Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
297 UXUS97 KPUB 031439 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0839 MDT Thursday, July 3, 2025 This forecast is for Thursday, July 3, 2025: If the trigger temperature of 74.1 F/23.4 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 911 ft/min (4.6 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 17737 ft MSL (10124 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 85.0 F/29.9 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0900 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................. 14854 ft MSL (7240 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Friday 07/04....... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:38:47 / 20:28:32 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 49 min 45 sec (889 min 45 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:03:39 MDT... 73.89 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 07/03/2025 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 17187 ft MSL (9574 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 18132 ft MSL (10519 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 18184 ft MSL (10571 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -2.7 K index......................... -28.7 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 -64.0 -83.2 225 16 8 3.7 2.0 M M M M M 45000 -57.5 -71.5 245 24 12 5.5 3.0 M M M M M 40000 -49.2 -56.6 240 39 20 5.4 3.0 M M M M M 38000 -46.0 -50.8 245 36 18 5.4 3.0 M M M M M 36000 -42.4 -44.3 250 33 17 6.8 3.7 M M M M M 34000 -37.5 -35.5 245 24 12 8.1 4.4 M M M M M 32000 -32.7 -26.9 230 16 8 8.5 4.7 M M M M M 30000 -28.4 -19.1 210 11 6 7.2 3.9 40.3 104.5 8.4 M M 29000 -26.2 -15.2 200 9 5 7.2 3.9 39.3 102.8 7.8 M M 28000 -24.1 -11.4 185 9 4 7.5 4.1 38.5 101.3 7.2 M M 27000 -21.8 -7.2 175 9 5 7.6 4.2 37.6 99.6 6.5 M M 26000 -19.5 -3.1 170 10 5 7.6 4.2 36.8 98.2 5.9 M M 25000 -17.3 0.9 170 10 5 7.6 4.1 36.1 97.0 5.4 M M 24000 -15.1 4.8 160 11 6 7.1 3.9 35.1 95.2 4.7 M M 23000 -13.0 8.6 155 12 6 7.1 3.9 34.2 93.5 3.9 M M 22000 -10.9 12.4 150 13 7 7.1 3.9 33.3 92.0 3.2 M M 21000 -8.1 17.4 145 12 6 7.2 4.0 32.2 89.9 2.3 M M 20000 -6.0 21.2 145 11 6 7.2 4.0 31.3 88.4 1.6 M M 19500 -4.9 