Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
550
UXUS97 KBOU 191312
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
0711 MDT Saturday, April 19, 2025
This forecast is for Saturday, April 19, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 38.5 F/3.6 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Poor
Maximum rate of lift........................ 198 ft/min (1.0 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 11153 ft MSL (5858 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 45.0 F/7.7 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1145 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast thin middle
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 9582 ft MSL (4288 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 04/20....... Good
Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor
Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1800 MDT)......... No change
Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... 11949 ft MSL (6654 ft AGL)
Weak PVA/NVA (through 1800 MDT)................ Neither
Potential height of wave....................... 16385 ft MSL (11090 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Sunday 04/20.......... Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:15:08 / 19:41:50 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 26 min 42 sec (806 min 42 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:58:29 MDT... 61.69 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 04/19/2025 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. Entire airmass below 32 F / 0 C
Convective condensation level... 13502 ft MSL (8207 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 11776 ft MSL (6482 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +6.3
K index......................... +10.3
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 -53.4 -64.1 240 27 14 -1.0 -0.6 M M M M M
45000 -55.0 -67.0 250 27 14 -1.1 -0.6 M M M M M
40000 -54.1 -65.4 235 34 17 0.8 0.4 M M M M M
38000 -53.4 -64.1 235 38 19 1.9 1.0 M M M M M
36000 -52.3 -62.1 230 46 23 1.9 1.0 M M M M M
34000 -51.0 -59.8 230 54 28 1.5 0.9 M M M M M
32000 -50.6 -59.1 225 50 26 0.7 0.4 M M M M M
30000 -50.2 -58.4 220 45 23 3.0 1.6 M M M M M
29000 -48.4 -55.1 220 44 22 6.2 3.4 24.4 75.9 13.0 M M
28000 -46.5 -51.7 220 42 22 6.2 3.4 23.0 73.3 12.0 M M
27000 -44.7 -48.5 220 41 21 6.1 3.4 21.7 71.0 11.2 M M
26000 -42.2 -44.0 220 41 21 9.5 5.2 21.0 69.8 10.8 M M
25000 -39.4 -38.9 220 41 21 9.5 5.2 20.9 69.6 10.9 M M
24000 -36.5 -33.7 220 41 21 9.5 5.2 20.9 69.6 11.0 M M
23000 -33.7 -28.7 220 40 21 9.3 5.1 20.8 69.4 11.0 M M
