Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO

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336
UXUS97 KGJT 021306
SRGGJT

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
706 AM MDT Wednesday, July 2, 2025

This forecast is for Wednesday, July 2, 2025:

If the trigger temperature of 76.2 F/24.6 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 1478 ft/min (7.5 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 20455 ft MSL (14847 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 96.0 F/36.0 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0830 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 17615 ft MSL (12006 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 07/03..... Excellent

Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:52:41 / 20:43:58 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 51 min 17 sec (891 min 17 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:18:19 MDT... 73.39 degrees

Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 07/02/2025 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 15484 ft MSL (9876 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 14190 ft MSL (8582 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 17064 ft MSL (11456 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -5.7
K index......................... +29.0

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  -62.8 -81.0   200   25   13   3.3   1.8      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -56.5 -69.7   210   35   18   5.3   2.9      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -48.8 -55.8   215   46   24   3.8   2.1      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -46.6 -51.9   210   41   21   3.8   2.1      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -44.3 -47.7   205   35   18   3.4   1.9      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -39.7 -39.5   200   28   15   8.4   4.6      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -34.1 -29.4   195   21   11   8.2   4.5      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -29.5 -21.1   195   21   11   7.8   4.3   45.7 114.2     7.6      M    M
 29000  -27.2 -17.0   200   21   11   7.8   4.3   45.0 112.9     7.2      M    M
 28000  -24.9 -12.8   200   21   11   7.3   4.0   44.3 111.8     6.7      M    M
 27000  -22.8  -9.0   200   20   10   7.0   3.8   43.1 109.6     5.8      M    M
 26000  -20.7  -5.3   200   20   10   7.0   3.9   42.1 107.8     5.0      M    M
 25000  -18.7  -1.7   200   19   10   7.1   3.9   41.2 106.2     4.3      M    M
 24000  -16.7   1.9   200   19   10   6.8   3.7   40.1 104.1     3.4      M    M
 23000  -14.7   5.5   200   20   10   6.8   3.7   39.0 102.1     2.5      M    M
 22000  -12.7   9.1   200   21   11   6.8   3.7   38.0 100.4     1.6      M    M
 21000  -10.7  12.7   200   21   11   6.6   3.6   36.8  98.3     0.6      M    M
 20000   -8.8  16.2   200   22   11   6.6   3.6   35.7  96.3    -0.3   1246  6.3
 19500   -7.8  18.0   200   22   11   6.7   3.7   35.2  95.4    -0.8   1202  6.1
 19000   -6.9  19.6   200   22   12   6.4   3.5   34.7  94.5    -1.3   1159  5.9
 18500   -5.5  22.1   195   21   11   6.3   3.4   33.8  92.8    -2.1   1096  5.6
 18000   -4.6  23.7   195   20   11   6.3   3.5   33.2  91.8    -2.7   1054  5.4
 17500   -3.7  25.3   195   19   10   6.3   3.5   32.6  90.7    -3.3   1012  5.1
 17000   -2.8  27.0   195   17    9   6.4   3.5   32.1  89.7    -3.8    971  4.9
 16500   -1.9  28.6   190   16    8   6.8   3.7   31.5  88.8    -4.4    928  4.7
 16000   -0.9  30.4   190   14    7   6.7   3.7   31.0  87.9    -4.9    884  4.5
 15500    0.1  32.2   190   13    7   7.5   4.1   30.6  87.1    -5.4    839  4.3
 15000    1.2  34.2   190   12    6   7.6   4.2   30.2  86.4    -5.8    792  4.0
 14500    2.3  36.1   195   11    6   7.6   4.2   29.9  85.8    -6.1    744  3.8
 14000    3.4  38.1   205   10    5   7.7   4.2   29.5  85.1    -6.5    696  3.5
 13500    4.5  40.1   210    9    5   7.6   4.2   29.2  84.6    -6.9    649  3.3
 13000    5.6  42.1   215    8    4   7.5   4.1   28.8  83.9    -7.3    601  3.1
 12500    6.7  44.1   220    7    4   7.6   4.2   28.5  83.3    -7.8    554  2.8
 12000    7.8  46.0   220    7    3   8.0   4.4   28.2  82.7    -8.1    505  2.6
 11500    9.0  48.2   220    6    3   8.1   4.4   27.9  82.2    -8.4    455  2.3
 11000   10.0  50.0   220    5    3   5.7   3.1   27.4  81.4    -8.9    411  2.1
 10500   10.9  51.6   215    5    3   8.0   4.4   26.8  80.3    -9.5    369  1.9
 10250   11.5  52.7   210    5    2   7.6   4.2   26.8  80.2    -9.7    343  1.7
 10000   11.9  53.4   210    5    2   5.3   2.9   26.5  79.6   -10.0    323  1.6
  9750   12.3  54.1   205    5    2   5.7   3.1   26.1  79.0   -10.3    303  1.5
  9500   12.8  55.0   200    5    2   6.2   3.4   25.8  78.5   -10.6    283  1.4
  9250   13.2  55.8   200    4    2   6.2   3.4   25.6  78.1   -10.9    261  1.3
  9000   13.6  56.5   195    4    2   5.4   3.0   25.3  77.5   -11.3    242  1.2
  8750   14.0  57.2   190    4    2   5.8   3.2   24.9  76.9   -11.6    222  1.1
  8500   14.4  57.9   185    4    2   5.1   2.8   24.6  76.3   -12.0    203  1.0
  8250   14.8  58.6   180    5    2   4.0   2.2   24.2  75.6   -12.4    186  0.9
  8000   15.0  59.0   175    5    2   4.2   2.3   23.8  74.8   -12.9    171  0.9
  7750   15.3  59.5   175    4    2   4.5   2.5   23.4  74.0   -13.4    154  0.8
  7500   15.6  60.1   170    4    2   4.6   2.5   23.0  73.3   -13.8    137  0.7
  7250   16.0  60.8   165    4    2   4.8   2.6   22.6  72.7   -14.2    120  0.6
  7000   16.3  61.3   160    4    2   4.3   2.3   22.2  71.9   -14.7    103  0.5
  6750   16.6  61.9   155    4    2   4.1   2.2   21.8  71.2   -15.2     88  0.4
  6500   16.8  62.2   145    4    2   3.7   2.0   21.3  70.4   -15.7     72  0.4
  6250   17.1  62.8   135    4    2   2.7   1.5   20.8  69.5   -16.2     58  0.3
  6000   17.3  63.1   125    4    2   4.2   2.3   20.3  68.6   -16.8     45  0.2
  5750   17.5  63.5   120    3    2  -0.9  -0.5   19.8  67.7   -17.3     31  0.2
  5500      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M
  5250      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M
  5000      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M

 * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *

           07/02/2025 at 0900 MDT          |       07/02/2025 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...    +1.2    LI...        0.0        | CAPE...  +129.6    LI...       -0.8
CINH...    -2.7    K Index... +25.5        | CINH...   -53.7    K Index... +24.3
                                           |
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 -63.7 -82.7  190  18  9   3.7   2.0 | -63.0 -81.4  190  21 11   3.5   1.9
 45000 -56.6 -69.9  200  23 12   6.6   3.6 | -56.5 -69.7  200  27 14   5.8   3.2
 40000 -47.2 -53.0  210  30 16   4.1   2.3 | -48.0 -54.4  210  32 17   4.4   2.4
 38000 -44.7 -48.5  215  25 13   4.1   2.2 | -45.4 -49.7  210  27 14   4.3   2.4
 36000 -42.0 -43.6  220  19 10   4.4   2.4 | -42.5 -44.5  215  22 11   4.7   2.6
 34000 -38.5 -37.3  220  15  8   5.9   3.3 | -38.8 -37.8  215  18  9   6.2   3.4
 32000 -34.9 -30.8  220  11  6   5.8   3.2 | -35.1 -31.2  215  14  7   6.0   3.3
 30000 -30.9 -23.6  190  11  6   7.0   3.8 | -30.9 -23.6  195  13  7   7.1   3.9
 29000 -28.8 -19.8  175  12  6   7.0   3.8 | -28.8 -19.8  180  14  7   7.1   3.9
 28000 -26.7 -16.1  165  14  7   7.4   4.0 | -26.7 -16.1  170  15  8   7.3   4.0
 27000 -24.5 -12.1  160  13  7   7.6   4.2 | -24.5 -12.1  170  15  8   7.4   4.1
 26000 -22.2  -8.0  155  13  7   7.6   4.2 | -22.3  -8.1  170  14  7   7.4   4.1
 25000 -20.0  -4.0  145  12  6   7.7   4.2 | -20.1  -4.2  170  13  7   7.5   4.1
 24000 -17.9  -0.2  145  12  6   6.9   3.8 | -17.9  -0.2  170  13  6   7.3   4.0
 23000 -15.8   3.6  140  12  6   6.9   3.8 | -15.3   4.5  170  11  6   7.3   4.0
 22000 -13.3   8.1  140  11  6   6.7   3.7 | -13.1   8.4  165  11  5   6.8   3.7
 21000 -11.3  11.7  135  12  6   6.7   3.7 | -11.1  12.0  155  11  6   6.7   3.7
 20000  -9.4  15.1  130  12  6   6.7   3.7 |  -9.2  15.4  150  12  6   6.7   3.7
 19500  -8.4  16.9  125  12  6   6.8   3.8 |  -8.2  17.2  145  13  7   6.8   3.7
 19000  -7.3  18.9  120  12  6   7.4   4.1 |  -7.1  19.2  140  14  7   7.5   4.1
 18500  -6.3  20.7  115  12  6   7.4   4.1 |  -6.0  21.2  140  14  7   7.4   4.1
 18000  -5.2  22.6  110  13  6   7.5   4.1 |  -4.9  23.2  135  15  7   8.0   4.4
 17500  -4.1  24.6  100  12  6   7.6   4.1 |  -3.7  25.3  135  14  7   8.2   4.5
 17000  -3.1  26.4  095  12  6   7.7   4.2 |  -2.6  27.3  130  14  7   8.3   4.5
 16500  -1.9  28.6  085  12  6   8.0   4.4 |  -1.4  29.5  125  13  7   8.5   4.7
 16000  -0.8  30.6  080  12  6   8.1   4.4 |  -0.1  31.8  125  12  6   8.6   4.7
 15500   0.4  32.7  075  12  6   7.7   4.2 |   1.1  34.0  120  12  6   8.2   4.5
