Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO

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980
UXUS97 KGJT 071306
SRGGJT

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
706 AM MDT Monday, July 7, 2025

This forecast is for Monday, July 7, 2025:

If the trigger temperature of 85.7 F/29.8 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 1831 ft/min (9.3 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 24077 ft MSL (18469 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 98.0 F/37.1 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1030 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................. 20574 ft MSL (14966 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Tuesday 07/08...... Excellent

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

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:55:32 / 20:42:50 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 47 min 18 sec (887 min 18 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:19:11 MDT... 72.88 degrees

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

Freezing level.................. 16139 ft MSL (10531 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 19258 ft MSL (13650 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 21193 ft MSL (15585 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -3.1
K index......................... +18.5

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  -64.7 -84.5   270   26   13   2.3   1.3      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -59.2 -74.6   270   41   21   5.7   3.1      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -50.2 -58.4   280   56   29   7.2   4.0      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -45.9 -50.6   280   59   30   7.2   4.0      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -41.6 -42.9   280   62   32   7.2   3.9      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -37.3 -35.1   285   59   30   6.3   3.5      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -33.5 -28.3   285   56   29   6.3   3.5      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -29.9 -21.8   285   46   24   6.0   3.3   45.0 112.9     6.4      M    M
 29000  -28.1 -18.6   280   42   22   6.0   3.3   43.6 110.4     5.3      M    M
 28000  -26.3 -15.3   280   37   19   5.7   3.1   42.2 108.0     4.3      M    M
 27000  -24.6 -12.3   280   33   17   5.7   3.2   40.6 105.0     3.1      M    M
 26000  -22.9  -9.2   280   28   15   5.8   3.2   39.1 102.3     1.9      M    M
 25000  -21.2  -6.2   280   24   12   6.4   3.5   37.7  99.9     0.8      M    M
 24000  -19.0  -2.2   280   21   11   7.3   4.0   36.7  98.0    -0.0   1828  9.3
 23000  -16.9   1.6   280   19   10   7.3   4.0   35.8  96.4    -0.8   1733  8.8
 22000  -14.7   5.5   280   16    8   7.1   3.9   35.0  95.0    -1.5   1639  8.3
 21000  -12.7   9.1   270   14    7   7.0   3.8   33.9  93.1    -2.5   1549  7.9
 20000  -10.7  12.7   265   12    6   7.2   4.0   33.0  91.4    -3.4   1460  7.4
 19500   -9.1  15.6   255   11    6   8.5   4.7   32.5  90.5    -4.1   1391  7.1
 19000   -7.8  18.0   255   12    6   8.9   4.9   32.3  90.2    -4.2   1337  6.8
 18500   -6.5  20.3   255   12    6   9.0   4.9   32.2  89.9    -4.4   1283  6.5
 18000   -5.1  22.8   255   12    6   9.6   5.3   32.1  89.8    -4.5   1227  6.2
 17500   -3.7  25.3   255   12    6   9.6   5.3   32.1  89.7    -4.6   1169  5.9
 17000   -2.3  27.9   255   12    6   9.6   5.3   32.1  89.7    -4.6   1112  5.6
 16500   -0.8  30.6   255   12    6   9.6   5.3   32.0  89.7    -4.7   1054  5.4
 16000    0.6  33.1   255   12    6   9.6   5.3   32.0  89.7    -4.7    996  5.1
 15500    2.0  35.6   255   12    6   9.4   5.2   32.0  89.6    -4.8    939  4.8
 15000    3.4  38.1   255   12    6   9.5   5.2   31.9  89.5    -4.9    882  4.5
 14500    4.8  40.6   255   11    6   9.4   5.2   31.9  89.4    -4.9    825  4.2
 14000    6.2  43.2   255   11    6   9.4   5.2   31.8  89.3    -5.0    768  3.9
 13500    7.6  45.7   255   11    5   9.2   5.1   31.8  89.2    -5.1    711  3.6
 13000    9.0  48.2   250   10    5   9.2   5.1   31.7  89.0    -5.2    655  3.3
 12500   10.4  50.7   250    9    5   8.9   4.9   31.6  88.9    -5.3    599  3.0
 12000   11.7  53.1   245    9    5   8.8   4.8   31.4  88.6    -5.5    545  2.8
 11500   13.0  55.4   245    8    4   8.6   4.7   31.3  88.3    -5.7    492  2.5
 11000   14.2  57.6   240    7    4   8.1   4.5   31.1  87.9    -5.9    440  2.2
 10500   15.6  60.1   240    7    4   9.3   5.1   31.0  87.8    -6.0    384  1.9
 10250   16.2  61.2   235    7    4   7.9   4.3   30.9  87.5    -6.2    358  1.8
 10000   16.8  62.2   235    7    3   8.2   4.5   30.7  87.3    -6.3    333  1.7
  9750   17.4  63.3   230    6    3   8.3   4.6   30.6  87.1    -6.5    307  1.6
  9500   18.0  64.4   230    6    3   7.3   4.0   30.5  86.9    -6.6    281  1.4
  9250   18.5  65.3   220    6    3   6.6   3.6   30.2  86.4    -6.9    259  1.3
  9000   19.0  66.2   215    6    3   7.1   3.9   30.0  86.1    -7.1    236  1.2
  8750   19.5  67.1   205    6    3   7.0   3.8   29.8  85.7    -7.3    214  1.1
  8500   20.0  68.0   200    6    3   6.3   3.5   29.6  85.3    -7.6    191  1.0
  8250   20.5  68.9   190    7    3   5.4   3.0   29.3  84.7    -7.9    171  0.9
  8000   20.9  69.6   185    7    4   5.4   3.0   29.0  84.1    -8.3    152  0.8
  7750   21.2  70.2   175    7    4   4.9   2.7   28.6  83.5    -8.6    134  0.7
  7500   21.5  70.7   170    8    4   2.3   1.3   28.2  82.7    -9.1    118  0.6
  7250   21.6  70.9   160    8    4   0.9   0.5   27.5  81.5    -9.8    108  0.5
  7000   21.7  71.1   155    9    4   3.4   1.8   26.9  80.4   -10.4     97  0.5
  6750   21.9  71.4   150    9    4  -0.1  -0.1   26.4  79.5   -10.9     83  0.4
  6500   21.6  70.9   145    8    4  -6.2  -3.4   25.3  77.6   -12.0     85  0.4
  6250   21.1  70.0   135    7    4  -7.1  -3.9   24.1  75.4   -13.3     93  0.5
  6000   20.7  69.3   120    7    4  -2.2  -1.2   23.0  73.3   -14.5     98  0.5
  5750   20.4  68.7   115    7    4 -12.1  -6.7   21.9  71.5   -15.5    100  0.5
  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 * * * * * *

