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Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
647 UXUS97 KPUB 301230 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0630 MDT Sunday, June 30, 2024 This forecast is for the Air Force Academy for Sunday, June 30, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 70.6 F/21.5 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good Maximum rate of lift........................ 539 ft/min (2.7 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 16202 ft MSL (8675 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 81.0 F/27.7 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 1030 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1300 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................. 13217 ft MSL (5689 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 07/01....... Good Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:37:23 / 20:28:53 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 51 min 30 sec (891 min 30 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:03:08 MDT... 74.11 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 06/30/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 16738 ft MSL (9211 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 12788 ft MSL (5261 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 14376 ft MSL (6849 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -5.2 K index......................... +28.6 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 -64.4 -83.9 270 26 13 3.4 1.8 M M M M M 45000 -58.1 -72.6 255 39 20 5.3 2.9 M M M M M 40000 -49.3 -56.7 230 58 30 8.3 4.6 M M M M M 38000 -44.2 -47.6 230 54 28 8.4 4.6 M M M M M 36000 -39.2 -38.6 225 51 26 8.1 4.4 M M M M M 34000 -33.8 -28.8 230 46 24 8.0 4.4 M M M M M 32000 -29.1 -20.4 235 42 22 7.8 4.3 47.1 116.7 15.1 M M 30000 -25.2 -13.4 245 38 20 6.6 3.6 44.4 111.9 13.3 M M 29000 -23.2 -9.8 250 36 19 6.6 3.6 43.3 110.0 12.6 M M 28000 -21.3 -6.3 250 34 18 6.2 3.4 42.1 107.8 11.7 M M 27000 -19.5 -3.1 250 31 16 6.3 3.4 40.7 105.3 10.7 M M 26000 -17.6 0.3 250 27 14 6.3 3.4 39.4 103.0 9.8 M M 25000 -15.8 3.6 245 24 12 6.2 3.4 38.3 100.9 8.9 M M 24000 -14.0 6.8 245 23 12 6.2 3.4 36.9 98.4 7.8 M M 23000 -12.2 10.0 245 22 11 6.2 3.4 35.6 