Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
372
UXUS97 KPUB 151215
SRGPUB
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado
0614 MDT Wednesday, October 15, 2025
This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Wednesday, October 15, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 56.4 F/13.6 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good
Maximum rate of lift........................ 574 ft/min (2.9 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 15801 ft MSL (6804 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 66.0 F/19.3 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1030 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1800 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 14195 ft MSL (5198 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 10/16..... Good
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 07:13:01 / 18:25:24 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 11 hr 12 min 23 sec (672 min 23 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:49:13 MDT... 42.84 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 10/15/2025 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 14280 ft MSL (5283 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 14821 ft MSL (5824 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 15677 ft MSL (6679 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -2.1
K index......................... -12.0
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 -67.8 -90.0 215 54 28 4.4 2.4 M M M M M
45000 -60.7 -77.3 215 72 37 4.8 2.6 M M M M M
40000 -53.2 -63.8 215 87 45 7.3 4.0 M M M M M
38000 -48.9 -56.0 215 86 44 7.2 3.9 M M M M M
36000 -44.6 -48.3 215 85 44 7.2 3.9 M M M M M
34000 -40.5 -40.9 215 82 42 6.7 3.7 M M M M M
32000 -36.4 -33.5 215 77 40 6.8 3.7 M M M M M
30000 -31.9 -25.4 215 66 34 6.8 3.7 32.3 90.1 10.6 M M
29000 -29.8 -21.6 215 60 31 6.8 3.7 31.2 88.1 9.9 M M
28000 -27.8 -18.0 215 55 28 7.3 4.0 30.2 86.4 9.2 M M
27000 -25.4 -13.7 220 53 27 8.3 4.5 29.5 85.2 8.7 M M
26000 -22.9 -9.2 220 51 26 8.3 4.5 29.0 84.2 8.4 M M
25000 -20.4 -4.7 220 49 25 8.4 4.6 28.5 83.4 8.1 M M
24000 -18.1 -0.6 220 48 25 7.3 4.0 27.7 81.9 7.5 M M
23000 -15.9 3.4 220 47 24 7.3 4.0 26.9 80.4 6.9 M M
22000 -13.7 7.3 220 46 24 7.3 4.0 26.1 79.0 6.3 M M
21000 -11.6 11.1 215 46 24 7.2 3.9 25.2 77.3 5.5 M M
20000 -9.4 15.1 215 46 24 7.2 3.9 24.3 75.7 4.8 M M
19500 -8.3 17.1 215 46 24 7.2 3.9 23.9 75.0 4.5 M M
19000 -7.3 18.9 215 46 24 6.7 3.7 23.5 74.3 4.1 M M
18500 -6.3 20.7 215 47 24 6.4 3.5 22.9 73.3 3.6 M M
18000 -5.4 22.3 215 47 24 6.4 3.5 22.4 72.3 3.1 M M
17500 -4.5 23.9 215 47 24 5.3 2.9 21.7 71.1 2.6 M M
17000 -3.7 25.3 220 48 25 5.4 3.0 21.0 69.8 1.9 M M
16500 -2.9 26.8 220 49 25 5.0 2.8 20.3 68.5 1.3 M M
16000 -1.9 28.6 220 50 26 5.0 2.7 19.1 66.4 0.1 M M
15500 -1.2 29.8 220 50 26 4.4 2.4 18.3 64.9 -0.7 545 2.8
15000 -0.7 30.7 220 50 26 4.5 2.5 17.4 63.4 -1.6 515 2.6
14500 -0.1 31.8 220 50 26 4.2 2.3 16.6 61.9 -2.5 484 2.5
14000 0.4 32.7 220 49 25 5.0 2.7 15.7 60.3 -3.5 453 2.3