           07/07/2025 at 0900 MDT          |       07/07/2025 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +0.5        | CAPE...    +9.8    LI...       +0.5
CINH...     0.0    K Index... +17.0        | CINH...   -14.1    K Index... +18.4
                                           |
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 -62.5 -80.5  250  33 17   2.1   1.2 | -62.9 -81.2  255  35 18   2.0   1.1
 45000 -57.6 -71.7  255  54 28   5.8   3.2 | -58.2 -72.8  260  56 29   5.9   3.2
 40000 -48.6 -55.5  260  65 34   5.2   2.9 | -49.0 -56.2  265  67 35   5.7   3.1
 38000 -45.5 -49.9  265  61 31   5.2   2.9 | -45.6 -50.1  265  61 32   5.7   3.1
 36000 -42.3 -44.1  265  56 29   5.3   2.9 | -42.2 -44.0  265  56 29   5.8   3.2
 34000 -39.7 -39.5  265  50 26   4.3   2.4 | -39.6 -39.3  265  46 24   4.1   2.2
 32000 -37.1 -34.8  265  43 22   4.3   2.4 | -37.2 -35.0  270  37 19   4.0   2.2
 30000 -33.4 -28.1  265  34 18   6.8   3.7 | -33.3 -27.9  270  29 15   7.0   3.9
 29000 -31.3 -24.3  270  29 15   6.8   3.7 | -31.2 -24.2  270  25 13   7.0   3.9
 28000 -29.3 -20.7  270  25 13   6.4   3.5 | -29.1 -20.4  265  21 11   6.7   3.7
 27000 -27.6 -17.7  270  23 12   5.5   3.0 | -27.2 -17.0  265  20 10   6.2   3.4
 26000 -25.6 -14.1  270  21 11   5.5   3.0 | -24.9 -12.8  265  19 10   6.2   3.4
 25000 -24.0 -11.2  270  20 10   6.6   3.6 | -23.1  -9.6  265  18  9   6.7   3.7
 24000 -21.6  -6.9  265  19 10   8.1   4.5 | -20.9  -5.6  260  17  9   7.4   4.1
 23000 -19.2  -2.6  260  18  9   8.2   4.5 | -18.7  -1.7  250  18  9   7.5   4.1
 22000 -16.8   1.8  255  18  9   8.5   4.6 | -16.5   2.3  245  18  9   8.3   4.6
 21000 -14.3   6.3  250  18  9   8.6   4.7 | -13.9   7.0  245  19 10   8.7   4.8
 20000 -11.7  10.9  245  18  9   8.7   4.8 | -11.4  11.5  245  20 10   8.8   4.8
 19500 -10.5  13.1  245  18  9   8.9   4.9 | -10.1  13.8  245  20 10   8.8   4.9
 19000  -9.1  15.6  245  18  9   9.5   5.2 |  -8.8  16.2  245  20 10   9.0   4.9
 18500  -7.7  18.1  245  17  9   9.4   5.2 |  -7.5  18.5  245  19 10   9.0   4.9
 18000  -6.3  20.7  245  17  9   9.5   5.2 |  -6.2  20.8  245  19 10   9.3   5.1
 17500  -4.9  23.2  245  17  9   9.5   5.2 |  -4.8  23.4  245  18  9   9.3   5.1
 17000  -3.4  25.9  245  16  8   9.5   5.2 |  -3.4  25.9  245  18  9   9.4   5.1
 16500  -2.0  28.4  245  16  8   9.4   5.2 |  -2.0  28.4  245  17  9   9.5   5.2
 16000  -0.7  30.7  245  16  8   9.4   5.2 |  -0.6  30.9  250  17  9   9.5   5.2
 15500   0.7  33.3  245  15  8   9.3   5.1 |   0.9  33.6  250  16  8   9.6   5.3