96.2 6.7 M M 22000 -10.3 13.5 240 20 10 6.5 3.6 34.5 94.1 5.8 M M 21000 -8.5 16.7 245 18 9 6.6 3.6 33.3 92.0 4.7 M M 20000 -6.6 20.1 245 15 8 6.6 3.6 32.3 90.1 3.7 M M 19500 -5.6 21.9 245 14 7 6.6 3.6 31.8 89.2 3.3 M M 19000 -4.7 23.5 245 13 7 6.3 3.5 31.2 88.2 2.8 M M 18500 -3.8 25.2 245 12 6 6.3 3.5 30.6 87.1 2.2 M M 18000 -2.8 27.0 245 11 6 6.7 3.7 30.1 86.2 1.7 M M 17500 -1.3 29.7 240 12 6 6.9 3.8 29.4 84.8 1.1 M M 17000 -0.3 31.5 240 12 6 6.9 3.8 28.9 84.0 0.6 M M 16500 0.7 33.3 240 12 6 7.0 3.8 28.4 83.2 0.2 M M 16000 1.7 35.1 235 13 7 7.0 3.8 28.0 82.4 -0.3 711 3.6 15500 2.7 36.9 235 13 7 7.0 3.8 27.5 81.5 -0.7 666 3.4 15000 3.7 38.7 235 13 7 7.0 3.8 27.1 80.7 -1.2 622 3.2 14500 4.7 40.5 230 14 7 6.9 3.8 26.6 79.9 -1.7 577 2.9 14000 5.7 42.3 230 15 8 7.0 3.8 26.2 79.1 -2.1 533 2.7 13500 6.6 43.9 230 16 8 5.9 3.3 25.7 78.2 -2.7 490 2.5 13000 7.4 45.3 230 18 9 5.9 3.2 25.0 77.0 -3.4 452 2.3 12500 8.2 46.8 225 20 10 5.4 3.0 24.4 76.0 -4.0 413 2.1 12000 8.9 48.0 225 21 11 4.8 2.7 23.7 74.6 -4.9 379 1.9 11750 9.2 48.6 220 22 11 6.0 3.3 23.3 73.9 -5.3 362 1.8 11500 9.6 49.3 220 23 12 5.7 3.1 23.0 73.5 -5.6 341 1.7 11250 9.9 49.8 220 23 12 4.3 2.3 22.6 72.7 -6.1 325 1.6 11000 10.2 50.4 215 23 12 4.7 2.6 22.2 72.0 -6.5 308 1.6 10750 10.5 50.9 215 23 12 4.6 2.5 21.8 71.3 -6.9 292 1.5 10500 10.8 51.4 210 24 12 4.6 2.5 21.4 70.6 -7.4 276 1.4 10250 11.1 52.0 205 24 12 4.9 2.7 21.1 69.9 -7.8 259 1.3 10000 11.5 52.7 200 24 12 5.0 2.7 20.7 69.2 -8.3 242 1.2 9750 11.8 53.2 200 24 12 5.1 2.8 20.3 68.6 -8.7 224 1.1 9500 12.1 53.8 195 24 12 2.6 1.4 19.9 67.9 -9.1 208 1.1 9250 12.2 54.0 190 25 13 1.6 0.9 19.3 66.7 -9.8 198 1.0 9000 12.4 54.3 185 25 13 3.5 1.9 18.7 65.7 -10.3 185 0.9 8750 12.6 54.7 180 24 12 3.5 1.9 18.3 64.9 -10.8 170 0.9 8500 12.8 55.0 180 23 12 2.9 1.6 17.8 64.0 -11.4 157 0.8 8250 13.0 55.4 175 21 11 2.5 1.4 17.2 63.0 -12.0 144 0.7 8000 13.2 55.8 175 20 10 6.5 3.6 16.8 62.2 -12.5 129 0.7 7750 13.9 57.0 175 18 9 9.9 5.4 16.7 62.1 -12.6 103 0.5 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 * * * * * * 06/30/2024 at 0900 MDT | 06/30/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +434.2 LI... -2.1 | CAPE... +1244.1 LI... -4.2 CINH... -33.7 K Index... +25.2 | CINH... -13.2 K Index... +25.2 | 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 -63.9 -83.0 265 21 11 3.8 2.1 | -64.7 -84.5 250 18 9 2.9 1.6 45000 -57.6 -71.7 260 34 17 4.8 2.6 | -58.2 -72.8 250 31 16 6.1 3.4 40000 -49.2 -56.6 240 48 25 8.3 4.5 | -48.4 -55.1 245 43 22 7.9 4.4 38000 -44.2 -47.6 230 47 24 8.3 4.6 | -43.6 -46.5 240 43 22 7.9 4.4 36000 -38.7 -37.7 225 46 24 8.0 4.4 | -38.3 -36.9 235 43 22 7.7 4.2 34000 -33.9 -29.0 225 45 23 8.0 4.4 | -33.6 -28.5 235 43 22 7.7 4.2 32000 -29.1 -20.4 230 44 22 8.1 4.4 | -29.0 -20.2 235 44 23 7.8 4.3 30000 -24.9 -12.8 235 41 21 7.0 3.8 | -25.0 -13.0 240 42 21 6.6 3.6 29000 -22.8 -9.0 240 40 21 6.9 3.8 | -23.1 -9.6 240 41 21 6.6 3.6 28000 -20.8 -5.4 245 39 20 6.2 3.4 | -21.1 -6.0 245 40 20 6.4 3.5 27000 -19.0 -2.2 240 35 18 6.3 3.5 | -19.2 -2.6 240 38 20 6.4 3.5 26000 -17.2 1.0 240 32 17 6.4 3.5 | -17.3 0.9 240 37 19 6.4 3.5 25000 -15.3 4.5 240 29 15 6.1 3.3 | -15.4 4.3 240 36 18 6.4 3.5 24000 -13.6 7.5 240 28 14 5.9 3.2 | -13.6 7.5 240 35 18 6.4 3.5 23000 -11.9 10.6 245 26 13 5.9 3.3 | -11.7 10.9 240 34 17 6.4 3.5 22000 -10.1 13.8 245 24 13 6.5 3.6 | -9.8 14.4 240 32 17 6.4 3.5 21000 -8.1 17.4 250 22 11 6.8 3.7 | -7.9 17.8 245 29 15 6.5 3.6 20000 -5.7 21.7 260 20 10 6.8 3.7 | -6.1 21.0 245 25 13 6.5 3.6 19500 -4.7 23.5 260 19 10 6.8 3.7 | -5.1 22.8 250 24 12 6.4 3.5 19000 -3.7 25.3 260 16 8 6.8 3.7 | -3.8 25.2 250 22 11 6.2 3.4 18500 -2.8 27.0 260 14 7 6.8 3.7 | -2.9 26.8 255 21 11 6.3 3.5 18000 -1.8 28.8 255 12 6 6.2 3.4 | -1.9 28.6 250 20 10 7.1 3.9 17500 -1.0 30.2 255 11 5 6.2 3.4 | -0.9 30.4 250 19 10 7.0 3.9 17000 -0.1 31.8 250 9 5 6.4 3.5 | 0.1 32.2 250 17 9 7.0 3.8 16500 0.9 33.6 250 9 5 6.5 3.6 | 1.1 34.0 255 16 8 7.0 3.8 16000 1.8 35.2 250 9 4 6.6 3.6 | 2.1 35.8 255 15 8 7.1 3.9 15500 2.8 37.0 250 9 5 6.9 3.8 | 3.2 37.8 260 15 7 7.4 4.1 15000 3.8 38.8 250 10 5 6.9 3.8 | 4.2 39.6 265 14 7 7.4 4.0 14500 4.8 40.6 245 11 6 6.7 3.7 | 5.4 41.7 265 14 7 8.0 4.4 14000 5.7 42.3 245 12 6 6.8 3.7 | 6.5 43.7 270 14 7 8.0 4.4 13500 6.7 44.1 245 13 7 7.0 3.9 | 7.7 45.9 270 14 7 8.4 4.6 13000 7.7 45.9 245 14 7 7.0 3.8 | 8.9 48.0 270 14 7 8.0 4.4 12500 8.6 47.5 245 16 8 5.9 3.3 | 9.9 49.8 270 15 8 7.3 4.0 12000 9.5 49.1 245 16 8 6.5 3.6 | 11.0 51.8 270 15 8 8.0 4.4 11750 9.9 49.8 245 17 9 5.9 3.2 | 11.6 52.9 270 16 8 7.8 4.3 11500 10.3 50.5 240 18 9 5.8 