Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
918 UXUS97 KPUB 081202 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0602 MDT Monday, July 8, 2024 This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Monday, July 8, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 55.5 F/13.1 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1512 ft/min (7.7 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 22729 ft MSL (13738 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 71.0 F/22.1 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0900 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1200 MDT Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 18750 ft MSL (9759 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Tuesday 07/09...... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:48:15 / 20:29:22 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 41 min 6 sec (881 min 6 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:08:49 MDT... 73.97 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 07/08/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 13466 ft MSL (4475 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 12369 ft MSL (3378 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 16081 ft MSL (7090 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -8.1 K index......................... +25.7 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 -56.3 -69.3 320 26 13 2.8 1.5 M M M M M 45000 -53.0 -63.4 330 39 20 0.4 0.2 M M M M M 40000 -52.2 -62.0 330 48 25 4.5 2.5 M M M M M 38000 -49.5 -57.1 330 50 26 4.4 2.4 M M M M M 36000 -46.9 -52.4 325 52 27 4.4 2.4 M M M M M 34000 -43.7 -46.7 320 50 26 5.8 3.2 M M M M M 32000 -40.2 -40.4 320 46 23 5.8 3.2 M M M M M 30000 -36.0 -32.8 315 42 21 7.6 4.2 28.6 83.4 5.5 M M 29000 -33.1 -27.6 315 39 20 7.6 4.2 27.6 81.7 4.8 M M 28000 -30.9 -23.6 310 37 19 7.6 4.2 27.0 80.5 4.3 M M 27000 -28.7 -19.7 310 36 18 7.3 4.0 26.0 78.8 3.5 M M 26000 -26.5 -15.7 310 34 18 7.4 4.0 25.1 77.1 2.8 M M 25000 -24.3 -11.7 305 33 17 7.5 4.1 24.3 75.7 2.2 M M 24000 -22.3 -8.1 305 32 16 6.5 3.6 23.2 73.8 1.3 M M 23000 -20.4 -4.7 305 30 15 6.5 3.6 22.0 71.7 0.3 M M 22000 -18.4 -1.1 305 29 15 6.4 3.5 21.0 69.8 -0.7 1248 6.3 21000 -16.3 2.7 300 26 13 7.6 4.1 20.1 68.2 -1.5 1155 5.9 20000 -14.1 6.6 300 22 12 7.7 4.2 19.4 66.8 -2.3 1061 5.4 19500 -13.0 8.6 300 21 11 7.7 4.2 19.0 66.3 -2.7 1013 5.1 19000 -11.9 10.6 300 20 10 9.2 5.0 18.8 65.9 -3.0 964 4.9 18500 -10.5 13.1 300 19 10 9.5 5.2 18.8 65.8 -3.0 906 4.6 18000 -9.0 15.8 305 19 10 9.5 5.2 18.8 65.8 -3.1 849 4.3 17500 -7.6 18.3 305 19 10 9.5 5.2 18.7 65.7 -3.1 792 4.0 17000 -6.2 20.8 305 18 9 9.6 5.3 18.7 65.6 -3.2 736 3.7 16500 -4.9 23.2 310 17 9 8.1 4.5 18.6 65.4 -3.4 682 3.5 16000 -3.8 25.2 310 13 7 8.0 4.4 18.3 64.9 -3.8 633 3.2 15500 -2.2 28.0 310 9 4 6.1 3.3 17.7 63.9 -4.4 564 2.9 15000 -1.3 29.7 295 6 3 6.1 3.3 17.1 62.9 -5.0 522 2.7 14500 -0.5 31.1 260 4 2 4.1 2.3 16.6 61.8 -5.6 481 2.4 14000 -0.2 31.6 230 4 2 2.6 1.4 15.4 59.7 -6.8 459 2.3 13500 0.0 32.0 200 4 2 6.9 3.8 14.2 57.6 -8.1 437 2.2 13000 1.3 34.3 185 6 3 6.8 3.7 14.1 57.4 -8.3 383 1.9 12500 2.3 36.1 180 7 4 7.8 4.3 13.7 56.7 -8.8 339 1.7 12000 3.6 38.5 170 8 4 8.5 4.7 13.6 56.5 -9.0 285 1.4 11750 4.1 39.4 165 9 5 6.7 3.7 13.4 56.2 -9.2 262 1.3 11500 4.6 40.3 160 10 5 6.4 3.5 13.2 55.8 -9.5 241 1.2 11250 5.0 41.0 155 11 6 6.0 3.3 12.9 55.3 -9.8 220 1.1 11000 5.5 41.9 150 11 6 5.9 3.2 12.6 54.7 -10.2 200 1.0 10750 5.9 42.6 150 11 6 6.0 3.3 12.4 54.2 -10.5 180 0.9 10500 6.3 43.3 145 11 6 4.4 2.4 12.0 53.7 -10.8 161 0.8 10250 6.5 43.7 145 10 5 2.2 1.2 11.5 52.7 -11.4 147 0.7 10000 6.6 43.9 140 8 4 2.3 1.3 10.9 51.7 -12.0 135 0.7 9750 6.8 44.2 135 6 3 1.0 0.5 10.4 50.6 -12.6 123 0.6 9500 6.9 44.4 125 4 2 4.2 2.3 9.7 49.5 -13.3 113 0.6 9250 7.6 45.7 105 2 1 14.2 7.8 9.7 49.5 -13.4 85 0.4 9000 8.4 47.1 060 2 1 -0.6 -0.3 9.8 49.6 -13.3 54 0.3 8750 M M M M M M M M M M M M 8500 M M M M M M M M M M M M 8250 M M M M M M M M M M M M 8000 M M M M M M M M M M M M * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 07/08/2024 at 0900 MDT | 07/08/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +766.5 LI... -4.3 | CAPE... +863.8 LI... -3.2 CINH... -3.2 K Index... +19.0 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... -2.3 | 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 -56.6 -69.9 330 25 13 2.6 1.4 | -57.2 -71.0 335 22 11 1.4 0.7 45000 -53.3 -63.9 340 36 18 0.9 0.5 | -55.1 -67.2 340 29 15 1.5 0.8 40000 -51.6 -60.9 340 52 27 4.9 2.7 | -52.4 -62.3 340 42 21 5.1 2.8 38000 -48.9 -56.0 340 57 29 4.5 2.5 | -49.5 -57.1 340 45 23 4.8 2.7 36000 -46.2 -51.2 340 63 32 4.5 2.5 | -46.6 -51.9 345 49 25 4.9 2.7 34000 -42.6 -44.7 340 61 32 6.6 3.6 | -42.5 -44.5 345 50 26 7.5 4.1 32000 -38.7 -37.7 340 57 29 6.6 3.6 | -38.1 -36.6 350 50 26 7.5 4.1 30000 -35.0 -31.0 340 49 25 5.9 3.2 | -33.9 -29.0 350 43 22 6.6 3.6 29000 -32.7 -26.9 340 42 22 5.9 3.3 | -31.4 -24.5 350 37 19 6.6 3.6 28000 -31.0 -23.8 340 37 19 6.3 3.5 | -29.5 -21.1 355 32 16 6.9 3.8 27000 -28.8 -19.8 340 35 18 7.5 4.1 | -27.3 -17.1 355 29 15 7.1 3.9 26000 -26.5 -15.7 340 33 17 7.5 4.1 | -25.2 -13.4 355 26 13 7.1 3.9 25000 -24.3 -11.7 340 31 16 7.5 4.1 | -23.1 -9.6 360 23 12 7.1 3.9 24000 -22.0 -7.6 340 29 15 7.8 4.3 | -20.7 -5.3 360 21 11 8.1 4.4 23000 -19.7 -3.5 340 27 14 7.8 4.3 | -18.3 -0.9 360 20 10 8.1 4.4 