23.2 140 10 5 7.2 4.0 30.9 87.7 1.3 M M 19000 -3.8 25.2 140 10 5 7.1 3.9 30.5 86.9 0.9 M M 18500 -2.7 27.1 140 10 5 7.2 4.0 30.1 86.1 0.5 M M 18000 -1.6 29.1 140 10 5 6.9 3.8 29.6 85.3 0.2 M M 17500 -0.6 30.9 135 9 5 6.9 3.8 29.1 84.4 -0.3 884 4.5 17000 0.5 32.9 135 8 4 6.9 3.8 28.7 83.6 -0.7 838 4.3 16500 1.5 34.7 135 7 4 6.5 3.6 28.2 82.7 -1.1 793 4.0 16000 2.5 36.5 135 5 3 6.6 3.6 27.6 81.7 -1.6 749 3.8 15500 3.4 38.1 130 3 2 5.8 3.2 27.1 80.7 -2.2 707 3.6 15000 4.2 39.6 110 1 1 5.9 3.2 26.4 79.6 -2.8 667 3.4 14500 5.0 41.0 340 1 1 6.7 3.7 25.9 78.5 -3.5 627 3.2 14000 6.0 42.8 335 2 1 7.3 4.0 25.4 77.7 -4.0 584 3.0 13500 6.9 44.4 330 4 2 8.1 4.5 25.1 77.1 -4.6 541 2.7 13000 8.2 46.8 325 4 2 9.4 5.2 25.0 77.0 -4.8 489 2.5 12500 9.4 48.9 325 4 2 8.4 4.6 24.8 76.6 -5.1 437 2.2 12000 10.5 50.9 310 4 2 7.7 4.2 24.5 76.1 -5.4 389 2.0 11750 11.1 52.0 295 3 2 7.7 4.2 24.4 75.9 -5.6 365 1.9 11500 11.6 52.9 275 3 2 7.9 4.3 24.2 75.6 -5.8 342 1.7 11250 12.1 53.8 260 3 2 6.8 3.8 24.0 75.3 -6.1 319 1.6 11000 12.5 54.5 235 4 2 5.9 3.2 23.8 74.8 -6.4 300 1.5 10750 12.9 55.2 220 6 3 6.1 3.4 23.5 74.2 -6.8 281 1.4 10500 13.3 55.9 215 7 4 6.4 3.5 23.2 73.7 -7.1 262 1.3 10250 13.8 56.8 210 9 4 6.6 3.6 23.0 73.3 -7.4 241 1.2 10000 14.2 57.6 210 9 5 6.3 3.4 22.7 72.8 -7.8 220 1.1 9750 14.6 58.3 205 10 5 6.3 3.5 22.4 72.4 -8.1 200 1.0 9500 15.1 59.2 205 11 5 6.3 3.5 22.2 71.9 -8.4 180 0.9 9250 15.5 59.9 200 11 6 6.2 3.4 21.9 71.4 -8.7 159 0.8 9000 15.9 60.6 200 11 6 6.7 3.7 21.6 71.0 -9.0 138 0.7 8750 16.4 61.5 195 11 6 6.8 3.7 21.4 70.6 -9.2 116 0.6 8500 16.9 62.4 190 12 6 7.9 4.3 21.2 70.2 -9.5 94 0.5 8250 17.3 63.1 190 12 6 -1.0 -0.5 20.9 69.6 -9.9 75 0.4 8000 16.5 61.7 190 9 5 -17.0 -9.3 19.4 67.0 -11.4 91 0.5 7750 15.0 59.0 200 6 3 -20.3 -11.2 17.2 63.0 -13.7 129 0.7 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 * * * * * * 07/03/2025 at 0900 MDT | 07/03/2025 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +146.6 LI... +0.7 | CAPE... +357.6 LI... -0.5 CINH... -80.6 K Index... +1.6 | CINH... -4.9 K Index... +17.8 | 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 -63.8 -82.8 200 15 8 3.2 1.8 | -63.6 -82.5 205 20 10 2.9 1.6 45000 -57.9 -72.2 225 21 11 5.3 2.9 | -58.1 -72.6 215 28 15 5.1 2.8 40000 -49.8 -57.6 245 39 20 6.0 3.3 | -50.1 -58.2 235 40 21 6.6 3.6 38000 -46.2 -51.2 245 35 18 6.1 3.3 | -46.1 -51.0 235 38 20 6.6 3.6 36000 -42.1 -43.8 245 32 16 7.2 3.9 | -41.7 -43.1 235 36 19 7.5 4.1 34000 -37.3 -35.1 240 25 13 8.0 4.4 | -36.8 -34.2 230 29 15 8.1 4.4 32000 -32.5 -26.5 225 20 10 8.6 4.7 | -32.0 -25.6 225 22 11 8.9 4.9 30000 -28.1 -18.6 210 16 8 7.4 4.1 | -27.3 -17.1 210 19 10 7.7 4.2 29000 -25.8 -14.4 200 15 8 7.4 4.1 | -25.0 -13.0 205 17 9 7.7 4.2 28000 -23.6 -10.5 190 15 8 7.5 4.1 | -22.8 -9.0 195 17 9 7.2 4.0 27000 -21.3 -6.3 180 15 8 7.6 4.1 | -20.6 -5.1 190 17 9 7.1 3.9 26000 -19.1 -2.4 175 16 8 7.6 4.1 | -18.5 -1.3 185 18 9 7.1 3.9 25000 -16.8 1.8 170 17 9 7.5 4.1 | -16.3 2.7 180 19 10 7.1 3.9 24000 -14.6 5.7 165 17 9 7.5 4.1 | -14.3 6.3 175 19 10 6.6 3.6 23000 -12.4 9.7 165 18 9 7.5 4.1 | -12.4 9.7 175 19 10 6.6 3.6 22000 -10.1 13.8 160 18 9 7.4 4.0 | -10.4 13.3 170 19 10 6.8 3.7 21000 -8.1 17.4 155 18 9 6.5 3.6 | -7.8 18.0 170 19 10 7.4 4.1 20000 -5.7 21.7 145 17 9 6.5 3.6 | -5.6 21.9 165 18 9 7.4 4.1 19500 -4.7 23.5 140 17 9 6.6 3.6 | -4.5 23.9 165 18 9 7.1 3.9 19000 -3.7 25.3 135 17 9 6.6 3.6 | -3.7 25.3 160 17 9 5.1 2.8 18500 -2.8 27.0 135 16 8 6.6 3.6 | -2.9 26.8 155 15 8 5.2 2.9 18000 -1.8 28.8 130 15 8 6.8 3.7 | -2.2 28.0 150 13 7 5.1 2.8 17500 -0.8 30.6 130 14 7 6.9 3.8 | -1.5 29.3 145 11 6 5.1 2.8 17000 0.3 32.5 130 12 6 6.8 3.7 | -0.7 30.7 140 9 5 5.2 2.8 16500 1.3 34.3 125 10 5 6.4 3.5 | 0.3 32.5 130 8 4 6.2 3.4 16000 2.4 36.3 120 8 4 6.6 3.6 | 1.3 34.3 120 6 3 6.3 3.5 15500 3.3 37.9 105 6 3 5.9 3.2 | 2.4 36.3 105 4 2 7.1 3.9 15000 4.2 39.6 085 4 2 5.9 3.2 | 3.5 38.3 085 2 1 7.2 3.9 14500 5.0 41.0 045 3 2 6.1 3.4 | 4.5 40.1 035 2 1 7.3 4.0 14000 5.9 42.6 015 3 1 6.7 3.7 | 5.5 41.9 345 1 1 7.8 4.3 13500 6.7 44.1 345 3 2 7.5 4.1 | 6.5 43.7 305 2 1 8.4 4.6 13000 7.7 45.9 325 3 1 8.3 4.6 | 7.6 45.7 270 2 1 8.7 4.8 12500 9.0 48.2 320 2 1 9.0 4.9 | 8.8 47.8 220 1 1 8.6 4.7 12000 10.1 50.2 300 1 1 7.4 4.1 | 9.9 49.8 180 2 1 7.5 4.1 11750 10.6 51.1 270 1 1 8.1 4.5 | 10.5 50.9 175 3 1 8.5 4.7 11500 11.3 52.3 250 1 1 10.0 5.5 | 11.2 52.2 170 3 2 10.8 5.9 11250 11.9 53.4 240 1 1 8.3 4.6 | 11.9 53.4 165 3 2 9.2 5.1 11000 12.4 54.3 230 2 1 6.5 3.6 | 12.4 54.3 160 5 2 7.6 4.1 10750 