Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
762
UXUS97 KGJT 181306
SRGGJT
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
706 AM MDT Friday, July 18, 2025
This forecast is for Friday, July 18, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 80.3 F/26.8 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1437 ft/min (7.3 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 19195 ft MSL (13586 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 93.0 F/34.3 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0930 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................. 16310 ft MSL (10701 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Saturday 07/19..... Excellent
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:03:21 / 20:37:33 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 34 min 12 sec (874 min 12 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:20:27 MDT... 71.23 degrees
Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 07/18/2025 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 15671 ft MSL (10062 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 15219 ft MSL (9610 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 16899 ft MSL (11290 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -4.1
K index......................... +27.2
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 -64.2 -83.6 250 22 11 1.3 0.7 M M M M M
45000 -59.9 -75.8 245 40 21 5.5 3.0 M M M M M
40000 -51.2 -60.2 240 60 31 7.3 4.0 M M M M M
38000 -46.8 -52.2 235 60 31 7.3 4.0 M M M M M
36000 -42.4 -44.3 230 61 31 7.4 4.0 M M M M M
34000 -37.7 -35.9 225 57 29 7.9 4.3 M M M M M
32000 -32.4 -26.3 225 52 27 8.1 4.4 M M M M M
30000 -28.1 -18.6 225 50 26 7.2 4.0 47.2 117.0 10.2 M M
29000 -25.9 -14.6 225 49 25 7.2 4.0 46.3 115.3 9.6 M M
28000 -23.8 -10.8 230 47 24 5.8 3.2 45.3 113.6 8.9 M M
27000 -22.1 -7.8 230 45 23 5.7 3.1 43.7 110.6 7.7 M M
26000 -20.4 -4.7 230 42 22 5.8 3.2 42.2 107.9 6.6 M M
25000 -18.7 -1.7 230 40 20 6.0 3.3 40.8 105.5 5.6 M M
24000 -16.8 1.8 235 37 19 6.5 3.6 39.5 103.1 4.5 M M
23000 -14.8 5.4 235 35 18 6.5 3.6 38.3 101.0 3.6 M M
22000 -12.9 8.8 235 33 17 6.6 3.6 37.3 99.1 2.7 M M
21000 -10.9 12.4 235 31 16 6.8 3.7 36.1 97.0 1.7 M M
20000 -8.9 16.0 235 29 15 6.8 3.7 35.1 95.2 0.8 M M
19500 -7.9 17.8 235 28 14 6.9 3.8 34.6 94.3 0.4 M M
19000 -6.5 20.3 235 27 14 6.6 3.6 33.8 92.9 -0.3 1209 6.1
18500 -5.6 21.9 235 27 14 6.6 3.6 33.3 91.9 -0.9 1166 5.9