22000 -30.9 -23.6 220 39 20 9.3 5.1 20.6 69.0 11.0 M M
21000 -28.1 -18.6 225 38 20 9.5 5.2 20.5 68.8 11.0 M M
20000 -25.8 -14.4 230 36 19 7.4 4.1 19.7 67.5 10.5 M M
19500 -24.6 -12.3 230 35 18 7.5 4.1 19.3 66.8 10.2 M M
19000 -23.5 -10.3 235 34 18 7.5 4.1 18.9 66.1 9.9 M M
18500 -22.4 -8.3 235 33 17 7.7 4.2 18.6 65.4 9.7 M M
18000 -21.5 -6.7 235 31 16 5.5 3.0 18.1 64.5 9.2 M M
17500 -20.6 -5.1 235 27 14 5.6 3.1 17.3 63.2 8.6 M M
17000 -19.4 -2.9 235 21 11 5.2 2.9 16.2 61.2 7.7 M M
16500 -18.7 -1.7 235 17 9 5.3 2.9 15.5 59.9 7.1 M M
16000 -17.9 -0.2 230 14 7 5.4 2.9 14.7 58.5 6.4 M M
15500 -17.1 1.2 225 13 7 5.5 3.0 14.0 57.2 5.8 M M
15000 -16.3 2.7 215 11 6 7.0 3.8 13.3 55.9 5.2 M M
14500 -15.0 5.0 215 11 6 8.4 4.6 13.1 55.5 5.0 M M
14000 -13.7 7.3 215 10 5 7.7 4.2 12.9 55.2 4.9 M M
13500 -12.8 9.0 215 9 5 5.8 3.2 12.3 54.1 4.3 M M
13000 -11.9 10.6 215 9 4 5.2 2.8 11.7 53.0 3.8 M M
12500 -11.4 11.5 210 7 4 2.8 1.5 10.6 51.1 2.9 M M
12000 -11.0 12.2 200 6 3 2.7 1.5 9.5 49.2 1.8 M M
11500 -10.6 12.9 185 6 3 2.0 1.1 8.3 46.9 0.7 M M
11000 -10.3 13.5 165 6 3 2.7 1.5 7.1 44.7 -0.4 388 2.0
10500 -9.8 14.4 165 7 3 4.1 2.3 6.1 43.0 -1.3 356 1.8
10250 -9.4 15.1 165 7 4 4.6 2.5 5.7 42.2 -1.8 339 1.7
10000 -9.1 15.6 165 7 4 2.7 1.5 5.2 41.4 -2.2 322 1.6
9750 -9.0 15.8 165 7 4 3.1 1.7 4.6 40.3 -2.8 311 1.6
9500 -8.6 16.5 165 7 3 5.2 2.9 4.2 39.6 -3.2 293 1.5
9250 -8.3 17.1 170 6 3 4.7 2.6 3.8 38.9 -3.5 275 1.4
9000 -7.9 17.8 170 6 3 4.4 2.4 3.5 38.2 -3.9 257 1.3
8750 -7.6 18.3 170 6 3 5.8 3.2 3.1 37.5 -4.3 239 1.2
8500 -7.1 19.2 170 6 3 7.5 4.1 2.8 37.1 -4.6 216 1.1
8250 -6.6 20.1 170 6 3 6.4 3.5 2.6 36.7 -4.8 194 1.0
8000 -6.1 21.0 170 6 3 5.4 3.0 2.3 36.2 -5.1 173 0.9
7750 -5.7 21.7 165 6 3 6.1 3.4 2.0 35.6 -5.5 154 0.8
7500 -5.2 22.6 170 7 3 6.9 3.8 1.8 35.2 -5.7 132 0.7
7250 -4.7 23.5 170 7 4 6.9 3.8 1.6 34.8 -6.0 109 0.6
7000 -4.2 24.4 170 7 4 6.8 3.7 1.3 34.4 -6.2 87 0.4
6750 -3.7 25.3 175 7 4 7.4 4.0 1.1 34.0 -6.4 64 0.3
6500 -3.2 26.2 175 8 4 6.4 3.5 0.9 33.7 -6.6 40 0.2
6250 -2.8 27.0 175 7 4 4.9 2.7 0.6 33.1 -7.0 22 0.1
6000 -2.4 27.7 170 6 3 5.6 3.1 0.3 32.5 -7.4 3 0.0
5750 -2.1 28.2 165 5 3 4.5 2.5 -0.1 31.9 -7.8 M M
5500 -1.8 28.8 155 4 2 3.2 1.8 -0.5 31.0 -8.3 M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
04/19/2025 at 0900 MDT | 04/19/2025 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +0.3 LI... +6.9 | CAPE... +1.9 LI... +5.0
CINH... -0.1 K Index... +10.1 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +10.3
|
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 -54.5 -66.1 235 23 12 -0.5 -0.2 | -55.7 -68.3 230 22 11 0.5 0.2
