Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
893 UXUS97 KPUB 181220 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0620 MDT Thursday, July 18, 2024 This forecast is for the Air Force Academy for Thursday, July 18, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 73.6 F/23.1 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1072 ft/min (5.4 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 20666 ft MSL (13091 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 84.0 F/29.3 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 1000 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1500 MDT Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast opaque middle Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 16715 ft MSL (9140 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Friday 07/19....... Good Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:49:03 / 20:22:10 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 33 min 7 sec (873 min 7 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:05:36 MDT... 71.81 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 07/18/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 15966 ft MSL (8391 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 14697 ft MSL (7122 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 16607 ft MSL (9032 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -6.1 K index......................... +26.0 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 -61.5 -78.7 315 23 12 2.9 1.6 M M M M M 45000 -55.9 -68.6 310 37 19 4.7 2.6 M M M M M 40000 -49.1 -56.4 305 48 25 3.5 1.9 M M M M M 38000 -47.0 -52.6 305 46 24 3.5 1.9 M M M M M 36000 -44.9 -48.8 305 44 23 4.4 2.4 M M M M M 34000 -39.9 -39.8 305 40 20 8.7 4.8 M M M M M 32000 -34.0 -29.2 310 35 18 8.5 4.7 M M M M M 30000 -29.4 -20.9 315 32 17 7.6 4.2 39.2 102.6 8.1 M M 29000 -27.1 -16.8 315 31 16 7.6 4.2 38.5 101.3 7.6 M M 28000 -24.9 -12.8 315 30 15 6.6 3.6 37.7 99.8 7.0 M M 27000 -22.9 -9.2 320 29 15 6.7 3.7 36.4 97.6 6.1 M M 26000 -20.9 -5.6 320 28 15 6.7 3.7 35.3 95.6 5.2 M M 25000 -18.9 -2.0 325 28 14 6.7 3.7 34.3 93.8 4.5 M M 24000 -16.9 1.6 325 27 14 6.7 3.7 33.1 91.6 3.5 M M 23000 -15.0 5.0 330 26 14 6.7 3.7 32.0 89.6 2.6 M M 22000 -13.0 8.6 335 26 