Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
668 UXUS97 KPUB 131243 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0643 MDT Saturday, July 13, 2024 This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Saturday, July 13, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 75.7 F/24.3 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 2096 ft/min (10.6 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 29025 ft MSL (20044 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 90.0 F/32.7 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 0945 MDT Time of overdevelopment........................ 1700 MDT Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. 25786 ft MSL (16804 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 07/14....... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:51:35 / 20:27:20 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 35 min 44 sec (875 min 44 sec) Altitude of sun at 13:09:27 MDT... 73.27 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 07/13/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 17277 ft MSL (8296 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 20202 ft MSL (11221 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 23019 ft MSL (14037 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -6.0 K index......................... +23.5 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 -61.0 -77.8 280 2 1 1.5 0.8 M M M M M 45000 -57.0 -70.6 305 8 4 4.2 2.3 M M M M M 40000 -50.7 -59.3 315 18 9 3.9 2.1 M M M M M 38000 -48.4 -55.1 315 20 10 3.9 2.1 M M M M M 36000 -46.1 -51.0 315 22 11 5.4 2.9 M M M M M 34000 -41.2 -42.2 320 19 10 8.3 4.5 M M M M M 32000 -36.2 -33.2 325 17 9 8.5 4.6 M M M M M 30000 -30.7 -23.3 335 13 7 8.2 4.5 32.7 90.8 0.4 M M 29000 -28.2 -18.8 345 11 6 8.2 4.5 32.2 90.0 -0.0 2085 10.6 28000 -26.0 -14.8 350 10 5 6.4 3.5 31.4 88.5 -0.7 1989 10.1 27000 -24.1 -11.4 350 9 5 6.5 3.6 30.1 86.2 -1.8 1902 9.7 26000 -22.2 -8.0 350 9 4 6.5 3.6 29.0 84.1 -2.8 1815 9.2 25000 -20.2 -4.4 345 8 4 8.3 4.6 28.0 82.4 -3.7 1725 8.8 24000 -17.7 0.1 335 8 4 8.5 4.7 27.5 81.5 -4.3 1621 8.2 23000 -15.2 4.6 325 8 4 8.6 4.7 27.1 80.7 -4.8 1517 7.7 22000 -12.7 9.1 315 8 4 8.2 4.5 26.7 80.1 -5.2 1414 7.2 21000 -10.3 13.5 315 7 3 8.3 4.5 26.1 79.0 -5.8 1311 6.7 20000 -7.9 17.8 315 6 3 8.3 4.6 25.7 78.2 -6.4 1208 6.1 19500 -6.6 20.1 310 5 3 9.0 4.9 25.5 77.8 -6.6 1157 5.9 19000 -5.2 22.6 310 5 3 9.5 5.2 25.4 77.7 -6.7 1099 5.6 18500 -3.8 25.2 305 5 2 9.5 5.2 25.4 77.7 -6.7 1042 5.3 18000 -2.4 27.7 300 5 2 9.6 5.3 25.4 77.6 -6.8 984 