 15000   1.5  34.7  075  11  6   7.7   4.2 |   2.3  36.1  115  11  6   8.2   4.5
 14500   2.6  36.7  070  10  5   7.9   4.3 |   3.4  38.1  110  10  5   8.1   4.4
 14000   3.8  38.8  065   9  5   8.0   4.4 |   4.6  40.3  105   9  5   8.0   4.4
 13500   5.0  41.0  065   8  4   8.0   4.4 |   5.8  42.4  100   8  4   8.1   4.4
 13000   6.1  43.0  060   7  4   7.9   4.3 |   6.9  44.4  100   7  4   8.1   4.5
 12500   7.3  45.1  055   5  3   7.9   4.3 |   8.1  46.6  095   5  3   8.2   4.5
 12000   8.5  47.3  050   4  2   7.8   4.3 |   9.3  48.7  095   4  2   8.2   4.5
 11500   9.6  49.3  045   3  1   7.8   4.3 |  10.5  50.9  090   3  1   8.2   4.5
 11000  10.7  51.3  030   1  1   7.4   4.1 |  11.7  53.1  085   2  1   7.5   4.1
 10500  11.9  53.4  300   1  0   6.3   3.4 |  12.8  55.0  065   1  0   9.7   5.3
 10250  12.3  54.1  270   1  1   6.5   3.6 |  13.6  56.5  030   1  0  10.4   5.7
 10000  12.9  55.2  255   1  1   8.2   4.5 |  14.2  57.6  350   1  0   8.1   4.4
  9750  13.4  56.1  245   2  1   7.7   4.2 |  14.9  58.8  320   1  0   8.8   4.8
  9500  14.0  57.2  240   2  1   7.9   4.3 |  15.5  59.9  305   1  1   8.3   4.6
  9250  14.6  58.3  240   3  1   7.7   4.2 |  16.1  61.0  300   1  1   7.9   4.4
  9000  15.1  59.2  245   3  1   6.9   3.8 |  16.7  62.1  295   2  1   8.7   4.8
  8750  15.6  60.1  235   3  1   6.5   3.6 |  17.4  63.3  290   2  1   9.4   5.2
  8500  16.1  61.0  225   3  2   6.6   3.6 |  18.6  65.5  285   2  1   6.9   3.8
  8250  17.0  62.6  215   2  1   6.4   3.5 |  19.1  66.4  290   2  1   8.6   4.7
  8000  17.5  63.5  200   3  1   7.2   4.0 |  20.0  68.0  290   2  1  11.8   6.5
  7750  18.0  64.4  190   3  2   6.4   3.5 |  20.8  69.4  290   2  1  10.1   5.6
  7500  18.4  65.1  180   3  2   5.1   2.8 |  21.4  70.5  290   2  1   7.9   4.3
  7250  18.8  65.8  170   3  2   5.9   3.2 |  22.0  71.6  290   2  1   8.5   4.7
  7000  19.3  66.7  165   3  2   9.6   5.3 |  22.8  73.0  290   2  1  12.7   7.0
  6750  20.1  68.2  165   4  2   9.8   5.4 |  23.8  74.8  285   2  1  12.1   6.6
  6500  20.7  69.3  155   4  2   8.2   4.5 |  24.6  76.3  290   2  1  10.0   5.5
  6250  21.4  70.5  145   4  2   7.8   4.3 |  25.3  77.5  290   3  1   9.7   5.3
  6000  22.0  71.6  140   4  2  11.2   6.1 |  26.1  79.0  290   3  1  12.2   6.7
  5750  23.2  73.8  145   3  2  21.3  11.7 |  27.4  81.3  290   2  1  24.9  13.7
  5500  24.7  76.5  135   3  2  13.8   7.6 |  29.8  85.6  295   3  1  40.7  22.3
  5250     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  5000     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M