13 6.2 3.4 31.0 87.8 1.8 M M 21000 -11.3 11.7 335 24 12 5.9 3.2 29.6 85.2 0.5 M M 20000 -9.5 14.9 335 23 12 5.9 3.3 28.3 82.9 -0.7 1225 6.2 19500 -8.7 16.3 335 22 11 6.1 3.3 27.7 81.8 -1.2 1184 6.0 19000 -7.6 18.3 335 22 11 8.4 4.6 27.3 81.1 -1.6 1138 5.8 18500 -5.9 21.4 330 21 11 8.5 4.7 26.9 80.5 -2.1 1064 5.4 18000 -4.7 23.5 330 21 11 8.8 4.8 26.7 80.1 -2.4 1013 5.1 17500 -3.4 25.9 330 20 10 8.9 4.9 26.6 79.8 -2.6 961 4.9 17000 -2.2 28.0 330 19 10 8.2 4.5 26.4 79.5 -2.9 909 4.6 16500 -1.1 30.0 330 16 8 7.9 4.3 26.1 79.0 -3.2 860 4.4 16000 0.1 32.2 335 14 7 7.9 4.4 25.8 78.5 -3.5 811 4.1 15500 1.3 34.3 340 13 6 8.1 4.4 25.5 77.9 -3.8 761 3.9 15000 2.4 36.3 340 11 6 8.0 4.4 25.3 77.5 -4.2 712 3.6 14500 3.6 38.5 335 9 5 8.9 4.9 25.0 77.1 -4.4 661 3.4 14000 4.9 40.8 325 8 4 8.9 4.9 24.9 76.8 -4.7 609 3.1 13500 6.1 43.0 310 7 3 7.8 4.3 24.7 76.5 -4.9 558 2.8 13000 7.1 44.8 285 5 3 8.2 4.5 24.4 75.9 -5.3 511 2.6 12500 8.7 47.7 270 5 3 10.6 5.8 24.5 76.1 -5.3 450 2.3 12000 10.0 50.0 255 6 3 9.0 4.9 24.4 75.9 -5.4 395 2.0 11750 10.7 51.3 250 6 3 10.1 5.5 24.4 75.9 -5.5 368 1.9 11500 11.4 52.5 250 6 3 9.3 5.1 24.4 76.0 -5.5 339 1.7 11250 12.0 53.6 250 7 3 7.7 4.2 24.3 75.7 -5.7 314 1.6 11000 12.6 54.7 245 7 4 8.0 4.4 24.1 75.5 -5.9 289 1.5 10750 13.1 55.6 245 8 4 8.5 4.6 24.0 75.2 -6.0 265 1.3 10500 13.7 56.7 245 8 4 6.2 3.4 23.9 75.0 -6.2 240 1.2 10250 14.0 57.2 240 9 5 4.0 2.2 23.5 74.2 -6.6 224 1.1 10000 14.3 57.7 240 10 5 4.7 2.6 23.1 73.5 -7.1 207 1.1 9750 14.6 58.3 235 11 6 4.7 2.6 22.7 72.8 -7.5 190 1.0 9500 15.0 59.0 235 12 6 4.2 2.3 22.3 72.1 -7.9 173 0.9 9250 15.1 59.2 230 12 6 0.7 0.4 21.8 71.2 -8.5 161 0.8 9000 15.0 59.0 230 12 6 -2.4 -1.3 20.9 69.7 -9.4 158 0.8 8750 14.7 58.5 230 13 7 -2.7 -1.5 20.0 68.0 -10.4 158 0.8 8500 14.4 57.9 230 14 7 -3.4 -1.8 19.0 66.3 -11.4 159 0.8 8250 14.1 57.4 230 14 7 -4.5 -2.4 18.0 64.4 -12.6 163 0.8 8000 13.8 56.8 230 14 7 -0.5 -0.3 17.0 62.6 -13.6 165 0.8 7750 13.7 56.7 225 14 7 -3.5 -1.9 16.3 61.3 -14.4 158 0.8 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 * * * * * * 07/18/2024 at 0900 MDT | 07/18/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +1417.8 LI... -5.1 | CAPE... +1669.1 LI... -6.1 CINH... -58.4 K Index... +22.9 | CINH... -0.7 K Index... +28.6 | 