 15000   2.1  35.8  250  15  8   9.4   5.1 |   2.3  36.1  250  16  8   9.6   5.3
 14500   3.5  38.3  250  14  7   9.3   5.1 |   3.7  38.7  250  15  8   9.5   5.2
 14000   4.9  40.8  250  14  7   9.3   5.1 |   5.1  41.2  250  15  8   9.5   5.2
 13500   6.3  43.3  255  13  7   9.3   5.1 |   6.6  43.9  250  14  7   9.4   5.2
 13000   7.7  45.9  255  12  6   9.3   5.1 |   8.0  46.4  250  13  7   9.3   5.1
 12500   9.1  48.4  255  11  6   9.2   5.1 |   9.4  48.9  250  12  6   9.3   5.1
 12000  10.4  50.7  255  10  5   9.0   4.9 |  10.7  51.3  250  12  6   9.2   5.0
 11500  11.8  53.2  255   9  5   8.9   4.9 |  12.1  53.8  250  11  6   9.1   5.0
 11000  13.1  55.6  250   8  4   8.2   4.5 |  13.5  56.3  255  10  5   8.9   4.9
 10500  14.4  57.9  240   6  3   6.2   3.4 |  14.9  58.8  255   9  5   6.7   3.7
 10250  14.8  58.6  240   6  3   6.2   3.4 |  15.3  59.5  255   9  5   7.1   3.9
 10000  15.4  59.7  235   6  3   9.0   4.9 |  16.0  60.8  255   8  4  10.3   5.7
  9750  16.1  61.0  225   5  3   8.3   4.6 |  16.7  62.1  260   8  4   9.6   5.3
  9500  16.7  62.1  210   4  2   8.3   4.5 |  17.4  63.3  260   7  4   9.3   5.1
  9250  17.3  63.1  200   5  2   7.3   4.0 |  18.1  64.6  260   6  3   8.4   4.6
  9000  18.3  64.9  185   5  2   6.6   3.6 |  19.4  66.9  260   5  3   9.0   5.0
  8750  18.8  65.8  175   5  2   6.2   3.4 |  20.1  68.2  260   5  2   8.6   4.7
  8500  19.2  66.6  170   5  3   5.0   2.8 |  20.7  69.3  260   4  2   7.3   4.0
  8250  19.6  67.3  165   6  3   5.1   2.8 |  21.3  70.3  270   4  2   9.0   4.9
  8000  20.0  68.0  160   6  3   6.3   3.4 |  22.1  71.8  265   3  2  11.5   6.3
  7750  20.5  68.9  155   5  3   4.5   2.5 |  22.9  73.2  260   3  2   9.5   5.2
  7500  20.7  69.3  150   6  3   2.2   1.2 |  23.5  74.3  260   3  2   7.4   4.0
  7250  20.9  69.6  150   7  3   3.0   1.7 |  24.1  75.4  270   3  1   8.7   4.8
  7000  21.2  70.2  145   7  3   6.1   3.4 |  24.8  76.6  265   3  1  12.1   6.6
  6750  21.7  71.1  140   6  3   6.1   3.4 |  25.8  78.4  260   3  1  11.6   6.3
  6500  22.1  71.8  135   6  3   4.8   2.6 |  26.6  79.9  265   2  1  10.3   5.6
  6250  22.4  72.3  135   6  3   4.4   2.4 |  27.3  81.1  270   2  1   9.4   5.1
  6000  22.8  73.0  135   6  3   9.3   5.1 |  28.1  82.6  275   2  1  13.5   7.4
  5750  24.0  75.2  125   5  2  20.8  11.4 |  29.6  85.3  265   2  1  27.5  15.1
  5500  25.2  77.4  125   5  3   3.7   2.1 |  31.7  89.1  290   2  1  21.6  11.9
  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