18000 -4.6 23.7 240 26 13 6.4 3.5 32.7 90.9 -1.4 1123 5.7
17500 -3.7 25.3 240 25 13 6.5 3.6 32.2 89.9 -2.0 1082 5.5
17000 -2.8 27.0 240 25 13 7.1 3.9 31.6 88.9 -2.5 1040 5.3
16500 -1.7 28.9 240 23 12 7.9 4.3 31.3 88.3 -2.9 992 5.0
16000 -0.6 30.9 240 22 11 8.0 4.4 31.0 87.8 -3.3 944 4.8
15500 0.6 33.1 240 21 11 8.6 4.7 30.8 87.4 -3.6 893 4.5
15000 1.8 35.2 240 21 11 8.6 4.7 30.6 87.0 -3.8 841 4.3
14500 3.1 37.6 240 20 10 8.8 4.8 30.4 86.7 -4.0 789 4.0
14000 4.3 39.7 245 19 10 8.8 4.8 30.2 86.4 -4.3 737 3.7
13500 5.6 42.1 245 18 9 8.7 4.8 30.1 86.1 -4.5 684 3.5
13000 6.8 44.2 245 17 9 8.6 4.7 29.9 85.8 -4.7 632 3.2
12500 8.1 46.6 250 17 8 8.6 4.7 29.7 85.5 -4.9 580 2.9
12000 9.3 48.7 250 16 8 8.6 4.7 29.5 85.2 -5.2 527 2.7
11500 10.6 51.1 255 15 8 8.2 4.5 29.4 84.9 -5.4 475 2.4
11000 11.7 53.1 255 14 7 7.0 3.8 29.0 84.2 -5.8 428 2.2
10500 12.8 55.0 255 13 7 9.1 5.0 28.7 83.6 -6.2 380 1.9
10250 13.4 56.1 255 12 6 8.4 4.6 28.6 83.5 -6.2 352 1.8
10000 14.0 57.2 260 11 6 7.1 3.9 28.4 83.2 -6.4 329 1.7
9750 14.5 58.1 260 10 5 7.8 4.3 28.2 82.8 -6.6 305 1.6
9500 15.1 59.2 260 9 5 6.2 3.4 28.1 82.5 -6.8 282 1.4
9250 15.5 59.9 260 9 5 6.0 3.3 27.7 81.9 -7.2 262 1.3
9000 16.0 60.8 260 8 4 7.2 4.0 27.5 81.5 -7.4 240 1.2
8750 16.5 61.7 260 7 4 7.1 3.9 27.3 81.2 -7.7 217 1.1
8500 17.0 62.6 260 6 3 6.3 3.5 27.1 80.8 -7.9 194 1.0
8250 17.4 63.3 255 5 2 6.2 3.4 26.8 80.3 -8.2 174 0.9
8000 17.9 64.2 250 4 2 7.1 3.9 26.6 79.8 -8.5 152 0.8
7750 18.4 65.1 235 3 2 7.2 4.0 26.4 79.5 -8.7 129 0.7
7500 18.9 66.0 220 3 1 5.9 3.2 26.2 79.1 -8.9 107 0.5
7250 19.3 66.7 200 3 1 4.7 2.6 25.8 78.4 -9.3 88 0.4
7000 19.7 67.5 185 3 2 5.4 3.0 25.4 77.8 -9.7 70 0.4
6750 20.0 68.0 175 3 2 4.3 2.4 25.1 77.2 -10.1 51 0.3
6500 20.3 68.5 165 3 2 1.2 0.7 24.6 76.2 -10.6 38 0.2
6250 20.2 68.4 150 4 2 -1.5 -0.8 23.8 74.9 -11.4 31 0.2
6000 20.3 68.5 140 4 2 5.4 2.9 23.1 73.6 -12.1 22 0.1
5750 20.7 69.3 135 4 2 -0.9 -0.5 22.8 73.1 -12.4 1 0.0
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 * * * * * *
07/18/2025 at 0900 MDT | 07/18/2025 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +477.1 LI... -1.7 | CAPE... +412.9 LI... -2.1
CINH... -60.5 K Index... +30.1 | CINH... -11.8 K Index... +30.6
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -64.2 -83.6 240 15 8 1.6 0.9 | -64.3 -83.7 230 19 10 1.8 1.0
45000 -59.9 -75.8 240 25 13 5.6 3.1 | -59.5 -75.1 230 31 16 5.3 2.9
40000 -50.8 -59.4 240 40 21 6.5 3.6 | -51.2 -60.2 230 43 22 6.6 3.6