5.0 17500 -0.9 30.4 295 5 3 9.6 5.3 25.3 77.6 -6.9 926 4.7 17000 0.5 32.9 295 5 3 9.5 5.2 25.3 77.6 -6.9 869 4.4 16500 1.9 35.4 290 5 3 9.5 5.2 25.3 77.5 -7.0 812 4.1 16000 3.3 37.9 285 5 3 9.5 5.2 25.2 77.4 -7.1 755 3.8 15500 5.4 41.7 285 6 3 9.5 5.2 25.2 77.3 -7.2 669 3.4 15000 6.9 44.4 285 6 3 9.2 5.0 25.1 77.3 -7.3 611 3.1 14500 8.2 46.8 285 6 3 9.7 5.3 25.1 77.1 -7.4 556 2.8 14000 9.7 49.5 290 6 3 9.9 5.4 25.1 77.1 -7.5 497 2.5 13500 11.2 52.2 295 7 3 9.9 5.5 25.1 77.2 -7.5 437 2.2 13000 12.5 54.5 305 7 4 7.9 4.3 25.0 76.9 -7.7 383 1.9 12500 13.7 56.7 310 7 4 8.7 4.8 24.8 76.6 -7.9 331 1.7 12000 15.0 59.0 315 8 4 8.3 4.6 24.6 76.3 -8.1 277 1.4 11750 15.6 60.1 320 9 4 7.7 4.2 24.4 76.0 -8.3 252 1.3 11500 16.2 61.2 320 9 5 7.1 3.9 24.3 75.7 -8.5 228 1.2 11250 16.7 62.1 320 9 5 6.7 3.7 24.0 75.3 -8.7 206 1.0 11000 17.2 63.0 315 10 5 7.0 3.8 23.8 74.9 -9.0 184 0.9 10750 17.7 63.9 315 10 5 7.2 3.9 23.6 74.5 -9.2 161 0.8 10500 18.1 64.6 315 10 5 2.3 1.3 23.3 73.9 -9.6 142 0.7 10250 18.0 64.4 310 10 5 -2.1 -1.2 22.5 72.5 -10.4 137 0.7 10000 17.9 64.2 300 10 5 1.7 0.9 21.7 71.0 -11.3 133 0.7 9750 17.8 64.0 295 10 5 -8.9 -4.9 20.9 69.6 -12.2 129 0.7 9500 16.3 61.3 285 9 5 -26.2 -14.4 18.7 65.7 -14.4 167 0.8 9250 14.2 57.6 270 7 3 -24.1 -13.2 16.0 60.8 -17.3 221 1.1 9000 12.1 53.8 245 5 3 -36.8 -20.2 13.3 55.9 -20.1 276 1.4 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 * * * * * * 07/13/2024 at 0900 MDT | 07/13/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +660.0 LI... -0.3 | CAPE... +245.3 LI... -0.5 CINH... -116.5 K Index... +23.4 | CINH... -2.3 K Index... +19.5 | 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 -61.2 -78.2 235 5 2 1.3 0.7 | -62.0 -79.6 255 6 3 0.7 0.4 45000 -56.9 -70.4 270 9 5 5.3 2.9 | -57.9 -72.2 275 10 5 6.0 3.3 40000 -49.6 -57.3 320 14 7 3.0 1.6 | -49.6 -57.3 305 6 3 3.3 1.8 38000 -47.8 -54.0 320 18 9 3.0 1.6 | -47.6 -53.7 320 11 6 3.4 1.8 36000 -46.0 -50.8 320 22 11 4.4 2.4 | -45.6 -50.1 325 17 9 5.0 2.7 34000 -41.4 -42.5 325 21 11 7.9 4.3 | -41.0 -41.8 325 18 9 7.7 4.2 32000 -36.1 -33.0 325 20 10 8.2 4.5 | -35.8 -32.4 320 20 10 8.3 4.6 30000 -31.5 -24.7 335 16 8 7.6 4.2 | -31.1 -24.0 325 17 9 7.9 4.3 29000 -29.2 -20.6 340 14 7 7.6 4.2 | -28.7 -19.7 330 15 8 7.9 4.3 28000 -27.0 -16.6 340 12 6 7.1 3.9 | -26.4 -15.5 330 14 7 7.4 4.1 27000 -24.9 -12.8 340 9 5 7.1 3.9 | -24.2 -11.6 325 12 6 7.4 4.1 26000 -22.8 -9.0 335 7 4 7.1 3.9 | -22.0 -7.6 320 10 5 7.5 4.1 25000 -20.6 -5.1 325 5 3 8.9 4.9 | -19.8 -3.6 310 8 4 8.0 4.4 24000 -18.0 -0.4 320 6 3 8.9 4.9 | -17.4 0.7 310 7 4 8.0 4.4 