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 -61.6 -78.9 320 27 14 3.7 2.0 | -61.0 -77.8 325 28 15 3.6 2.0 45000 -56.0 -68.8 315 38 19 3.3 1.8 | -55.8 -68.4 320 39 20 2.8 1.5 40000 -50.6 -59.1 305 42 22 4.8 2.7 | -51.2 -60.2 310 41 21 5.0 2.7 38000 -47.8 -54.0 310 38 19 4.8 2.6 | -48.2 -54.8 315 35 18 4.9 2.7 36000 -44.9 -48.8 310 33 17 5.5 3.0 | -45.3 -49.5 315 30 15 5.8 3.2 34000 -40.1 -40.2 315 30 16 8.2 4.5 | -40.2 -40.4 315 28 15 8.6 4.7 32000 -34.6 -30.3 315 28 14 8.6 4.7 | -34.5 -30.1 315 27 14 8.6 4.7 30000 -29.4 -20.9 325 26 13 8.6 4.7 | -29.5 -21.1 320 24 12 8.3 4.6 29000 -26.8 -16.2 330 25 13 8.6 4.7 | -27.0 -16.6 320 22 11 8.3 4.6 28000 -24.4 -11.9 330 25 13 6.4 3.5 | -24.6 -12.3 325 21 11 7.7 4.2 27000 -22.5 -8.5 330 25 13 6.6 3.6 | -22.3 -8.1 325 21 11 7.8 4.3 26000 -20.5 -4.9 330 24 13 6.6 3.6 | -20.0 -4.0 330 21 11 7.8 4.3 25000 -18.5 -1.3 330 24 12 6.3 3.5 | -17.7 0.1 330 21 11 6.4 3.5 24000 -16.7 1.9 330 24 13 6.0 3.3 | -16.0 3.2 325 22 11 5.6 3.1 23000 -14.9 5.2 330 24 13 6.1 3.3 | -14.3 6.3 325 23 12 5.6 3.1 22000 -13.2 8.2 325 25 13 6.2 3.4 | -12.6 9.3 320 23 12 5.5 3.0 21000 -11.3 11.7 330 23 12 6.3 3.5 | -11.0 12.2 320 23 12 5.5 3.0 20000 -9.5 14.9 330 22 11 6.4 3.5 | -9.5 14.9 320 22 11 5.7 3.1 19500 -8.6 16.5 330 22 11 6.6 3.6 | -8.7 16.3 320 22 11 6.1 3.3 19000 -7.5 18.5 330 21 11 7.5 4.1 | -7.2 19.0 320 20 10 7.6 4.2 18500 -6.4 20.5 330 20 10 7.4 4.1 | -6.1 21.0 320 19 10 7.7 4.2 18000 -4.8 23.4 330 20 10 8.2 4.5 | -4.9 23.2 325 18 9 8.2 4.5 17500 -3.6 25.5 330 19 10 8.2 4.5 | -3.7 25.3 325 17 9 8.1 4.5 17000 -2.5 27.5 330 19 10 9.1 5.0 | -2.5 27.5 325 17 9 9.1 5.0 16500 -1.1 30.0 330 17 9 9.3 5.1 | -1.1 30.0 325 16 8 9.3 5.1 16000 0.2 32.4 330 16 8 9.1 5.0 | 0.2 32.4 325 16 8 9.2 5.1 15500 1.5 34.7 330 14 7 8.5 4.7 | 1.5 34.7 325 15 8 9.1 5.0 15000 2.8 37.0 330 13 7 8.5 4.7 | 2.8 37.0 325 15 7 9.1 5.0 14500 4.1 39.4 330 12 6 9.3 5.1 | 4.0 39.2 325 13 7 9.2 5.0 14000 5.5 41.9 330 11 6 9.4 5.1 | 5.3 41.5 325 12 6 9.3 5.1 13500 6.7 44.1 330 10 5 7.6 4.2 | 6.5 43.7 330 10 5 8.5 4.7 13000 7.8 46.0 330 9 5 8.6 4.7 | 7.7 45.9 335 8 4 9.6 5.3 12500 9.3 48.7 330 9 4 10.0 5.5 | 9.3 48.7 340 7 4 10.0 5.5 12000 10.5 50.9 325 7 4 8.5 4.7 | 10.6 51.1 345 7 3 8.8 4.8 11750 11.1 52.0 325 7 3 9.3 5.1 | 11.3 52.3 