           07/02/2025 at 1500 MDT          |       07/02/2025 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...  +143.9    LI...       -0.6        | CAPE...  +201.1    LI...       -0.9
CINH...   -32.7    K Index... +23.3        | CINH...   -26.5    K Index... +26.1
                                           |
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 -62.8 -81.0  195  24 12   3.2   1.7 | -62.6 -80.7  205  22 11   3.1   1.7
 45000 -56.5 -69.7  200  30 16   6.0   3.3 | -56.5 -69.7  210  30 15   5.9   3.2
 40000 -47.9 -54.2  210  33 17   3.8   2.1 | -48.1 -54.6  215  33 17   3.6   2.0
 38000 -45.4 -49.7  210  30 15   3.7   2.1 | -46.0 -50.8  210  32 16   3.6   2.0
 36000 -43.2 -45.8  215  27 14   4.4   2.4 | -43.6 -46.5  205  30 16   4.5   2.5
 34000 -39.1 -38.4  210  23 12   6.9   3.8 | -39.1 -38.4  210  26 13   7.6   4.2
 32000 -35.0 -31.0  210  19 10   6.6   3.6 | -34.6 -30.3  215  22 11   7.5   4.1
 30000 -30.4 -22.7  200  17  9   7.9   4.3 | -29.9 -21.8  215  18  9   7.8   4.3
 29000 -28.0 -18.4  195  16  8   7.9   4.3 | -27.6 -17.7  215  16  8   7.8   4.3
 28000 -25.6 -14.1  190  16  8   7.2   3.9 | -25.3 -13.5  215  14  7   7.0   3.8
 27000 -23.6 -10.5  185  15  8   6.8   3.7 | -23.4 -10.1  200  12  6   6.5   3.6
 26000 -21.6  -6.9  175  14  7   6.8   3.8 | -21.5  -6.7  185  10  5   6.5   3.6
 25000 -19.6  -3.3  170  13  7   6.9   3.8 | -19.6  -3.3  165   9  5   6.5   3.5
 24000 -17.5   0.5  165  12  6   7.3   4.0 | -17.5   0.5  155  10  5   7.0   3.8
 23000 -14.8   5.4  160  11  6   7.3   4.0 | -15.0   5.0  150  11  6   7.0   3.9
 22000 -12.7   9.1  155  11  5   7.1   3.9 | -12.9   8.8  145  12  6   7.5   4.1
 21000 -10.6  12.9  150  11  6   7.0   3.9 | -10.6  12.9  145  13  7   7.7   4.2
 20000  -8.5  16.7  140  12  6   7.1   3.9 |  -8.4  16.9  140  14  7   7.7   4.2
 19500  -7.5  18.5  140  13  6   7.2   3.9 |  -7.2  19.0  140  15  8   7.7   4.2
 19000  -6.4  20.5  140  13  7   7.7   4.2 |  -6.1  21.0  145  14  7   7.9   4.3
 18500  -5.2  22.6  135  14  7   7.7   4.2 |  -4.9  23.2  145  13  7   7.9   4.3
 18000  -4.1  24.6  135  14  7   8.0   4.4 |  -3.8  25.2  150  12  6   7.9   4.3
 17500  -2.9  26.8  135  14  7   8.0   4.4 |  -2.7  27.1  155  10  5   7.9   4.3
 17000  -1.7  28.9  135  14  7   8.1   4.4 |  -1.5  29.3  160   9  4   8.0   4.4
 16500  -0.5  31.1  135  13  7   8.3   4.6 |  -0.3  31.5  165   8  4   8.5   4.7
 16000   0.7  33.3  135  12  6   8.3   4.6 |   0.9  33.6  170   7  4   8.5   4.6
 15500   1.9  35.4  135  10  5   8.5   4.7 |   2.2  36.0  180   7  3   9.0   4.9
 15000   3.1  37.6  140   9  5   8.5   4.7 |   3.5  38.3  180   6  3   9.0   5.0
 14500   4.4  39.9  145   8  4   8.9   4.9 |   4.8  40.6  185   6  3   9.1   5.0
 14000   5.7  42.3  145   7  4   9.2   5.0 |   6.2  43.2  190   6  3   9.1   5.0