           07/07/2025 at 1500 MDT          |       07/07/2025 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...   +73.2    LI...       +0.5        | CAPE...   +22.1    LI...       +0.4
CINH...   -28.3    K Index... +16.4        | CINH...    -6.0    K Index... +11.9
                                           |
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 -63.3 -81.9  260  33 17   2.0   1.1 | -63.7 -82.7  265  33 17   2.0   1.1
 45000 -58.1 -72.6  265  55 28   6.0   3.3 | -58.3 -72.9  270  54 28   6.2   3.4
 40000 -49.0 -56.2  265  66 34   5.8   3.2 | -49.1 -56.4  270  64 33   5.7   3.1
 38000 -45.5 -49.9  265  62 32   5.8   3.2 | -45.7 -50.3  270  59 31   5.7   3.1
 36000 -42.1 -43.8  265  57 30   6.0   3.3 | -41.9 -43.4  270  54 28   5.3   2.9
 34000 -39.4 -38.9  265  46 24   4.1   2.3 | -39.2 -38.6  265  43 22   4.5   2.5
 32000 -37.0 -34.6  265  33 17   4.0   2.2 | -36.5 -33.7  265  31 16   4.2   2.3
 30000 -33.1 -27.6  260  26 13   6.9   3.8 | -32.6 -26.7  260  25 13   6.8   3.7
 29000 -31.1 -24.0  255  23 12   6.9   3.8 | -30.6 -23.1  255  22 11   6.7   3.7
 28000 -29.0 -20.2  250  20 10   7.1   3.9 | -28.5 -19.3  255  19 10   7.4   4.0
 27000 -26.2 -15.2  250  19 10   7.3   4.0 | -26.3 -15.3  255  19 10   7.5   4.1
 26000 -24.1 -11.4  245  18  9   7.4   4.0 | -24.1 -11.4  255  18  9   7.5   4.1
 25000 -21.9  -7.4  240  18  9   7.3   4.0 | -21.8  -7.2  255  18  9   7.4   4.1
 24000 -19.7  -3.5  245  17  9   7.3   4.0 | -19.7  -3.5  255  17  9   7.2   4.0
 23000 -17.5   0.5  245  17  9   7.3   4.0 | -17.5   0.5  255  15  8   7.2   4.0
 22000 -15.3   4.5  245  16  8   8.3   4.6 | -14.8   5.4  255  14  7   8.7   4.8
 21000 -12.8   9.0  245  16  8   8.6   4.7 | -12.2  10.0  255  14  7   8.7   4.8
 20000 -10.3  13.5  250  15  8   8.6   4.7 |  -9.6  14.7  255  14  7   8.8   4.8
 19500  -9.0  15.8  250  15  8   8.7   4.8 |  -8.4  16.9  255  14  7   9.0   4.9
 19000  -7.7  18.1  250  14  7   8.6   4.7 |  -7.0  19.4  255  14  7   9.1   5.0
 18500  -6.5  20.3  250  14  7   8.6   4.7 |  -5.7  21.7  255  14  7   9.1   5.0
 18000  -5.2  22.6  255  14  7   9.0   4.9 |  -4.3  24.3  255  14  7   9.4   5.2
 17500  -3.8  25.2  255  14  7   9.0   5.0 |  -2.9  26.8  255  13  7   9.4   5.2
 17000  -2.5  27.5  255  14  7   9.1   5.0 |  -1.5  29.3  255  13  7   9.4   5.2
 16500  -1.1  30.0  260  14  7   9.2   5.1 |  -0.1  31.8  255  13  7   9.4   5.2
 16000   0.3  32.5  260  14  7   9.2   5.1 |   1.3  34.3  255  12  6   9.4   5.2
 15500   1.7  35.1  260  13  7   9.4   5.2 |   2.7  36.9  260  12  6   9.5   5.2