45000 -55.2 -67.4 240 21 11 -0.5 -0.3 | -55.0 -67.0 235 17 9 0.5 0.2
40000 -54.8 -66.6 240 24 12 0.3 0.2 | -54.2 -65.6 215 19 10 0.5 0.3
38000 -54.4 -65.9 235 29 15 1.2 0.7 | -53.8 -64.8 215 24 12 0.8 0.5
36000 -53.7 -64.7 230 45 23 1.2 0.7 | -53.3 -63.9 220 34 17 0.8 0.4
34000 -52.9 -63.2 225 64 33 3.0 1.7 | -52.9 -63.2 225 44 23 2.5 1.4
32000 -50.0 -58.0 220 70 36 4.7 2.6 | -50.1 -58.2 220 53 27 4.7 2.6
30000 -47.2 -53.0 220 77 39 5.4 3.0 | -47.3 -53.1 215 63 32 6.4 3.5
29000 -45.5 -49.9 215 68 35 5.6 3.1 | -45.0 -49.0 215 62 32 7.7 4.2
28000 -43.8 -46.8 215 59 30 5.6 3.1 | -42.1 -43.8 215 60 31 7.7 4.2
27000 -42.1 -43.8 210 50 26 5.5 3.0 | -39.8 -39.6 215 59 30 7.7 4.2
26000 -40.0 -40.0 210 44 23 7.8 4.3 | -37.8 -36.0 215 55 28 6.5 3.6
25000 -37.7 -35.9 210 40 21 7.8 4.3 | -35.8 -32.4 215 49 25 6.5 3.6
24000 -35.4 -31.7 210 36 18 7.8 4.3 | -33.9 -29.0 210 44 23 6.5 3.6
23000 -33.0 -27.4 210 34 17 7.9 4.4 | -31.8 -25.2 210 37 19 6.9 3.8
22000 -30.6 -23.1 210 33 17 8.0 4.4 | -29.8 -21.6 205 30 16 7.0 3.8
21000 -28.2 -18.8 210 33 17 8.0 4.4 | -27.7 -17.9 200 23 12 7.2 3.9
20000 -26.0 -14.8 215 31 16 7.3 4.0 | -25.5 -13.9 200 21 11 7.7 4.2
19500 -24.9 -12.8 215 30 15 7.4 4.0 | -24.3 -11.7 200 21 11 7.7 4.2
19000 -23.8 -10.8 215 29 15 7.4 4.0 | -23.2 -9.8 200 20 10 7.7 4.2
18500 -22.7 -8.9 220 28 14 7.3 4.0 | -22.1 -7.8 200 19 10 7.7 4.2
18000 -21.1 -6.0 220 26 14 7.6 4.2 | -21.0 -5.8 195 18 9 7.4 4.1
17500 -19.9 -3.8 225 26 13 7.6 4.2 | -19.9 -3.8 195 17 9 7.4 4.0
17000 -18.8 -1.8 225 24 13 7.6 4.2 | -18.7 -1.7 195 17 9 8.6 4.7
16500 -17.7 0.1 225 23 12 7.8 4.3 | -17.4 0.7 195 17 9 8.7 4.8
16000 -16.6 2.1 230 21 11 5.8 3.2 | -16.1 3.0 195 16 8 7.4 4.1
15500 -15.8 3.6 225 19 10 5.5 3.0 | -15.2 4.6 195 16 8 5.8 3.2
15000 -15.0 5.0 225 16 8 5.2 2.9 | -14.4 6.1 200 15 8 5.9 3.2
14500 -14.3 6.3 220 14 7 5.1 2.8 | -13.4 7.9 205 15 8 6.8 3.8
14000 -13.6 7.5 215 12 6 5.3 2.9 | -11.9 10.6 210 14 7 6.6 3.6
13500 -12.7 9.1 215 10 5 5.6 3.1 | -11.0 12.2 215 15 8 6.3 3.5
13000 -11.9 10.6 210 9 5 4.7 2.6 | -10.0 14.0 215 15 8 5.2 2.8
12500 -11.5 11.3 205 8 4 2.2 1.2 | -9.5 14.9 215 16 8 3.7 2.0
12000 -11.1 12.0 200 8 4 1.9 1.1 | -9.0 15.8 210 16 8 2.9 1.6
11500 -10.9 12.4 200 8 4 1.2 0.7 | -8.7 16.3 205 14 7 1.8 1.0
11000 -10.7 12.7 195 8 4 2.6 1.4 | -8.4 16.9 205 12 6 2.1 1.1
10500 -10.0 14.0 180 8 4 4.8 2.6 | -8.1 17.4 200 12 6 2.6 1.4
10250 -9.7 14.5 175 8 4 5.0 2.8 | -7.9 17.8 195 12 6 2.2 1.2
10000 -9.3 15.3 170 9 5 3.0 1.7 | -7.7 18.1 195 11 6 1.6 0.9
9750 -9.1 15.6 170 9 5 4.2 2.3 | -7.6 18.3 190 11 6 4.1 2.2
9500 -8.7 16.3 170 9 4 6.8 3.7 | -7.2 19.0 185 11 6 6.2 3.4