38000 -46.9 -52.4 240 42 22 6.5 3.5 | -47.2 -53.0 230 47 24 6.6 3.6
36000 -43.0 -45.4 235 44 23 6.5 3.6 | -43.3 -45.9 230 51 26 6.7 3.7
34000 -38.9 -38.0 240 48 25 7.0 3.8 | -39.0 -38.2 230 50 26 7.1 3.9
32000 -34.7 -30.5 240 52 27 6.8 3.7 | -34.7 -30.5 235 49 25 6.9 3.8
30000 -30.0 -22.0 240 46 23 7.9 4.3 | -30.1 -22.2 235 44 23 7.8 4.3
29000 -27.7 -17.9 240 41 21 7.9 4.3 | -27.8 -18.0 235 42 21 7.8 4.3
28000 -25.3 -13.5 245 37 19 7.5 4.1 | -25.5 -13.9 235 39 20 7.7 4.2
27000 -23.1 -9.6 245 34 18 7.3 4.0 | -23.2 -9.8 235 38 19 7.7 4.2
26000 -20.4 -4.7 245 31 16 7.3 4.0 | -20.3 -4.5 235 36 18 7.7 4.2
25000 -18.2 -0.8 245 28 15 7.0 3.8 | -18.0 -0.4 235 34 18 7.3 4.0
24000 -16.2 2.8 240 27 14 6.7 3.7 | -15.8 3.6 235 31 16 7.2 3.9
23000 -14.2 6.4 240 25 13 6.7 3.7 | -13.7 7.3 235 28 15 7.2 3.9
22000 -12.2 10.0 240 23 12 6.3 3.4 | -11.6 11.1 235 25 13 5.9 3.2
21000 -10.5 13.1 240 20 10 6.1 3.4 | -10.1 13.8 240 22 12 5.4 3.0
20000 -8.7 16.3 235 17 9 6.3 3.4 | -8.5 16.7 240 19 10 5.5 3.0
19500 -7.9 17.8 235 16 8 6.3 3.4 | -7.7 18.1 245 18 9 5.8 3.2
19000 -7.0 19.4 235 15 8 5.9 3.2 | -6.8 19.8 245 17 9 6.6 3.6
18500 -6.2 20.8 235 14 7 5.9 3.2 | -5.9 21.4 240 16 8 6.6 3.6
18000 -5.4 22.3 235 13 7 6.2 3.4 | -5.0 23.0 240 15 8 6.4 3.5
17500 -4.5 23.9 235 13 7 6.3 3.5 | -4.1 24.6 240 15 8 6.4 3.5
17000 -3.6 25.5 235 13 7 6.4 3.5 | -3.2 26.2 240 15 8 6.6 3.6
16500 -2.6 27.3 240 13 7 6.9 3.8 | -2.2 28.0 240 14 7 7.1 3.9
16000 -1.6 29.1 240 13 7 6.8 3.7 | -1.2 29.8 240 14 7 7.1 3.9
15500 -0.6 30.9 240 13 7 7.7 4.2 | -0.1 31.8 240 14 7 7.7 4.2
15000 0.5 32.9 240 13 7 7.7 4.2 | 1.0 33.8 240 14 7 7.7 4.2
14500 1.6 34.9 245 13 7 8.2 4.5 | 2.1 35.8 245 13 7 8.3 4.5
14000 2.8 37.0 245 13 7 8.5 4.6 | 3.3 37.9 245 13 7 8.5 4.7
13500 4.1 39.4 245 12 6 8.7 4.8 | 4.6 40.3 245 13 7 8.6 4.7
13000 5.4 41.7 245 12 6 9.0 4.9 | 5.8 42.4 245 12 6 8.7 4.8
12500 6.7 44.1 245 11 6 9.0 4.9 | 7.1 44.8 245 12 6 8.8 4.8
12000 8.0 46.4 245 11 6 8.9 4.9 | 8.4 47.1 245 11 6 9.1 5.0
11500 9.3 48.7 245 11 5 8.9 4.9 | 9.7 49.5 245 10 5 9.1 5.0
11000 10.6 51.1 245 10 5 8.5 4.7 | 11.1 52.0 245 10 5 9.1 5.0
10500 11.9 53.4 245 10 5 6.2 3.4 | 12.5 54.5 245 9 5 7.2 4.0
10250 12.3 54.1 245 10 5 6.5 3.6 | 12.9 55.2 250 9 5 7.6 4.2
10000 13.0 55.4 240 9 5 9.9 5.4 | 13.7 56.7 245 9 5 10.4 5.7
9750 13.7 56.7 240 9 5 9.1 5.0 | 14.4 57.9 245 8 4 9.8 5.4
9500 14.3 57.7 240 9 4 9.0 4.9 | 15.1 59.2 245 8 4 9.4 5.2
9250 15.0 59.0 240 8 4 7.6 4.2 | 15.8 60.4 250 7 4 8.5 4.6