 15000   3.1  37.6  260  13  7   9.4   5.2 |   4.1  39.4  260  12  6   9.5   5.2
 14500   4.5  40.1  260  13  7   9.4   5.2 |   5.5  41.9  260  12  6   9.5   5.2
 14000   5.9  42.6  265  13  7   9.4   5.2 |   6.9  44.4  260  12  6   9.5   5.2
 13500   7.3  45.1  265  13  7   9.5   5.2 |   8.3  46.9  265  12  6   9.3   5.1
 13000   8.7  47.7  265  13  7   9.5   5.2 |   9.7  49.5  265  11  6   9.2   5.0
 12500  10.2  50.4  265  13  7   9.5   5.2 |  11.0  51.8  265  11  6   9.2   5.1
 12000  11.6  52.9  265  13  7   9.5   5.2 |  12.4  54.3  270  11  6   9.3   5.1
 11500  13.0  55.4  265  13  7   9.5   5.2 |  13.8  56.8  270  11  6   9.3   5.1
 11000  14.4  57.9  265  12  6   9.2   5.1 |  15.2  59.4  270  11  6   9.3   5.1
 10500  15.8  60.4  265  12  6   7.2   4.0 |  16.6  61.9  275  11  5   7.7   4.2
 10250  16.3  61.3  270  13  7   7.9   4.3 |  17.1  62.8  275  11  6   8.2   4.5
 10000  17.1  62.8  265  13  6  11.0   6.1 |  17.9  64.2  275  11  6  10.6   5.8
  9750  17.8  64.0  265  12  6  10.3   5.6 |  18.6  65.5  275  10  5  10.0   5.5
  9500  18.6  65.5  265  12  6  10.2   5.6 |  19.4  66.9  275  10  5   9.9   5.5
  9250  19.3  66.7  265  12  6   9.6   5.3 |  20.1  68.2  275  10  5   9.2   5.1
  9000  20.0  68.0  270  12  6   9.7   5.3 |  20.8  69.4  275  10  5   9.0   4.9
  8750  21.5  70.7  265  11  6   9.4   5.2 |  21.4  70.5  275  10  5   9.0   5.0
  8500  22.2  72.0  265  12  6   8.0   4.4 |  22.8  73.0  275  10  5   8.8   4.8
  8250  22.8  73.0  270  12  6   9.4   5.2 |  23.4  74.1  275  10  5   9.7   5.3
  8000  23.6  74.5  265  12  6  11.4   6.3 |  24.2  75.6  275  10  5  10.9   6.0
  7750  24.4  75.9  260  11  6   9.8   5.4 |  25.0  77.0  275   9  5   9.8   5.4
  7500  25.1  77.2  265  11  6   8.0   4.4 |  25.7  78.3  275  10  5   8.5   4.6
  7250  25.7  78.3  265  12  6   9.2   5.1 |  26.3  79.3  270  10  5   9.1   5.0
  7000  26.5  79.7  265  11  6  12.2   6.7 |  27.0  80.6  270  10  5  10.7   5.9
  6750  27.4  81.3  260  10  5  11.6   6.4 |  27.9  82.2  270   9  5  10.9   6.0
  6500  28.2  82.8  260  11  5  10.6   5.8 |  28.7  83.7  270   9  5  10.9   6.0
  6250  29.0  84.2  265  11  6   9.5   5.2 |  29.5  85.1  270   9  5  10.2   5.6
  6000  29.8  85.6  265  11  6  13.2   7.2 |  30.2  86.4  270   9  5  10.8   5.9
  5750  31.2  88.2  260   9  5  28.1  15.4 |  31.2  88.2  270   8  4  17.8   9.7
  5500  33.6  92.5  265  10  5  29.2  16.0 |  32.9  91.2  270   8  4  29.2  16.0
  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