23000 -15.4 4.3 315 6 3 9.0 4.9 | -15.1 4.8 310 7 3 8.0 4.4 22000 -12.8 9.0 315 6 3 8.4 4.6 | -12.7 9.1 310 6 3 8.7 4.8 21000 -10.3 13.5 315 6 3 8.4 4.6 | -10.1 13.8 320 6 3 8.7 4.7 20000 -7.8 18.0 315 5 3 8.5 4.6 | -7.5 18.5 325 7 3 8.7 4.8 19500 -6.5 20.3 315 5 3 9.1 5.0 | -6.2 20.8 330 7 3 9.1 5.0 19000 -5.1 22.8 315 5 3 9.4 5.2 | -4.9 23.2 335 6 3 9.3 5.1 18500 -3.7 25.3 310 5 3 9.5 5.2 | -3.5 25.7 340 6 3 9.3 5.1 18000 -2.3 27.9 310 5 3 9.6 5.2 | -2.1 28.2 345 6 3 9.1 5.0 17500 -0.8 30.6 310 5 3 9.5 5.2 | -0.8 30.6 350 6 3 9.1 5.0 17000 0.6 33.1 310 5 3 9.5 5.2 | 0.6 33.1 360 6 3 9.3 5.1 16500 2.0 35.6 310 6 3 9.5 5.2 | 2.0 35.6 005 7 3 9.4 5.2 16000 3.5 38.3 315 6 3 9.5 5.2 | 4.1 39.4 010 7 4 9.6 5.3 15500 5.5 41.9 320 6 3 9.1 5.0 | 5.5 41.9 015 7 4 9.6 5.3 15000 6.9 44.4 330 6 3 8.6 4.7 | 7.0 44.6 015 7 4 8.8 4.8 14500 8.2 46.8 340 6 3 9.2 5.0 | 8.3 46.9 020 7 4 10.1 5.5 14000 9.5 49.1 345 7 3 9.3 5.1 | 9.8 49.6 020 7 4 10.2 5.6 13500 10.8 51.4 355 7 4 7.7 4.2 | 11.4 52.5 020 7 4 10.7 5.9 13000 12.0 53.6 360 8 4 8.2 4.5 | 12.9 55.2 020 7 4 9.5 5.2 12500 13.2 55.8 360 9 5 8.7 4.8 | 14.4 57.9 020 7 4 10.5 5.8 12000 14.5 58.1 005 10 5 7.5 4.1 | 15.9 60.6 020 7 4 8.9 4.9 11750 15.1 59.2 005 10 5 7.0 3.8 | 16.5 61.7 020 7 4 8.6 4.7 11500 15.7 60.3 360 11 5 8.4 4.6 | 17.2 63.0 025 7 3 10.0 5.5 11250 16.3 61.3 360 11 6 8.3 4.6 | 18.0 64.4 025 7 3 10.0 5.5 11000 17.0 62.6 360 11 6 8.7 4.8 | 18.7 65.7 025 7 3 10.1 5.5 10750 17.6 63.7 360 11 6 8.3 4.5 | 19.5 67.1 025 7 3 10.4 5.7 10500 18.1 64.6 355 11 6 5.5 3.0 | 20.3 68.5 025 7 3 10.3 5.7 10250 18.4 65.1 350 10 5 4.2 2.3 | 21.0 69.8 025 7 3 10.4 5.7 10000 18.7 65.7 345 10 5 4.8 2.7 | 21.8 71.2 025 6 3 9.5 5.2 9750 19.0 66.2 335 9 5 3.8 2.1 | 22.6 72.7 025 6 3 13.1 7.2 9500 19.1 66.4 325 7 4 6.0 3.3 | 23.8 74.8 025 6 3 20.5 11.2 9250 19.6 67.3 305 6 3 12.3 6.7 | 25.4 77.7 025 6 3 21.6 11.8 9000 20.2 68.4 270 5 3 0.9 0.5 | 27.0 80.6 030 5 3 23.1 12.7 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 07/13/2024 at 1500 MDT | 07/13/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +196.4 LI... -1.0 | CAPE... +222.3 LI... -0.9 CINH... -3.2 K Index... +21.9 | CINH... -16.3 K Index... +24.0 | 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 -62.1 -79.8 265 10 5 1.0 0.5 | -61.3 -78.3 300 8 4 1.3 0.7 45000 -58.2 -72.8 275 12 6 5.0 2.8 | -58.2 -72.8 300 13 7 3.5 1.9 40000 -50.7 -59.3 260 11 6 4.9 2.7 | -51.7 -61.1 295 20 10 6.7 3.7 38000 -47.7 -53.9 285 14 7 4.9 2.7 | -47.7 -53.9 295 24 12 6.7 3.7 36000 -44.7 -48.5 300 18 9 6.4 3.5 | -43.7 -46.7 300 27 14 7.6 4.2 