13500 1.0 33.8 220 46 24 4.9 2.7 15.0 59.0 -4.4 421 2.1
13000 1.7 35.1 220 37 19 6.0 3.3 14.3 57.7 -5.2 385 2.0
12500 2.5 36.5 215 30 16 6.0 3.3 13.7 56.7 -5.9 346 1.8
12000 3.2 37.8 215 31 16 4.5 2.4 13.0 55.3 -6.7 312 1.6
11750 3.5 38.3 215 32 16 5.3 2.9 12.6 54.7 -7.1 295 1.5
11500 3.8 38.8 215 33 17 5.3 2.9 12.2 54.0 -7.5 277 1.4
11250 4.2 39.6 215 33 17 5.1 2.8 11.9 53.4 -8.0 259 1.3
11000 4.5 40.1 215 32 16 4.8 2.6 11.5 52.8 -8.4 242 1.2
10750 4.8 40.6 215 31 16 5.2 2.9 11.2 52.1 -8.8 225 1.1
10500 5.2 41.4 215 29 15 5.5 3.0 10.8 51.5 -9.2 207 1.0
10250 5.5 41.9 215 27 14 4.0 2.2 10.5 50.8 -9.6 189 1.0
10000 5.7 42.3 215 25 13 3.2 1.7 10.0 50.0 -10.1 175 0.9
9750 6.0 42.8 215 22 11 3.3 1.8 9.5 49.1 -10.7 161 0.8
9500 6.2 43.2 215 19 10 4.1 2.3 9.0 48.2 -11.2 147 0.7
9250 6.6 43.9 215 15 8 6.9 3.8 8.7 47.7 -11.6 128 0.6
9000 7.1 44.8 220 8 4 7.1 3.9 8.5 47.4 -11.8 104 0.5
8750 M M M M M M M M M M M M
8500 M M M M M M M M M M M M
8250 M M M M M M M M M M M M
8000 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
10/15/2025 at 0900 MDT | 10/15/2025 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +2.2 LI... +2.0 | CAPE... +163.9 LI... -0.2
CINH... -0.1 K Index... -8.6 | CINH... -8.4 K Index... -6.7
|
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 -68.1 -90.6 215 57 29 4.3 2.4 | -67.3 -89.1 215 58 30 3.8 2.1
45000 -61.4 -78.5 215 75 38 4.9 2.7 | -60.7 -77.3 215 76 39 5.3 2.9
40000 -53.4 -64.1 215 88 45 7.1 3.9 | -52.6 -62.7 215 86 44 6.6 3.6
38000 -49.2 -56.6 215 86 44 7.0 3.8 | -48.7 -55.7 215 86 44 6.5 3.6
36000 -45.0 -49.0 215 85 44 7.0 3.8 | -44.7 -48.5 215 85 44 6.5 3.6
34000 -40.7 -41.3 215 81 41 7.2 4.0 | -40.6 -41.1 215 82 42 7.1 3.9
32000 -36.4 -33.5 215 76 39 7.2 4.0 | -36.3 -33.3 215 77 40 7.1 3.9
30000 -32.4 -26.3 215 67 34 6.5 3.6 | -31.7 -25.1 210 67 35 6.6 3.6
29000 -30.0 -22.0 210 60 31 6.5 3.6 | -29.8 -21.6 210 62 32 6.6 3.6
28000 -28.0 -18.4 210 55 28 7.1 3.9 | -27.8 -18.0 210 57 29 6.9 3.8
27000 -25.6 -14.1 210 53 27 8.3 4.5 | -25.5 -13.9 210 54 28 7.9 4.3
26000 -23.1 -9.6 215 51 26 8.3 4.5 | -23.1 -9.6 210 52 27 7.9 4.3
25000 -20.6 -5.1 215 49 25 8.3 4.6 | -20.7 -5.3 205 50 26 7.9 4.3
24000 -18.2 -0.8 215 49 25 7.9 4.3 | -18.4 -1.1 205 51 26 7.7 4.2
23000 -15.8 3.6 210 49 25 7.9 4.3 | -16.1 3.0 205 53 27 7.7 4.2
22000 -13.5 7.7 210 49 25 8.0 4.4 | -13.8 7.2 205 55 28 7.8 4.3
21000 -11.3 11.7 210 49 25 6.8 3.7 | -11.7 10.9 205 55 29 6.9 3.8
20000 -9.3 15.3 210 49 25 6.8 3.7 | -9.6 14.7 205 55 29 6.9 3.8
19500 -8.3 17.1 210 49 25 6.8 3.7 | -8.6 16.5 205 55 29 6.9 3.8
19000 -7.3 18.9 210 50 26 6.2 3.4 | -7.5 18.5 205 55 28 6.6 3.6
18500 -6.4 20.5 210 50 26 5.8 3.2 | -6.6 20.1 205 55 28 6.3 3.4
18000 -5.5 22.1 210 51 26 5.9 3.2 | -5.6 21.9 205 55 28 6.3 3.5
17500 -4.7 23.5 210 51 26 4.9 2.7 | -4.7 23.5 205 54 28 5.6 3.1
17000 -4.0 24.8 210 52 27 5.1 2.8 | -3.9 25.0 205 54 28 5.6 3.1
16500 -3.3 26.1 210 53 27 5.2 2.8 | -3.1 26.4 210 54 28 5.8 3.2
16000 -2.6 27.3 215 54 28 5.4 2.9 | -2.2 28.0 210 53 27 6.0 3.3
15500 -1.9 28.6 215 55 28 5.8 3.2 | -1.3 29.7 210 53 27 6.2 3.4