3.2 | 12.2 54.0 265 16 8 7.8 4.3 11250 10.8 51.4 240 19 10 6.4 3.5 | 12.7 54.9 265 15 8 8.0 4.4 11000 11.2 52.2 240 19 10 6.2 3.4 | 13.2 55.8 260 15 8 8.0 4.4 10750 11.6 52.9 240 20 10 6.3 3.4 | 13.7 56.7 260 14 7 8.2 4.5 10500 12.1 53.8 240 20 10 6.4 3.5 | 14.2 57.6 255 14 7 6.3 3.5 10250 12.5 54.5 240 21 11 5.7 3.1 | 14.6 58.3 250 13 7 7.6 4.2 10000 12.8 55.0 240 20 11 4.8 2.6 | 15.3 59.5 245 12 6 9.8 5.4 9750 13.1 55.6 235 20 10 5.8 3.2 | 16.0 60.8 245 12 6 10.3 5.7 9500 13.4 56.1 235 20 10 1.7 0.9 | 16.6 61.9 240 11 6 3.5 1.9 9250 13.3 55.9 230 20 10 1.6 0.9 | 16.6 61.9 220 10 5 4.0 2.2 9000 13.7 56.7 225 19 10 7.0 3.8 | 17.3 63.1 215 10 5 12.3 6.7 8750 14.1 57.4 220 19 10 7.0 3.8 | 18.1 64.6 210 10 5 11.5 6.3 8500 14.5 58.1 215 18 9 3.8 2.1 | 18.9 66.0 210 10 5 8.8 4.8 8250 14.6 58.3 205 16 8 2.0 1.1 | 19.4 66.9 195 10 5 7.5 4.1 8000 14.8 58.6 195 15 8 6.3 3.5 | 20.0 68.0 185 10 5 8.8 4.8 7750 15.5 59.9 195 14 7 13.4 7.4 | 20.8 69.4 190 10 5 17.8 9.8 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 06/30/2024 at 1500 MDT | 06/30/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +1594.3 LI... -5.1 | CAPE... +2056.2 LI... -5.9 CINH... -9.9 K Index... +32.4 | CINH... -12.8 K Index... +33.2 | 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 -65.1 -85.2 225 22 11 2.5 1.4 | -65.5 -85.9 225 29 15 2.6 1.4 45000 -58.7 -73.7 240 33 17 6.6 3.6 | -58.9 -74.0 235 37 19 6.8 3.7 40000 -48.3 -54.9 240 44 23 8.1 4.4 | -48.3 -54.9 235 45 23 8.0 4.4 38000 -43.5 -46.3 240 45 23 8.1 4.4 | -43.5 -46.3 235 47 24 8.0 4.4 36000 -38.1 -36.6 235 45 23 7.5 4.1 | -38.2 -36.8 235 48 25 7.5 4.1 34000 -33.6 -28.5 235 46 23 7.5 4.1 | -33.7 -28.7 235 47 24 7.5 4.1 32000 -29.1 -20.4 240 46 24 7.2 3.9 | -29.2 -20.6 235 45 23 7.2 3.9 30000 -25.3 -13.5 240 42 22 6.5 3.6 | -25.2 -13.4 240 42 21 6.7 3.7 29000 -23.4 -10.1 240 41 21 6.5 3.6 | -23.2 -9.8 240 40 21 6.7 3.7 28000 -21.4 -6.5 240 40 20 6.4 3.5 | -21.2 -6.2 245 38 20 6.6 3.6 27000 -19.5 -3.1 240 40 21 6.4 3.5 | -19.3 -2.7 245 37 19 6.7 3.7 26000 -17.6 0.3 240 40 21 6.4 3.5 | -17.3 0.9 245 36 19 6.7 3.7 25000 -15.7 3.7 245 40 21 6.9 3.8 | -15.3 4.5 245 35 18 6.9 3.8 24000 -13.6 7.5 245 37 19 7.1 3.9 | -13.3 8.1 240 35 18 7.0 3.8 23000 -11.6 11.1 245 34 17 7.1 3.9 | -11.3 11.7 240 34 17 7.1 3.9 22000 -9.5 14.9 245 31 16 6.2 3.4 | -9.3 15.3 240 33 17 6.1 3.3 21000 -7.8 18.0 250 29 15 6.0 3.3 | -7.6 18.3 240 31 16 5.8 3.2 20000 -6.0 21.2 250 28 14 6.0 3.3 | -5.9 21.4 240 30 15 5.9 3.2 19500 -5.1 22.8 255 28 14 6.0 3.3 | -5.1 22.8 240 29 15 6.0 3.3 19000 -3.9 25.0 255 27 14 6.2 3.4 | -3.8 25.2 240 28 15 6.3 3.5 18500 -3.0 26.6 255 27 14 6.2 3.4 | -2.8 27.0 240 28 14 6.4 3.5 18000 -2.1 28.2 255 26 13 6.2 3.4 | -1.9 28.6 240 27 14 6.9 3.8 17500 -1.2 29.8 260 25 13 6.2 3.4 | -0.9 30.4 240 26 14 6.9 3.8 17000 -0.3 31.5 260 24 13 7.2 3.9 | 0.1 32.2 240 25 13 7.7 4.2 16500 0.7 33.3 260 23 12 7.4 4.1 | 1.2 34.2 240 24 12 7.9 4.3 16000 1.7 35.1 260 21 11 7.8 4.3 | 2.3 36.1 235 23 12 8.0 4.4 15500 2.9 37.2 260 19 10 8.6 4.7 | 3.5 38.3 235 22 11 8.2 4.5 15000 4.2 39.6 255 18 9 8.6 4.7 | 4.6 40.3 235 21 11 8.2 4.5 14500 5.5 41.9 255 16 8 9.4 5.2 | 5.8 42.4 235 20 10 8.8 4.8 14000 6.8 44.2 255 15 8 9.4 5.1 | 7.1 44.8 230 19 10 8.7 4.8 13500 8.2 46.8 250 14 7 9.5 5.2 | 8.3 46.9 230 18 9 9.0 5.0 13000 9.5 49.1 245 13 7 9.3 5.1 | 9.6 49.3 230 16 8 8.9 4.9 12500 10.9 51.6 245 13 7 8.6 4.7 | 10.8 51.4 230 15 8 7.7 4.2 12000 12.1 53.8 235 12 6 8.4 4.6 | 11.9 53.4 225 14 7 7.5 4.1 11750 12.7 54.9 230 12 6 9.4 5.1 | 12.4 54.3 225 13 7 7.6 4.2 11500 13.4 56.1 235 12 6 9.2 5.0 | 13.0 55.4 225 13 7 7.8 4.3 11250 14.0 57.2 230 12 6 8.1 4.5 | 13.5 56.3 220 13 7 7.8 4.3 11000 14.6 58.3 225 11 6 8.4 4.6 | 14.1 57.4 215 12 6 7.8 4.3 10750 15.2 59.4 215 11 6 8.5 4.7 | 14.7 58.5 210 11 6 8.0 4.4 10500 15.7 60.3 210 11 6 6.6 3.6 | 15.2 59.4 205 11 6 7.2 3.9 10250 16.2 61.2 200 11 6 7.9 4.3 | 15.7 60.3 205 9 5 7.7 4.2 10000 16.9 62.4 200 11 6 10.2 5.6 | 16.3 61.3 200 9 5 8.7 4.8 9750 17.6 63.7 195 11 6 10.4 5.7 | 16.9 62.4 195 9 4 9.0 4.9 9500 18.3 64.9 195 11 6 6.4 3.5 | 17.5 63.5 190 9 4 6.9 3.8 9250 18.6 65.5 185 12 6 7.2 4.0 | 18.0 64.4 195 6 3 7.5 4.1 9000 19.4 66.9 185 11 6 12.3 6.8 | 18.7 65.7 190 7 3 10.6 5.8 8750 20.3 68.5 185 11 6 11.8 6.5 | 19.4 66.9 185 7 4 10.4 5.7 8500 21.1 70.0 185 11 6 8.9 4.9 | 20.1 68.2 180 7 4 9.3 5.1 8250 21.6 70.9 180 11 6 7.1 3.9 | 20.7 69.3 185 6 3 8.4 4.6 8000 22.2 72.0 180 11 6 9.6 5.3 | 21.3 70.3 185 6 3 9.3 5.1 7750 23.1 73.6 180 11 6 15.7 8.6 | 22.1 71.8 180 6 3 11.6 6.4 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