34000 -39.4 -38.9 285 16 8 7.9 4.4 | -39.1 -38.4 300 23 12 7.7 4.2 32000 -34.6 -30.3 275 15 8 8.3 4.6 | -34.5 -30.1 310 18 9 8.1 4.4 30000 -30.0 -22.0 285 10 5 7.7 4.2 | -29.9 -21.8 315 14 7 7.7 4.2 29000 -27.7 -17.9 290 7 4 7.7 4.2 | -27.6 -17.7 315 12 6 7.8 4.3 28000 -25.5 -13.9 305 6 3 7.3 4.0 | -25.4 -13.7 325 10 5 7.5 4.1 27000 -23.3 -9.9 315 5 3 7.3 4.0 | -22.6 -8.7 335 9 5 7.6 4.1 26000 -21.1 -6.0 325 5 3 7.3 4.0 | -20.4 -4.7 345 8 4 7.6 4.2 25000 -18.9 -2.0 335 6 3 7.7 4.2 | -18.2 -0.8 355 8 4 6.8 3.7 24000 -16.7 1.9 340 5 3 7.7 4.2 | -16.2 2.8 005 7 3 6.9 3.8 23000 -14.4 6.1 350 5 3 7.8 4.3 | -14.2 6.4 015 6 3 6.9 3.8 22000 -12.1 10.2 355 5 3 8.6 4.7 | -12.1 10.2 025 5 3 7.7 4.2 21000 -9.6 14.7 005 6 3 8.5 4.7 | -9.9 14.2 045 5 3 7.6 4.2 20000 -7.1 19.2 010 6 3 8.5 4.7 | -7.6 18.3 060 5 3 7.6 4.2 19500 -5.8 21.6 010 6 3 9.2 5.0 | -6.5 20.3 065 5 3 9.0 5.0 19000 -4.4 24.1 015 6 3 9.6 5.2 | -5.1 22.8 070 5 3 9.4 5.2 18500 -3.0 26.6 015 6 3 9.6 5.3 | -3.7 25.3 070 5 3 9.5 5.2 18000 -1.5 29.3 020 6 3 9.5 5.2 | -2.2 28.0 075 5 3 9.8 5.4 17500 -0.1 31.8 020 6 3 9.5 5.2 | -0.8 30.6 075 5 3 9.8 5.4 17000 2.1 35.8 025 7 3 9.9 5.4 | 0.7 33.3 080 5 3 9.7 5.3 16500 3.5 38.3 030 7 3 9.9 5.4 | 2.1 35.8 080 5 3 9.7 5.3 16000 5.0 41.0 030 7 4 9.8 5.4 | 3.6 38.5 080 5 3 9.6 5.2 15500 6.5 43.7 035 7 4 9.8 5.4 | 4.9 40.8 080 5 3 9.2 5.1 15000 7.9 46.2 040 8 4 9.4 5.1 | 6.3 43.3 080 5 3 9.5 5.2 14500 9.4 48.9 045 8 4 10.2 5.6 | 7.6 45.7 080 5 3 8.3 4.6 14000 10.9 51.6 045 8 4 10.1 5.5 | 9.0 48.2 080 5 3 10.0 5.5 13500 12.5 54.5 050 8 4 11.0 6.0 | 11.2 52.2 080 5 2 9.3 5.1 13000 13.9 57.0 050 9 4 8.8 4.8 | 12.5 54.5 080 4 2 8.4 4.6 12500 15.4 59.7 050 9 5 10.6 5.8 | 13.8 56.8 080 4 2 9.3 5.1 12000 16.9 62.4 050 9 5 9.0 4.9 | 15.1 59.2 075 4 2 9.2 5.0 11750 17.6 63.7 050 9 5 8.6 4.7 | 15.8 60.4 070 4 2 9.0 5.0 11500 18.3 64.9 050 9 5 10.1 5.5 | 16.5 61.7 070 3 2 9.0 4.9 11250 19.1 66.4 050 9 5 10.5 5.7 | 17.1 62.8 065 3 2 8.9 4.9 11000 19.8 67.6 050 9 5 10.2 5.6 | 17.8 64.0 060 3 2 9.2 5.1 10750 20.6 69.1 050 10 5 9.6 5.3 | 18.5 65.3 055 3 2 10.6 5.8 10500 21.3 70.3 050 10 5 10.4 5.7 | 19.3 66.7 055 3 2 10.2 5.6 10250 22.1 71.8 050 10 5 11.3 6.2 | 20.0 68.0 050 3 2 9.4 5.1 10000 23.0 73.4 050 10 5 11.2 6.2 | 20.7 69.3 045 3 2 9.1 5.0 9750 23.8 74.8 050 10 5 10.6 5.8 | 21.4 70.5 040 3 2 11.0 6.0 9500 24.7 76.5 050 9 5 16.2 8.9 | 22.4 72.3 040 3 2 14.2 7.8 9250 26.3 79.3 050 9 5 27.5 15.1 | 23.4 74.1 035 3 1 13.7 7.5 9000 27.9 82.2 050 8 4 7.0 3.8 | 24.4 75.9 035 3 1 16.5 9.0 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