350 6 3 10.6 5.8 11500 11.8 53.2 320 6 3 9.5 5.2 | 12.1 53.8 355 6 3 10.9 6.0 11250 12.5 54.5 325 6 3 8.7 4.8 | 12.8 55.0 355 6 3 9.3 5.1 11000 13.1 55.6 325 6 3 8.9 4.9 | 13.5 56.3 360 6 3 9.7 5.3 10750 13.7 56.7 325 5 3 9.0 4.9 | 14.2 57.6 360 5 3 9.8 5.4 10500 14.4 57.9 325 5 3 9.2 5.0 | 14.9 58.8 005 5 3 10.8 5.9 10250 15.0 59.0 320 5 3 8.1 4.4 | 15.7 60.3 005 5 2 10.0 5.5 10000 15.5 59.9 315 5 3 7.3 4.0 | 16.4 61.5 010 5 2 9.0 4.9 9750 16.0 60.8 310 6 3 7.5 4.1 | 17.1 62.8 015 4 2 9.2 5.0 9500 16.5 61.7 305 6 3 7.5 4.1 | 17.8 64.0 015 4 2 10.4 5.7 9250 17.0 62.6 295 7 4 5.9 3.2 | 18.6 65.5 020 4 2 10.8 5.9 9000 17.3 63.1 285 8 4 4.2 2.3 | 19.4 66.9 025 4 2 9.9 5.4 8750 17.5 63.5 280 9 5 4.2 2.3 | 20.1 68.2 030 4 2 10.1 5.5 8500 17.7 63.9 275 10 5 1.2 0.7 | 20.9 69.6 035 4 2 10.7 5.8 8250 17.6 63.7 270 9 5 -0.1 -0.0 | 21.7 71.1 035 4 2 11.6 6.4 8000 17.7 63.9 265 8 4 5.2 2.8 | 22.5 72.5 040 4 2 8.9 4.9 7750 18.3 64.9 255 7 3 15.4 8.4 | 23.2 73.8 045 4 2 15.2 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 07/18/2024 at 1500 MDT | 07/18/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +1330.4 LI... -4.0 | CAPE... +1897.1 LI... -5.7 CINH... -0.0 K Index... +31.3 | CINH... -10.4 K Index... +31.1 | 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 -78.5 315 31 16 3.3 1.8 | -61.4 -78.5 315 32 16 2.6 1.4 45000 -56.3 -69.3 310 42 22 3.1 1.7 | -56.7 -70.1 310 45 23 3.6 2.0 40000 -51.2 -60.2 305 47 24 5.2 2.9 | -51.0 -59.8 310 48 25 5.1 2.8 38000 -48.0 -54.4 305 39 20 5.2 2.9 | -47.9 -54.2 300 42 21 5.1 2.8 36000 -44.9 -48.8 305 30 16 6.0 3.3 | -44.9 -48.8 290 36 19 6.6 3.6 34000 -39.5 -39.1 305 28 15 8.2 4.5 | -38.8 -37.8 300 37 19 9.0 5.0 32000 -34.6 -30.3 300 27 14 8.9 4.9 | -33.4 -28.1 305 39 20 8.9 4.9 30000 -29.4 -20.9 300 24 12 8.7 4.8 | -28.4 -19.1 310 35 18 8.5 4.7 29000 -26.8 -16.2 300 23 12 8.7 4.8 | -25.8 -14.4 310 32 17 8.5 4.7 28000 -24.2 -11.6 305 22 11 7.8 4.3 | -23.3 -9.9 310 30 15 7.8 4.3 27000 -21.9 -7.4 305 22 11 7.9 4.3 | -21.0 -5.8 310 28 14 7.9 4.3 26000 -19.6 -3.3 310 22 11 7.9 4.3 | -18.6 -1.5 315 26 13 7.9 4.3 25000 -17.2 1.0 315 22 11 6.7 3.7 | -16.3 2.7 315 24 12 6.8 3.7 24000 -15.5 4.1 320 22 12 6.1 3.3 | -14.5 5.9 320 22 11 6.3 3.5 23000 -13.7 7.3 325 23 12 6.1 3.4 | -12.7 9.1 325 20 