Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO

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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.

042613