 13500   7.0  44.6  150   7  3   9.1   5.0 |   7.5  45.5  195   6  3   9.1   5.0
 13000   8.4  47.1  155   6  3   9.1   5.0 |   8.9  48.0  200   6  3   9.3   5.1
 12500   9.7  49.5  160   5  3   9.1   5.0 |  10.2  50.4  200   6  3   9.3   5.1
 12000  11.1  52.0  165   5  2   9.2   5.0 |  11.6  52.9  205   6  3   9.3   5.1
 11500  12.4  54.3  170   4  2   9.2   5.1 |  13.0  55.4  210   6  3   9.5   5.2
 11000  13.6  56.5  175   4  2   7.7   4.2 |  14.2  57.6  215   6  3   7.7   4.2
 10500  14.8  58.6  190   3  2  10.9   6.0 |  15.3  59.5  220   6  3  10.7   5.9
 10250  15.7  60.3  200   3  2  11.9   6.5 |  16.3  61.3  215   6  3  12.5   6.9
 10000  16.4  61.5  205   3  2   8.5   4.7 |  17.1  62.8  220   6  3   9.3   5.1
  9750  17.1  62.8  215   3  2   9.4   5.2 |  17.8  64.0  220   6  3   9.4   5.2
  9500  17.8  64.0  220   3  2   9.1   5.0 |  18.5  65.3  220   6  3   9.6   5.3
  9250  18.4  65.1  230   3  2   8.1   4.5 |  19.2  66.6  220   6  3   8.6   4.7
  9000  19.0  66.2  230   3  2   9.0   5.0 |  19.8  67.6  225   6  3   9.0   4.9
  8750  19.8  67.6  235   4  2  10.4   5.7 |  20.5  68.9  225   6  3  10.3   5.7
  8500  20.5  68.9  240   4  2  10.2   5.6 |  22.0  71.6  220   6  3   9.8   5.4
  8250  21.9  71.4  245   4  2   9.3   5.1 |  22.7  72.9  230   6  3   9.8   5.4
  8000  22.6  72.7  245   4  2  10.7   5.9 |  23.5  74.3  230   6  3  10.0   5.5
  7750  23.4  74.1  245   5  2  10.1   5.5 |  24.2  75.6  225   6  3  10.1   5.5
  7500  24.1  75.4  250   5  3   8.5   4.7 |  24.9  76.8  225   6  3   8.6   4.7
  7250  24.7  76.5  250   5  3   8.7   4.8 |  25.5  77.9  230   6  3   8.5   4.7
  7000  25.5  77.9  250   5  3  11.1   6.1 |  26.3  79.3  230   6  3  10.5   5.8
  6750  26.3  79.3  250   5  3  11.5   6.3 |  27.1  80.8  225   6  3  10.9   6.0
  6500  27.1  80.8  250   5  3  10.8   5.9 |  27.9  82.2  225   6  3  10.4   5.7
  6250  28.0  82.4  255   5  3  11.2   6.2 |  28.6  83.5  230   6  3  10.8   5.9
  6000  28.7  83.7  255   5  3   8.5   4.7 |  29.4  84.9  235   5  3   7.7   4.2
  5750  29.4  84.9  250   5  3  15.0   8.2 |  29.9  85.8  225   5  3  10.3   5.7
  5500  32.5  90.5  260   5  3  86.4  47.4 |  32.2  90.0  230   4  2  66.2  36.3
  5250     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  5000     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) 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 at Walker Field in Grand
Junction, Colorado at

                   North Latitude:  39 deg 07 min 00.001 sec
                   West Longitude: 108 deg 31 min 59.998 sec
                   Elevation: 4839 feet (1475 meters)

and may not be representative of other areas along the Western Slope of
Colorado.  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.

042613