15000 -0.8 30.6 215 55 28 6.1 3.4 | -0.2 31.6 210 52 27 6.2 3.4
14500 -0.0 32.0 215 55 28 5.9 3.3 | 0.5 32.9 210 51 26 4.8 2.6
14000 0.8 33.4 215 50 26 5.8 3.2 | 1.0 33.8 210 49 25 5.2 2.9
13500 1.6 34.9 215 45 23 4.9 2.7 | 1.7 35.1 210 45 23 4.6 2.5
13000 2.3 36.1 215 44 23 6.2 3.4 | 2.3 36.1 210 43 22 5.5 3.0
12500 3.1 37.6 215 43 22 6.1 3.4 | 3.0 37.4 205 39 20 5.6 3.1
12000 3.7 38.7 215 40 21 3.0 1.6 | 3.8 38.8 205 38 20 5.6 3.1
11750 3.9 39.0 210 38 19 2.9 1.6 | 4.1 39.4 200 37 19 6.0 3.3
11500 4.1 39.4 210 34 18 2.8 1.6 | 4.5 40.1 200 36 18 5.9 3.3
11250 4.3 39.7 210 32 16 3.5 1.9 | 4.9 40.8 195 35 18 6.4 3.5
11000 4.5 40.1 210 30 16 3.7 2.0 | 5.4 41.7 195 33 17 6.4 3.5
10750 4.8 40.6 205 29 15 4.1 2.3 | 5.8 42.4 190 31 16 7.5 4.1
10500 5.1 41.2 205 27 14 4.8 2.6 | 6.4 43.5 190 30 15 9.3 5.1
10250 5.4 41.7 205 25 13 5.0 2.7 | 7.0 44.6 185 28 14 6.1 3.4
10000 5.8 42.4 205 22 11 5.4 2.9 | 7.3 45.1 185 25 13 3.8 2.1
9750 6.2 43.2 205 19 10 4.9 2.7 | 7.6 45.7 185 22 11 4.3 2.4
9500 6.5 43.7 210 17 9 4.6 2.5 | 7.9 46.2 185 18 9 5.0 2.7
9250 6.9 44.4 210 13 6 6.5 3.6 | 8.4 47.1 185 13 7 8.7 4.8
9000 7.5 45.5 215 7 4 11.5 6.3 | 9.2 48.6 185 8 4 14.5 8.0
8750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
10/15/2025 at 1500 MDT | 10/15/2025 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +637.4 LI... -2.1 | CAPE... +545.4 LI... -2.3
CINH... 0.0 K Index... -7.7 | CINH... -0.1 K Index... +13.8
|
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 -67.0 -88.6 215 57 29 3.9 2.1 | -66.6 -87.9 215 55 28 3.6 2.0
45000 -60.7 -77.3 215 82 42 5.3 2.9 | -60.6 -77.1 215 79 41 5.6 3.1
40000 -52.2 -62.0 215 90 46 6.5 3.6 | -51.8 -61.2 215 87 45 6.0 3.3
38000 -48.3 -54.9 215 90 46 6.4 3.5 | -48.2 -54.8 210 88 45 5.9 3.3
36000 -44.5 -48.1 210 89 46 6.4 3.5 | -44.7 -48.5 210 89 46 5.9 3.3
34000 -40.5 -40.9 210 86 44 6.7 3.7 | -40.9 -41.6 210 87 45 6.6 3.6
32000 -36.5 -33.7 215 81 42 6.7 3.7 | -36.9 -34.4 210 82 42 6.6 3.6
30000 -32.5 -26.5 215 74 38 6.6 3.6 | -32.5 -26.5 215 76 39 6.6 3.6
29000 -30.0 -22.0 215 70 36 6.6 3.6 | -30.5 -22.9 215 74 38 6.6 3.6
28000 -28.0 -18.4 215 66 34 6.7 3.7 | -28.5 -19.3 215 71 36 6.5 3.6
27000 -25.8 -14.4 210 64 33 7.5 4.1 | -26.4 -15.5 215 69 36 7.4 4.1
26000 -23.6 -10.5 210 62 32 7.5 4.1 | -24.2 -11.6 215 68 35 7.4 4.1
25000 -21.3 -6.3 210 60 31 7.5 4.1 | -22.0 -7.6 215 66 34 7.4 4.1
24000 -19.1 -2.4 205 60 31 7.6 4.1 | -19.7 -3.5 215 65 33 7.4 4.1
23000 -16.8 1.8 210 60 31 7.6 4.1 | -17.5 0.5 215 64 33 7.4 4.1
22000 -14.6 5.7 210 61 31 7.6 4.2 | -15.3 4.5 215 62 32 7.4 4.1
21000 -12.4 9.7 210 61 31 6.8 3.7 | -13.1 8.4 215 60 31 7.2 3.9
20000 -10.4 13.3 210 59 30 6.8 3.7 | -11.0 12.2 215 58 30 7.3 4.0
19500 -9.4 15.1 210 58 30 6.8 3.7 | -10.0 14.0 215 57 29 7.3 4.0
19000 -8.4 16.9 210 58 30 6.4 3.5 | -8.9 16.0 215 56 29 7.4 4.0
18500 -7.5 18.5 210 57 29 5.8 3.2 | -7.9 17.8 215 55 28 7.1 3.9
18000 -6.6 20.1 210 57 29 5.8 3.2 | -6.9 19.6 215 53 27 7.2 3.9
17500 -5.7 21.7 210 56 29 6.3 3.5 | -5.9 21.4 215 52 27 6.4 3.5
17000 -4.8 23.4 210 56 29 6.4 3.5 | -5.0 23.0 215 51 26 6.3 3.5