9000 15.5 59.9 235 7 4 7.0 3.8 | 16.4 61.5 255 7 4 9.2 5.0
8750 16.5 61.7 225 7 3 6.9 3.8 | 17.1 62.8 250 7 3 10.1 5.5
8500 17.0 62.6 220 6 3 6.9 3.8 | 18.4 65.1 250 6 3 6.5 3.6
8250 17.5 63.5 220 6 3 6.6 3.6 | 18.9 66.0 260 6 3 8.8 4.8
8000 18.0 64.4 210 6 3 6.1 3.4 | 19.8 67.6 255 6 3 12.8 7.0
7750 18.4 65.1 200 6 3 6.2 3.4 | 20.7 69.3 250 6 3 9.7 5.3
7500 18.9 66.0 195 6 3 6.2 3.4 | 21.2 70.2 255 5 3 6.2 3.4
7250 19.3 66.7 190 6 3 6.5 3.6 | 21.7 71.1 265 5 2 8.5 4.7
7000 19.9 67.8 185 6 3 8.0 4.4 | 22.5 72.5 265 5 2 13.8 7.6
6750 20.4 68.7 180 6 3 7.4 4.1 | 23.6 74.5 255 5 3 12.2 6.7
6500 20.9 69.6 175 5 3 6.4 3.5 | 24.3 75.7 260 5 2 9.1 5.0
6250 21.3 70.3 165 5 3 6.4 3.5 | 25.0 77.0 270 4 2 8.8 4.8
6000 21.9 71.4 160 5 3 10.9 6.0 | 25.8 78.4 270 4 2 14.3 7.8
5750 22.9 73.2 160 4 2 18.7 10.3 | 27.4 81.3 265 4 2 29.0 15.9
5500 23.8 74.8 145 4 2 1.4 0.8 | 29.2 84.6 275 4 2 12.1 6.6
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
07/18/2025 at 1500 MDT | 07/18/2025 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +516.5 LI... -1.9 | CAPE... +465.8 LI... -2.2
CINH... -43.8 K Index... +30.9 | CINH... -42.0 K Index... +31.3
|
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 -64.1 -83.4 240 22 11 1.6 0.9 | -63.9 -83.0 240 21 11 1.3 0.7
45000 -59.6 -75.3 235 37 19 5.2 2.8 | -59.7 -75.5 235 37 19 5.6 3.1
40000 -51.4 -60.5 230 47 24 6.8 3.7 | -51.2 -60.2 230 50 26 6.5 3.5
38000 -47.3 -53.1 230 48 25 6.8 3.7 | -47.3 -53.1 230 52 27 6.5 3.5
36000 -43.2 -45.8 225 49 25 6.9 3.8 | -42.9 -45.2 230 53 27 6.7 3.7
34000 -39.0 -38.2 225 46 24 7.1 3.9 | -38.8 -37.8 225 49 25 6.9 3.8
32000 -34.8 -30.6 225 43 22 6.8 3.7 | -34.6 -30.3 225 45 23 7.6 4.2
30000 -29.9 -21.8 225 39 20 8.3 4.5 | -29.8 -21.6 220 42 22 8.3 4.5
29000 -27.4 -17.3 220 38 19 8.3 4.5 | -27.3 -17.1 220 40 21 8.3 4.6
28000 -24.4 -11.9 220 36 18 7.5 4.1 | -24.9 -12.8 220 39 20 7.4 4.1
27000 -22.2 -8.0 225 34 17 7.5 4.1 | -22.7 -8.9 220 36 18 7.4 4.1
26000 -20.0 -4.0 225 32 17 7.5 4.1 | -20.5 -4.9 225 33 17 7.5 4.1
25000 -17.7 0.1 230 31 16 7.2 4.0 | -18.3 -0.9 225 30 15 7.5 4.1
24000 -15.7 3.7 230 28 14 7.1 3.9 | -16.0 3.2 230 28 14 7.7 4.2
23000 -13.6 7.5 230 25 13 7.2 3.9 | -13.7 7.3 230 25 13 7.7 4.2
22000 -11.5 11.3 230 23 12 6.5 3.6 | -11.0 12.2 230 22 12 6.0 3.3
21000 -9.7 14.5 225 21 11 6.3 3.5 | -9.3 15.3 230 20 10 6.1 3.3
20000 -7.9 17.8 225 19 10 6.4 3.5 | -7.5 18.5 225 18 9 6.1 3.4
