6 | -58.8 -73.8 320 17 9 2.4 1.3 40000 -52.9 -63.2 285 26 13 7.5 4.1 | -53.6 -64.5 295 25 13 8.5 4.6 38000 -48.4 -55.1 295 25 13 7.5 4.1 | -48.6 -55.5 305 22 11 8.4 4.6 36000 -43.9 -47.0 300 24 13 7.7 4.2 | -42.9 -45.2 315 20 10 8.9 4.9 34000 -38.5 -37.3 300 21 11 8.0 4.4 | -37.6 -35.7 310 17 9 8.9 4.9 32000 -33.8 -28.8 295 17 9 8.6 4.7 | -32.3 -26.1 310 14 7 8.8 4.8 30000 -29.0 -20.2 300 16 8 8.0 4.4 | -27.8 -18.0 325 10 5 7.5 4.1 29000 -26.6 -15.9 300 15 8 8.0 4.4 | -25.6 -14.1 340 8 4 7.5 4.1 28000 -24.3 -11.7 305 15 7 7.2 3.9 | -23.5 -10.3 355 8 4 6.6 3.6 27000 -22.2 -8.0 305 14 7 7.2 4.0 | -21.5 -6.7 010 8 4 6.7 3.7 26000 -20.0 -4.0 305 14 7 7.2 4.0 | -19.6 -3.3 020 9 5 6.7 3.7 25000 -17.9 -0.2 305 14 7 7.0 3.8 | -17.6 0.3 025 10 5 7.0 3.8 24000 -15.9 3.4 310 15 8 6.9 3.8 | -15.5 4.1 035 11 6 7.2 3.9 23000 -13.9 7.0 310 15 8 7.0 3.8 | -13.4 7.9 040 12 6 7.2 4.0 22000 -11.8 10.8 315 15 8 8.2 4.5 | -10.9 12.4 045 13 7 6.7 3.7 21000 -9.4 15.1 335 11 6 8.3 4.6 | -8.9 16.0 055 12 6 6.8 3.7 20000 -6.4 20.5 015 10 5 8.5 4.7 | -6.9 19.6 065 11 6 6.9 3.8 19500 -5.3 22.5 025 11 5 7.2 3.9 | -6.0 21.2 070 11 6 6.5 3.6 19000 -4.3 24.3 030 10 5 7.2 3.9 | -5.1 22.8 080 10 5 6.4 3.5 18500 -3.2 26.2 040 9 5 7.4 4.1 | -4.1 24.6 085 10 5 6.4 3.5 18000 -2.1 28.2 040 9 4 8.3 4.6 | -3.2 26.2 090 9 5 6.5 3.5 17500 -0.8 30.6 045 8 4 8.2 4.5 | -2.3 27.9 095 9 5 6.4 3.5 17000 0.4 32.7 045 8 4 9.5 5.2 | -1.3 29.7 100 9 5 8.1 4.4 16500 1.9 35.4 050 8 4 9.6 5.2 | 0.0 32.0 105 9 4 8.7 4.8 16000 3.3 37.9 050 7 4 9.6 5.2 | 1.3 34.3 115 8 4 8.9 4.9 15500 4.7 40.5 055 7 4 9.5 5.2 | 2.7 36.9 120 8 4 9.5 5.2 15000 6.2 43.2 055 6 3 9.5 5.2 | 4.1 39.4 125 8 4 9.5 5.2 14500 7.5 45.5 060 6 3 9.0 4.9 | 5.5 41.9 130 8 4 9.5 5.2 14000 8.9 48.0 070 5 3 9.1 5.0 | 7.0 44.6 140 8 4 9.5 5.2 13500 10.2 50.4 080 4 2 8.5 4.7 | 8.4 47.1 145 8 4 9.3 5.1 13000 11.5 52.7 110 4 2 9.2 5.0 | 9.7 49.5 155 7 4 9.2 5.1 12500 12.9 55.2 120 4 2 9.5 5.2 | 11.1 52.0 160 7 4 9.5 5.2 12000 14.3 57.7 145 5 2 9.4 5.1 | 12.5 54.5 175 7 4 10.2 5.6 11750 15.0 59.0 150 5 3 8.9 4.9 | 13.3 55.9 180 7 4 8.0 4.4 11500 15.7 60.3 155 6 3 8.8 4.8 | 13.7 56.7 185 7 4 6.7 3.7 11250 16.3 61.3 160 6 3 9.1 5.0 | 14.3 57.7 195 7 4 8.1 4.5 11000 17.0 62.6 160 7 4 9.0 5.0 | 14.9 58.8 205 8 4 8.1 4.4 10750 17.7 63.9 165 8 4 8.9 4.9 | 15.4 59.7 215 9 4 7.9 4.3 10500 18.3 64.9 170 8 4 9.4 5.2 | 16.0 60.8 220 9 5 8.8 4.8 10250 19.0 66.2 170 9 5 9.4 5.1 | 16.6 61.9 230 11 6 5.8 3.2 10000 19.7 67.5 175 9 5 9.0 4.9 | 16.8 62.2 240 13 7 2.9 1.6 9750 20.4 68.7 175 10 5 8.8 4.9 | 17.0 62.6 240 15 8 3.3 1.8 9500 21.1 70.0 175 11 5 9.7 5.3 | 17.2 63.0 245 18 9 4.6 2.5 9250 21.8 71.2 175 11 6 10.1 5.5 | 17.5 63.5 250 21 11 3.7 2.0 9000 22.5 72.5 175 11 6 9.5 5.2 | 17.6 63.7 255 24 13 1.4 0.7 8750 23.2 73.8 175 11 6 9.4 5.2 | 17.7 63.9 260 30 16 4.8 2.6 8500 24.0 75.2 175 12 6 10.3 5.7 | 18.3 64.9 260 30 15 9.9 5.4 8250 24.8 76.6 175 12 6 11.6 6.4 | 18.9 66.0 260 29 15 8.0 4.4 8000 25.6 78.1 180 12 6 9.5 5.2 | 19.5 67.1 260 27 14 10.4 5.7 7750 26.3 79.3 180 12 6 13.1 7.2 | 20.6 69.1 260 18 9 19.9 10.9 7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 6750 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 the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado at North Latitude: 38 deg 58 min 48.000 sec West Longitude: 104 deg 49 min 12.000 sec Elevation: 6572 feet (2003 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. 042613