16500 -3.9 25.0 210 55 28 6.0 3.3 | -4.1 24.6 215 50 26 6.2 3.4
16000 -3.1 26.4 210 55 28 5.9 3.2 | -3.3 26.1 215 49 25 5.7 3.1
15500 -2.3 27.9 210 54 28 6.4 3.5 | -2.1 28.2 210 48 25 6.3 3.5
15000 -1.5 29.3 210 52 27 6.4 3.5 | -1.2 29.8 210 47 24 7.0 3.9
14500 -0.4 31.3 210 48 25 5.5 3.0 | -0.4 31.3 210 45 23 4.4 2.4
14000 0.4 32.7 205 44 23 6.2 3.4 | 0.3 32.5 205 42 22 6.0 3.3
13500 1.2 34.2 205 39 20 6.7 3.7 | 1.1 34.0 205 39 20 5.1 2.8
13000 2.2 36.0 200 35 18 8.2 4.5 | 1.9 35.4 200 36 18 7.7 4.2
12500 3.3 37.9 195 31 16 8.1 4.5 | 3.0 37.4 195 33 17 7.6 4.2
12000 4.6 40.3 195 29 15 10.0 5.5 | 4.0 39.2 190 30 16 8.3 4.5
11750 5.4 41.7 195 28 14 10.4 5.7 | 4.7 40.5 190 30 15 10.3 5.7
11500 6.1 43.0 195 28 14 10.4 5.7 | 5.4 41.7 190 30 15 9.8 5.4
11250 6.9 44.4 195 27 14 10.1 5.6 | 6.1 43.0 190 29 15 10.1 5.6
11000 7.6 45.7 195 27 14 9.8 5.4 | 6.8 44.2 190 29 15 10.5 5.8
10750 8.3 46.9 195 26 13 10.1 5.6 | 7.6 45.7 190 28 15 10.3 5.7
10500 9.1 48.4 195 26 13 10.3 5.6 | 8.4 47.1 190 28 14 10.1 5.5
10250 9.9 49.8 195 25 13 10.6 5.8 | 9.1 48.4 190 27 14 10.2 5.6
10000 10.7 51.3 195 25 13 11.0 6.0 | 9.9 49.8 190 26 14 10.2 5.6
9750 11.5 52.7 195 24 12 11.1 6.1 | 10.6 51.1 190 25 13 10.1 5.5
9500 12.3 54.1 195 23 12 10.7 5.8 | 11.3 52.3 190 24 12 9.2 5.0
9250 13.1 55.6 195 21 11 14.2 7.8 | 12.0 53.6 190 21 11 8.6 4.7
9000 14.9 58.8 195 16 8 41.3 22.7 | 12.7 54.9 185 14 7 13.5 7.4
8750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8000 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). It is not continuously monitored nor updated after its initial
issuance.
The information contained herein is based on rawinsonde observation and/or
numerical weather prediction model data taken near Villa Grove, Colorado at:
North Latitude: 38 deg 16 min 03 sec
West Longitude: 105 deg 53 min 37 sec
Elevation: 7986 feet (2434 meters)
and may not be representative of other areas along the Front Range of the
Colorado Rocky Mountains. Note that some elevations in numerical weather
prediction models differ from actual station elevations, which can lead to
data which appear to be below ground. Erroneous data such as these should
not be used.
The content and format of this report as well as the issuance times are subject
to change without prior notice. Comments and suggestions are welcome and should
be directed to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this
page. To expedite a response to comments, be sure to mention your interest in
the soaring forecast.
DEFINITIONS:
CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) - An integrated measure of the
energy available for convective development, also known as the positive
area on a thermodynamic diagram. Units are Joules per kilogram. Larger
values are indicative of greater instability and the possibility of
stronger convective activity, including thunderstorms. Values around or
greater than 1000 suggest the possibility of severe weather should
convective activity develop.
CIN (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