9250 -8.2 17.2 165 8 4 5.8 3.2 | -6.7 19.9 175 11 6 4.9 2.7
9000 -7.8 18.0 165 8 4 4.7 2.6 | -6.5 20.3 170 10 5 3.0 1.6
8750 -7.5 18.5 165 8 4 5.2 2.9 | -6.2 20.8 160 9 5 4.9 2.7
8500 -7.0 19.4 160 8 4 6.2 3.4 | -5.8 21.6 150 8 4 6.6 3.6
8250 -6.6 20.1 160 8 4 6.5 3.6 | -5.3 22.5 140 7 3 7.6 4.2
8000 -6.1 21.0 160 7 4 6.9 3.8 | -4.7 23.5 135 6 3 9.1 5.0
7750 -5.6 21.9 155 7 4 7.6 4.2 | -4.0 24.8 135 6 3 9.1 5.0
7500 -5.0 23.0 160 8 4 8.0 4.4 | -3.3 26.1 135 6 3 9.8 5.4
7250 -4.4 24.1 160 7 4 7.0 3.8 | -2.6 27.3 135 6 3 9.9 5.4
7000 -3.9 25.0 155 7 4 6.6 3.6 | -1.8 28.8 135 6 3 10.3 5.6
6750 -3.4 25.9 155 7 4 7.0 3.8 | -1.1 30.0 130 6 3 9.2 5.1
6500 -2.9 26.8 150 6 3 8.0 4.4 | -0.4 31.3 130 5 3 9.7 5.3
6250 -2.3 27.9 145 5 3 8.9 4.9 | 0.4 32.7 130 5 3 11.5 6.3
6000 -1.7 28.9 140 4 2 7.7 4.2 | 1.2 34.2 130 5 3 10.1 5.5
5750 -1.1 30.0 125 3 1 11.8 6.4 | 2.0 35.6 130 5 2 13.9 7.6
5500 0.1 32.2 120 3 1 20.9 11.5 | 3.4 38.1 130 5 2 23.3 12.8
04/19/2025 at 1500 MDT | 04/19/2025 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +5.7 LI... +2.3 | CAPE... +13.1 LI... +1.9
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +12.4 | CINH... -3.7 K Index... +15.9
|
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 -56.0 -68.8 240 20 10 0.2 0.1 | -55.9 -68.6 240 15 8 0.4 0.2
45000 -55.7 -68.3 235 15 8 0.2 0.1 | -55.3 -67.5 240 13 7 0.4 0.2
40000 -53.9 -65.0 215 16 8 1.2 0.6 | -54.3 -65.7 250 10 5 0.6 0.3
38000 -53.4 -64.1 210 18 10 0.4 0.2 | -53.9 -65.0 245 10 5 1.1 0.6
36000 -53.2 -63.8 215 23 12 0.4 0.2 | -53.2 -63.8 225 12 6 1.1 0.6
34000 -52.9 -63.2 215 27 14 2.5 1.4 | -52.6 -62.7 215 15 8 2.3 1.2
32000 -50.2 -58.4 215 41 21 4.5 2.5 | -50.4 -58.7 220 27 14 3.6 2.0
30000 -47.5 -53.5 215 54 28 6.5 3.5 | -48.2 -54.8 220 39 20 6.3 3.5
29000 -45.2 -49.4 215 53 27 7.6 4.2 | -45.8 -50.4 215 39 20 8.0 4.4
28000 -42.3 -44.1 215 52 27 7.6 4.2 | -42.8 -45.0 215 39 20 8.0 4.4
27000 -40.0 -40.0 210 51 26 7.6 4.2 | -40.4 -40.7 210 38 20 8.0 4.4
26000 -37.7 -35.9 215 49 25 7.7 4.2 | -38.1 -36.6 215 36 19 7.7 4.2
25000 -35.5 -31.9 215 46 24 7.7 4.2 | -35.8 -32.4 215 34 18 7.7 4.2
24000 -33.2 -27.8 215 43 22 7.8 4.3 | -33.5 -28.3 215 33 17 7.8 4.3
23000 -31.2 -24.2 215 37 19 6.3 3.5 | -31.2 -24.2 215 28 14 7.5 4.1
22000 -29.3 -20.7 210 29 15 6.3 3.5 | -29.0 -20.2 220 22 11 7.5 4.1
21000 -27.4 -17.3 205 22 11 6.6 3.6 | -26.7 -16.1 220 16 8 7.2 4.0
20000 -25.3 -13.5 205 21 11 7.2 3.9 | -24.7 -12.5 220 14 7 6.8 3.7
19500 -24.3 -11.7 205 21 11 7.2 3.9 | -23.7 -10.7 225 14 7 6.8 3.8
19000 -23.2 -9.8 205 21 11 7.2 4.0 | -22.7 -8.9 225 13 7 6.9 3.8
18500 -22.2 -8.0 205 20 10 7.5 4.1 | -21.7 -7.1 230 12 6 7.0 3.8