11 6.4 3.5 22000 -11.9 10.6 325 24 12 6.4 3.5 | -10.8 12.6 330 19 10 5.9 3.2 21000 -10.0 14.0 325 26 13 6.5 3.6 | -9.3 15.3 335 20 10 5.6 3.1 20000 -8.2 17.2 325 28 14 6.6 3.6 | -7.3 18.9 335 21 11 5.7 3.1 19500 -6.8 19.8 325 29 15 6.6 3.6 | -6.5 20.3 335 21 11 6.3 3.4 19000 -5.8 21.6 325 28 15 6.5 3.6 | -5.6 21.9 340 20 10 6.5 3.6 18500 -4.9 23.2 330 28 14 6.5 3.6 | -4.7 23.5 340 19 10 6.6 3.6 18000 -4.0 24.8 330 26 13 6.4 3.5 | -3.7 25.3 350 17 9 7.3 4.0 17500 -3.1 26.4 335 24 12 6.4 3.5 | -2.6 27.3 360 16 8 7.3 4.0 17000 -2.2 28.0 345 21 11 7.6 4.2 | -1.7 28.9 010 16 8 6.3 3.4 16500 -1.1 30.0 350 18 9 8.0 4.4 | -0.8 30.6 010 15 8 5.9 3.3 16000 0.0 32.0 360 15 8 8.4 4.6 | -0.0 32.0 015 15 8 6.4 3.5 15500 1.3 34.3 005 14 7 9.1 5.0 | 1.1 34.0 020 14 7 8.4 4.6 15000 2.6 36.7 015 12 6 9.1 5.0 | 2.3 36.1 020 13 7 8.3 4.5 14500 3.9 39.0 020 12 6 9.7 5.3 | 3.5 38.3 025 12 6 9.3 5.1 14000 5.3 41.5 020 11 6 9.7 5.3 | 4.9 40.8 025 11 6 9.2 5.1 13500 6.7 44.1 025 11 5 9.1 5.0 | 6.2 43.2 030 10 5 8.8 4.9 13000 8.1 46.6 025 10 5 10.0 5.5 | 7.4 45.3 035 9 5 9.4 5.2 12500 9.7 49.5 025 10 5 10.4 5.7 | 9.0 48.2 035 9 4 10.2 5.6 12000 11.1 52.0 030 9 5 9.5 5.2 | 10.4 50.7 045 7 4 9.4 5.2 11750 11.8 53.2 030 9 5 9.6 5.3 | 11.1 52.0 050 7 3 9.2 5.0 11500 12.6 54.7 030 9 5 9.8 5.4 | 11.7 53.1 055 6 3 8.7 4.8 11250 13.3 55.9 035 9 5 9.7 5.3 | 12.3 54.1 065 5 3 8.6 4.7 11000 14.0 57.2 035 9 4 9.8 5.4 | 12.9 55.2 075 5 2 8.7 4.8 10750 14.7 58.5 040 8 4 9.6 5.3 | 13.5 56.3 090 4 2 8.4 4.6 10500 15.5 59.9 040 8 4 11.5 6.3 | 14.2 57.6 105 4 2 9.5 5.2 10250 16.4 61.5 045 8 4 10.8 5.9 | 14.8 58.6 115 4 2 9.0 5.0 10000 17.0 62.6 045 8 4 8.8 4.9 | 15.4 59.7 125 5 2 7.6 4.2 9750 17.7 63.9 050 8 4 8.9 4.9 | 16.0 60.8 140 5 3 7.9 4.3 9500 18.4 65.1 050 7 4 11.1 6.1 | 16.5 61.7 145 6 3 8.2 4.5 9250 19.3 66.7 055 7 4 11.3 6.2 | 17.1 62.8 155 6 3 8.6 4.7 9000 20.0 68.0 055 7 4 9.0 4.9 | 17.7 63.9 155 6 3 8.5 4.6 8750 20.7 69.3 055 7 4 9.4 5.1 | 18.3 64.9 160 7 3 8.4 4.6 8500 21.4 70.5 060 7 4 9.9 5.4 | 18.9 66.0 160 7 4 9.0 5.0 8250 22.2 72.0 060 7 4 10.9 6.0 | 19.6 67.3 165 7 4 9.8 5.4 8000 22.9 73.2 065 7 3 10.0 5.5 | 20.3 68.5 165 7 4 9.2 5.0 7750 23.8 74.8 065 7 3 15.8 8.7 | 20.9 69.6 165 7 4 10.7 5.9 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