19500 -7.0 19.4 220 18 9 6.3 3.5 | -6.7 19.9 225 17 9 6.3 3.4
19000 -6.1 21.0 220 17 9 6.0 3.3 | -5.8 21.6 220 17 9 6.4 3.5
18500 -5.2 22.6 225 17 8 6.0 3.3 | -4.9 23.2 220 17 9 6.3 3.5
18000 -4.3 24.3 225 16 8 6.5 3.6 | -3.9 25.0 220 18 9 7.7 4.2
17500 -3.4 25.9 225 15 8 6.6 3.6 | -2.8 27.0 220 17 9 7.8 4.3
17000 -2.5 27.5 225 15 8 6.7 3.7 | -1.7 28.9 220 17 9 7.9 4.3
16500 -1.4 29.5 225 15 7 7.1 3.9 | -0.5 31.1 220 17 9 8.0 4.4
16000 -0.4 31.3 230 14 7 7.0 3.8 | 0.6 33.1 220 16 8 8.1 4.4
15500 0.6 33.1 230 14 7 7.7 4.2 | 1.8 35.2 220 16 8 7.8 4.3
15000 1.8 35.2 230 13 7 7.6 4.2 | 2.9 37.2 225 15 8 7.8 4.3
14500 2.9 37.2 230 13 7 8.0 4.4 | 4.1 39.4 225 15 8 8.3 4.6
14000 4.1 39.4 230 13 7 8.1 4.5 | 5.3 41.5 230 14 7 8.4 4.6
13500 5.3 41.5 230 12 6 8.2 4.5 | 6.5 43.7 230 13 7 8.6 4.7
13000 6.5 43.7 235 12 6 8.3 4.6 | 7.8 46.0 235 13 7 8.9 4.9
12500 7.7 45.9 235 12 6 8.4 4.6 | 9.1 48.4 240 12 6 9.0 4.9
12000 9.0 48.2 235 11 6 8.6 4.7 | 10.4 50.7 240 12 6 9.4 5.1
11500 10.2 50.4 235 11 6 8.6 4.7 | 11.8 53.2 240 11 6 9.2 5.1
11000 11.5 52.7 235 11 6 8.8 4.8 | 13.1 55.6 245 10 5 8.6 4.7
10500 12.8 55.0 235 11 5 6.3 3.5 | 14.3 57.7 245 10 5 10.1 5.6
10250 13.2 55.8 235 10 5 6.8 3.7 | 15.2 59.4 245 9 5 10.7 5.9
10000 13.9 57.0 235 10 5 10.4 5.7 | 15.9 60.6 245 9 5 9.0 5.0
9750 14.6 58.3 235 10 5 9.5 5.2 | 16.6 61.9 245 9 4 9.5 5.2
9500 16.0 60.8 235 9 5 9.0 5.0 | 17.3 63.1 245 8 4 9.4 5.2
9250 16.7 62.1 235 9 4 8.6 4.7 | 18.0 64.4 250 7 4 9.2 5.1
9000 17.3 63.1 235 9 4 8.7 4.8 | 18.6 65.5 250 7 3 8.8 4.8
8750 18.0 64.4 235 9 4 8.4 4.6 | 19.3 66.7 250 6 3 8.8 4.8
8500 18.6 65.5 235 8 4 7.6 4.2 | 19.9 67.8 245 6 3 8.5 4.7
8250 19.1 66.4 235 7 4 8.2 4.5 | 21.1 70.0 255 4 2 7.7 4.2
8000 19.8 67.6 235 7 4 9.3 5.1 | 21.7 71.1 255 3 2 8.3 4.6
7750 20.4 68.7 230 7 4 8.4 4.6 | 22.3 72.1 250 3 1 7.9 4.3
7500 21.0 69.8 230 7 4 7.5 4.1 | 22.8 73.0 250 2 1 7.3 4.0
7250 21.5 70.7 230 6 3 7.6 4.2 | 23.4 74.1 265 2 1 8.0 4.4
7000 22.1 71.8 230 6 3 7.7 4.2 | 24.0 75.2 265 1 1 10.6 5.8
6750 22.6 72.7 225 6 3 8.1 4.4 | 24.9 76.8 245 1 1 10.3 5.7
6500 23.2 73.8 220 5 3 8.7 4.8 | 25.5 77.9 260 1 0 9.2 5.0
6250 23.8 74.8 215 5 2 7.5 4.1 | 26.2 79.2 000 0 0 9.0 5.0
6000 24.4 75.9 210 4 2 9.9 5.4 | 26.9 80.4 000 0 0 9.9 5.4
5750 25.4 77.7 210 4 2 20.2 11.1 | 27.8 82.0 255 1 0 15.4 8.5
5500 26.9 80.4 205 4 2 21.0 11.5 | 29.2 84.6 010 1 0 21.8 12.0
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.
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