12.9 55.2 225 3 2 6.2 3.4 | 13.0 55.4 160 6 3 7.4 4.1 10500 13.4 56.1 225 4 2 9.4 5.1 | 13.5 56.3 155 7 3 9.9 5.4 10250 14.1 57.4 230 6 3 9.6 5.3 | 14.3 57.7 150 8 4 11.2 6.1 10000 14.6 58.3 225 6 3 6.4 3.5 | 15.0 59.0 150 8 4 9.5 5.2 9750 15.2 59.4 225 7 3 7.3 4.0 | 15.7 60.3 150 8 4 10.1 5.5 9500 15.7 60.3 225 7 4 7.1 3.9 | 16.5 61.7 150 9 5 9.5 5.2 9250 16.1 61.0 225 8 4 4.7 2.6 | 17.1 62.8 150 9 5 8.7 4.8 9000 16.4 61.5 220 7 4 5.3 2.9 | 17.8 64.0 150 9 5 9.9 5.4 8750 16.8 62.2 220 8 4 7.5 4.1 | 18.6 65.5 150 9 5 11.0 6.0 8500 17.3 63.1 215 8 4 6.8 3.8 | 19.4 66.9 150 10 5 10.5 5.7 8250 17.7 63.9 215 8 4 7.7 4.2 | 20.2 68.4 150 10 5 11.6 6.4 8000 18.4 65.1 205 7 4 13.1 7.2 | 21.2 70.2 145 10 5 18.5 10.2 7750 19.6 67.3 200 6 3 20.3 11.1 | 22.9 73.2 145 10 5 26.9 14.7 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 07/03/2025 at 1500 MDT | 07/03/2025 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +245.2 LI... -1.2 | CAPE... +61.7 LI... -1.2 CINH... -6.3 K Index... +22.6 | CINH... -27.9 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 -63.8 -82.8 210 26 13 2.9 1.6 | -64.1 -83.4 215 27 14 2.3 1.2 45000 -58.3 -72.9 215 36 19 5.1 2.8 | -59.1 -74.4 220 42 21 5.3 2.9 40000 -50.3 -58.5 230 42 22 7.1 3.9 | -50.5 -58.9 225 46 24 7.8 4.3 38000 -45.5 -49.9 230 41 21 7.1 3.9 | -45.3 -49.5 220 45 23 7.8 4.3 36000 -41.2 -42.2 230 40 20 7.8 4.3 | -40.6 -41.1 220 44 23 7.9 4.4 34000 -36.2 -33.2 225 37 19 8.4 4.6 | -35.8 -32.4 220 40 21 8.0 4.4 32000 -31.2 -24.2 225 35 18 9.1 5.0 | -31.0 -23.8 220 36 19 8.7 4.7 30000 -26.4 -15.5 220 29 15 8.0 4.4 | -26.3 -15.3 220 31 16 7.9 4.3 29000 -24.0 -11.2 215 27 14 8.0 4.4 | -24.0 -11.2 220 28 14 7.9 4.3 28000 -21.7 -7.1 210 25 13 7.1 3.9 | -21.7 -7.1 220 25 13 7.1 3.9 27000 -19.6 -3.3 210 24 12 6.9 3.8 | -19.6 -3.3 220 23 12 6.9 3.8 26000 -17.6 0.3 205 23 12 7.0 3.8 | -17.6 0.3 220 20 10 6.9 3.8 25000 -15.5 4.1 205 21 11 7.0 3.8 | -15.5 4.1 225 17 9 6.9 3.8 24000 -13.7 7.3 205 20 10 5.9 3.3 | -13.8 7.2 225 15 8 5.8 3.2 23000 -11.9 10.6 200 18 9 5.9 3.3 | -12.1 10.2 225 13 7 5.8 3.2 22000 -9.7 14.5 200 16 8 6.2 3.4 | -10.0 14.0 225 11 6 6.1 3.3 21000 -7.9 17.8 205 14 7 6.3 3.5 | -8.2 17.2 235 8 4 6.2 3.4 20000 -6.1 21.0 210 11 6 6.4 3.5 | -6.4 20.5 260 5 