18000 -20.9 -5.6 205 21 11 8.9 4.9 | -20.6 -5.1 230 12 6 7.5 4.1
17500 -19.6 -3.3 210 21 11 8.9 4.9 | -19.5 -3.1 230 12 6 7.4 4.1
17000 -18.3 -0.9 210 21 11 8.2 4.5 | -18.3 -0.9 230 12 6 8.5 4.6
16500 -17.1 1.2 210 22 11 8.1 4.4 | -17.1 1.2 225 11 6 8.5 4.7
16000 -15.9 3.4 210 22 11 7.9 4.3 | -15.8 3.6 225 11 6 8.0 4.4
15500 -14.8 5.4 210 21 11 7.7 4.2 | -14.7 5.5 225 11 5 7.5 4.1
15000 -13.6 7.5 210 21 11 7.7 4.2 | -13.1 8.4 225 10 5 7.0 3.9
14500 -12.0 10.4 215 20 10 7.4 4.1 | -12.1 10.2 225 10 5 7.0 3.8
14000 -10.9 12.4 215 20 10 7.4 4.1 | -11.1 12.0 225 10 5 5.9 3.2
13500 -9.8 14.4 220 20 10 7.4 4.0 | -10.3 13.5 220 10 5 5.2 2.8
13000 -8.7 16.3 220 20 10 6.6 3.6 | -9.6 14.7 215 11 5 4.0 2.2
12500 -7.9 17.8 225 19 10 5.6 3.1 | -9.2 15.4 200 11 5 3.0 1.6
12000 -7.0 19.4 225 19 10 4.1 2.3 | -8.8 16.2 185 11 6 4.1 2.3
11500 -6.7 19.9 220 17 9 2.0 1.1 | -8.0 17.6 160 13 7 5.7 3.1
11000 -6.4 20.5 210 16 8 1.1 0.6 | -7.2 19.0 145 15 8 7.1 3.9
10500 -6.5 20.3 190 13 7 0.3 0.2 | -6.0 21.2 140 14 7 8.9 4.9
10250 -6.5 20.3 180 13 7 -1.3 -0.7 | -5.4 22.3 140 13 7 5.6 3.1
10000 -6.6 20.1 170 13 6 2.4 1.3 | -5.1 22.8 135 13 7 6.2 3.4
9750 -6.1 21.0 165 11 6 8.5 4.7 | -4.4 24.1 135 13 6 11.1 6.1
9500 -5.5 22.1 160 10 5 9.1 5.0 | -3.6 25.5 135 12 6 11.1 6.1
9250 -4.8 23.4 150 9 5 8.5 4.6 | -2.7 27.1 130 12 6 10.1 5.5
9000 -4.2 24.4 140 8 4 7.9 4.3 | -2.1 28.2 130 11 6 8.0 4.4
8750 -3.6 25.5 140 8 4 9.3 5.1 | -1.5 29.3 125 11 5 8.4 4.6
8500 -2.9 26.8 140 7 4 10.3 5.7 | -0.8 30.6 125 10 5 9.1 5.0
8250 -2.1 28.2 135 7 4 10.0 5.5 | -0.1 31.8 120 9 5 9.2 5.0
8000 -1.4 29.5 135 7 3 10.0 5.5 | 0.6 33.1 115 9 4 9.6 5.3
7750 -0.6 30.9 135 6 3 9.8 5.4 | 1.3 34.3 110 8 4 8.9 4.9
7500 0.1 32.2 135 6 3 9.7 5.3 | 1.9 35.4 105 7 4 8.7 4.8
7250 0.8 33.4 135 6 3 9.9 5.4 | 2.6 36.7 095 7 4 9.5 5.2
7000 1.6 34.9 130 6 3 9.7 5.3 | 3.3 37.9 090 7 3 9.9 5.4
6750 2.3 36.1 130 5 3 10.5 5.8 | 4.0 39.2 085 6 3 9.3 5.1
6500 3.1 37.6 130 5 3 10.9 6.0 | 4.7 40.5 080 6 3 9.5 5.2
6250 3.9 39.0 130 5 2 10.6 5.8 | 5.4 41.7 070 6 3 10.1 5.5
6000 4.7 40.5 125 4 2 10.0 5.5 | 6.2 43.2 065 6 3 10.0 5.5
5750 5.5 41.9 125 4 2 12.4 6.8 | 6.9 44.4 060 6 3 10.1 5.6
5500 6.7 44.1 125 4 2 20.7 11.3 | 7.7 45.9 055 5 3 10.8 5.9
________________________________________________________________________________
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 old Stapleton
Airport site in Denver, Colorado at
North Latitude: 39 deg 46 min 5.016 sec
West Longitude: 104 deg 52 min 9.984 sec
Elevation: 5285 feet (1611 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.
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