22000 -17.3 0.9 340 25 13 7.8 4.3 | -15.9 3.4 360 19 10 7.9 4.3 21000 -15.5 4.1 335 23 12 5.9 3.3 | -13.7 7.3 360 18 9 6.9 3.8 20000 -13.7 7.3 325 22 11 6.2 3.4 | -11.7 10.9 355 18 9 6.9 3.8 19500 -12.8 9.0 320 22 11 6.4 3.5 | -10.7 12.7 355 17 9 6.9 3.8 19000 -11.9 10.6 315 22 11 8.2 4.5 | -9.7 14.5 350 17 9 6.5 3.6 18500 -10.6 12.9 310 21 11 8.5 4.7 | -8.7 16.3 350 16 8 6.5 3.6 18000 -9.4 15.1 310 21 11 8.7 4.8 | -7.7 18.1 345 16 8 6.3 3.4 17500 -8.0 17.6 310 20 10 9.4 5.2 | -6.9 19.6 340 16 8 5.9 3.3 17000 -6.7 19.9 310 19 10 9.4 5.1 | -6.0 21.2 330 16 8 6.4 3.5 16500 -5.3 22.5 310 17 9 9.4 5.2 | -5.1 22.8 325 15 8 8.0 4.4 16000 -3.9 25.0 315 14 7 9.4 5.1 | -4.0 24.8 320 14 7 8.1 4.4 15500 -2.5 27.5 325 11 6 8.9 4.9 | -2.9 26.8 320 12 6 8.0 4.4 15000 -1.3 29.7 330 10 5 8.4 4.6 | -1.8 28.8 325 11 6 8.0 4.4 14500 0.4 32.7 335 8 4 5.9 3.2 | -0.7 30.7 330 10 5 8.7 4.8 14000 1.1 34.0 330 6 3 5.2 2.8 | 1.0 33.8 325 6 3 7.9 4.3 13500 1.7 35.1 310 4 2 4.3 2.4 | 2.0 35.6 320 3 1 8.7 4.8 13000 2.2 36.0 265 3 2 3.9 2.2 | 3.3 37.9 250 1 0 9.0 4.9 12500 2.7 36.9 230 4 2 5.3 2.9 | 4.5 40.1 160 2 1 9.8 5.4 12000 3.7 38.7 220 5 2 6.8 3.7 | 6.1 43.0 145 3 1 10.1 5.5 11750 4.1 39.4 215 5 2 5.5 3.0 | 6.8 44.2 145 3 1 9.4 5.1 11500 4.4 39.9 215 5 3 6.6 3.6 | 7.6 45.7 140 3 1 9.7 5.3 11250 5.0 41.0 210 5 3 8.3 4.5 | 8.3 46.9 140 3 1 9.9 5.4 11000 5.5 41.9 200 5 3 7.5 4.1 | 9.0 48.2 135 3 2 9.8 5.4 10750 6.1 43.0 195 5 3 10.3 5.7 | 9.7 49.5 135 3 2 10.1 5.6 10500 7.0 44.6 185 5 3 11.8 6.5 | 10.5 50.9 130 3 2 10.7 5.9 10250 7.7 45.9 180 5 2 9.7 5.3 | 11.3 52.3 130 3 2 10.6 5.8 10000 8.4 47.1 180 4 2 10.2 5.6 | 12.1 53.8 125 3 2 11.4 6.2 9750 9.2 48.6 175 4 2 9.0 4.9 | 12.9 55.2 125 3 2 8.7 4.8 9500 9.9 49.8 165 3 1 13.7 7.5 | 13.7 56.7 120 3 2 16.2 8.9 9250 11.3 52.3 165 3 1 24.9 13.7 | 15.6 60.1 120 3 2 36.6 20.1 9000 12.8 55.0 160 3 1 5.5 3.0 | 17.6 63.7 120 4 2 0.2 0.1 8750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 07/08/2024 at 1500 MDT | 07/08/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +771.9 LI... -3.0 | CAPE... +919.2 LI... -2.9 CINH... 0.0 K Index... +19.2 | CINH... -5.4 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 -57.2 -71.0 335 19 10 1.8 1.0 | -57.7 -71.9 340 19 10 1.5 0.8 45000 -54.9 -66.8 340 27 14 0.8 0.4 | -55.4 -67.7 340 26 13 1.2 0.7 40000 -53.2 -63.8 340 36 18 5.3 2.9 | -53.2 -63.8 350 31 16 5.2 2.9 38000 -50.2 -58.4 340 36 19 5.0 2.8 | -50.2 -58.4 345 28 15 5.1 2.8 36000 -47.2 -53.0 340 37 19 5.1 2.8 | -47.1 -52.8 340 27 14 5.0 2.8 34000 -42.8 -45.0 345 37 19 8.1 4.4 | -42.8 -45.0 340 24 12 7.9 4.3 32000 -37.9 -36.2 350 38 19 8.1 4.4 | -38.0 -36.4 340 22 11 7.9 4.3 30000 -32.8 -27.0 350 36 19 7.4 4.0 | -32.5 -26.5 350 22 11 8.2 4.5 29000 -30.6 -23.1 350 35 18 7.4 4.0 | -30.1 -22.2 350 22 11 8.2 4.5 28000 -28.4 -19.1 350 34 17 7.1 3.9 | -27.6 -17.7 355 23 12 7.6 4.2 27000 -26.3 -15.3 350 31 16 6.9 3.8 | -25.4 -13.7 355 24 12 7.4 4.0 26000 -24.3 -11.7 350 28 15 6.9 3.8 | -23.2 -9.8 360 24 12 7.4 4.0 25000 -22.2 -8.0 350 25 13 6.9 3.8 | -21.0 -5.8 360 25 13 7.4 4.0 24000 -20.0 -4.0 350 23 12 7.5 4.1 | -18.9 -2.0 360 23 12 7.3 4.0 23000 -17.8 -0.0 345 21 11 7.5 4.1 | -16.7 1.9 355 21 11 7.3 4.0 22000 -15.5 4.1 345 19 10 7.4 4.1 | -14.6 5.7 350 19 10 7.4 4.0 21000 -13.4 7.9 345 18 9 7.2 4.0 | -12.5 9.5 340 18 9 7.4 4.0 20000 -11.2 11.8 345 17 9 7.3 4.0 | -10.4 13.3 330 17 9 7.5 4.1 19500 -10.2 13.6 345 16 8 7.4 4.1 | -9.3 15.3 325 17 9 7.6 4.2 19000 -9.1 15.6 340 16 8 7.0 3.9 | -8.2 17.2 320 16 8 8.1 4.4 18500 -8.1 17.4 340 16 8 7.2 3.9 | -7.1 19.2 320 16 8 8.0 4.4 18000 -7.1 19.2 335 16 8 7.4 4.1 | -5.9 21.4 315 16 8 7.5 4.1 17500 -6.1 21.0 335 15 8 7.5 4.1 | -4.9 23.2 315 15 8 6.6 3.6 17000 -5.0 23.0 330 14 7 7.6 4.2 | -4.0 24.8 310 15 8 6.5 3.6 16500 -4.0 24.8 325 12 6 7.2 4.0 | -3.0 26.6 305 14 7 7.1 3.9 16000 -3.0 26.6 315 9 5 7.3 4.0 | -1.9 28.6 300 13 7 7.1 3.9 15500 -2.0 28.4 295 6 3 8.0 4.4 | -0.9 30.4 290 12 6 7.4 4.0 15000 -0.8 30.6 275 4 2 8.3 4.6 | 0.2 32.4 280 10 5 7.5 4.1 14500 0.3 32.5 225 2 1 8.3 4.5 | 1.8 35.2 265 7 4 8.3 4.6 14000 2.4 36.3 155 3 1 9.8 5.4 | 3.1 37.6 255 5 3 9.3 5.1 13500 3.8 38.8 130 4 2 9.2 5.0 | 4.5 40.1 230 4 2 8.3 4.5 13000 5.2 41.4 120 4 2 10.3 5.7 | 5.7 42.3 215 2 1 9.0 4.9 12500 6.8 44.2 115 5 2 9.7 5.3 | 7.0 44.6 150 2 1 8.9 4.9 12000 8.1 46.6 110 5 3 10.1 5.5 | 8.3 46.9 095 3 2 9.5 5.2 11750 8.9 48.0 105 6 3 11.5 6.3 | 9.0 48.2 090 4 2 10.4 5.7 11500 9.8 49.6 105 6 3 10.3 5.7 | 9.8 49.6 085 5 2 9.4 5.1 11250 10.5 50.9 105 6 3 9.5 5.2 | 10.4 50.7 085 5 3 8.4 4.6 11000 11.2 52.2 105 6 3 9.3 5.1 | 11.0 51.8 080 6 3 8.3 4.6 10750 11.9 53.4 100 6 3 10.7 5.9 | 11.7 53.1 080 6 3 9.5 5.2 10500 12.8 55.0 100 6 3 11.4 6.2 | 12.4 54.3 080 6 3 10.0 5.5 10250 13.6 56.5 100 6 3 10.2 5.6 | 13.1 55.6 080 6 3 9.0 5.0 10000 14.3 57.7 100 7 3 10.8 5.9 | 13.8 56.8 080 6 3 9.1 5.0 9750 15.1 59.2 095 7 3 9.1 5.0 | 14.4 57.9 075 6 3 9.1 5.0 9500 15.9 60.6 095 7 3 14.3 7.9 | 15.1 59.2 075 6 3 11.6 6.4 9250 17.5 63.5 095 7 3 28.7 15.7 | 16.1 61.0 075 6 3 15.6 8.6 9000 19.2 66.6 095 7 3 6.6 3.6 | 17.1 62.8 075 6 3 9.5 5.2 8750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 8000 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 Villa Grove, Colorado at: North Latitude: 38 deg 16 min 03 sec West Longitude: 105 deg 53 min 37 sec Elevation: 7986 feet (2434 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