3 6.2 3.4 19500 -5.2 22.6 215 10 5 6.4 3.5 | -5.5 22.1 280 5 2 6.3 3.4 19000 -4.3 24.3 225 9 4 5.6 3.1 | -4.6 23.7 295 5 2 6.3 3.4 18500 -3.5 25.7 235 7 4 5.7 3.1 | -3.7 25.3 305 5 3 6.3 3.4 18000 -2.7 27.1 255 6 3 5.7 3.1 | -2.7 27.1 315 6 3 6.2 3.4 17500 -1.9 28.6 275 5 2 5.7 3.1 | -1.8 28.8 315 5 3 6.2 3.4 17000 -1.1 30.0 295 4 2 5.7 3.1 | -0.9 30.4 320 5 2 6.2 3.4 16500 -0.1 31.8 305 4 2 6.8 3.8 | 0.1 32.2 310 3 2 7.2 3.9 16000 0.9 33.6 315 4 2 6.7 3.7 | 1.1 34.0 275 2 1 7.1 3.9 15500 1.9 35.4 320 3 2 7.2 3.9 | 2.1 35.8 230 3 1 7.5 4.1 15000 3.0 37.4 315 2 1 7.4 4.0 | 3.3 37.9 200 4 2 7.6 4.2 14500 4.0 39.2 305 2 1 7.8 4.3 | 4.4 39.9 190 7 3 7.6 4.2 14000 5.2 41.4 235 1 0 8.3 4.6 | 5.5 41.9 180 8 4 7.6 4.2 13500 6.4 43.5 180 2 1 8.3 4.5 | 6.7 44.1 175 10 5 7.7 4.2 13000 7.5 45.5 165 3 2 7.7 4.2 | 7.9 46.2 170 11 6 8.6 4.7 12500 8.5 47.3 165 6 3 7.2 3.9 | 9.1 48.4 170 12 6 8.1 4.5 12000 9.6 49.3 165 9 4 7.7 4.2 | 10.2 50.4 170 13 7 7.0 3.9 11750 10.1 50.2 165 10 5 8.4 4.6 | 10.7 51.3 170 14 7 8.1 4.5 11500 10.7 51.3 165 10 5 10.1 5.5 | 11.3 52.3 170 15 8 10.3 5.6 11250 11.4 52.5 165 11 6 9.5 5.2 | 12.0 53.6 165 16 8 9.4 5.1 11000 12.1 53.8 165 12 6 8.7 4.8 | 12.6 54.7 165 16 8 8.2 4.5 10750 12.7 54.9 165 12 6 8.0 4.4 | 13.2 55.8 165 16 8 7.4 4.1 10500 13.4 56.1 165 12 6 11.2 6.2 | 13.8 56.8 165 16 8 11.4 6.2 10250 14.3 57.7 165 12 6 12.3 6.8 | 14.8 58.6 165 16 8 12.8 7.0 10000 15.1 59.2 165 12 6 9.2 5.0 | 15.5 59.9 165 16 8 8.9 4.9 9750 15.8 60.4 165 12 6 9.5 5.2 | 16.2 61.2 165 16 8 9.2 5.0 9500 16.5 61.7 165 13 6 8.8 4.8 | 16.9 62.4 165 16 8 8.6 4.7 9250 17.2 63.0 165 13 7 11.4 6.3 | 17.6 63.7 165 16 8 10.6 5.8 9000 18.1 64.6 160 13 7 11.7 6.4 | 18.4 65.1 165 16 8 11.4 6.2 8750 18.8 65.8 160 13 7 9.6 5.3 | 19.2 66.6 165 16 8 9.8 5.4 8500 19.6 67.3 160 13 7 9.6 5.2 | 20.0 68.0 165 16 8 10.4 5.7 8250 20.3 68.5 160 13 7 11.9 6.5 | 20.7 69.3 165 16 8 9.7 5.3 8000 21.5 70.7 160 13 7 19.2 10.6 | 21.5 70.7 165 15 8 12.3 6.8 7750 23.1 73.6 160 12 6 23.8 13.1 | 22.6 72.7 165 14 7 18.2 10.0 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) 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 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. 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