Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
404 UXUS97 KPUB 291207 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0607 MDT Sunday, September 29, 2024 This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Sunday, September 29, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 66.1 F/19.0 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent Maximum rate of lift........................ 1169 ft/min (5.9 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 21158 ft MSL (12174 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 79.0 F/26.6 C Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 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................. 20002 ft MSL (11018 ft AGL) Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 09/30....... Excellent Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:58:20 / 18:48:58 MDT Total possible sunshine........... 11 hr 50 min 38 sec (710 min 38 sec) Altitude of sun at 12:53:39 MDT... 48.88 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 09/29/2024 at 0600 MDT Freezing level.................. 15401 ft MSL (6417 ft AGL) Convective condensation level... 16326 ft MSL (7342 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 19042 ft MSL (10058 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... -2.7 K index......................... +23.1 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 -65.9 -86.6 290 18 9 3.6 2.0 M M M M M 45000 -58.7 -73.7 295 25 13 6.7 3.7 M M M M M 40000 -48.6 -55.5 285 29 15 6.8 3.7 M M M M M 38000 -44.5 -48.1 285 28 14 6.8 3.7 M M M M M 36000 -40.4 -40.7 290 27 14 6.7 3.7 M M M M M 34000 -36.2 -33.2 285 19 10 6.2 3.4 M M M M M 32000 -32.5 -26.5 280 12 6 6.3 3.5 M M M M M 30000 -28.7 -19.7 300 9 5 6.4 3.5 35.8 96.4 7.7 M M 29000 -26.8 -16.2 310 8 4 6.3 3.5 34.6 94.3 6.8 M M 28000 -24.7 -12.5 325 8 4 8.5 4.7 33.6 92.4 6.1 M M 27000 -22.2 -8.0 335 7 3 8.3 4.6 32.9 91.3 5.6 M M 26000 -19.7 -3.5 350 6 3 8.3 4.6 32.4 90.4 5.2 M M 25000 -17.2 1.0 010 6 3 7.7 4.2 32.0 89.7 5.0 M M 24000 -15.2 4.6 010 6 3 6.7 3.7 30.9 87.6 4.0 M M 23000 -13.2 8.2 015 6 3 6.7 3.7 29.8 85.7 3.2 M M 22000 -11.2 11.8 015 7 3 4.2 2.3 28.9 84.0 2.4 M M 21000 -10.8 12.6 340 6 3 1.6 0.9 26.0 78.7 -0.2 1165 5.9 20000 -10.4 13.3 310 7 4 1.9 1.0 23.2 73.8 -2.8 1124 5.7 19500 -10.2 13.6 300 8 4 2.1 1.1 22.0 71.5 -4.1 1104 5.6 19000 -9.4 15.1 295 9 5 9.0 4.9 21.3 70.4 -4.7 1065 5.4 18500 -8.2 17.2 295 10 5 8.5 4.6 21.1 69.9 -5.1 1015 5.2 18000 -7.0 19.4 300 11 6 8.6 4.7 20.9 69.6 -5.4 964 4.9 17500 -5.8 21.6 300 12 6 8.8 4.8 20.7 69.3 -5.6 912 4.6 17000 -4.5 23.9 300 12 6 8.8 4.8 20.5 69.0 -5.9 860 4.4 16500 -2.6 27.3 300 13 7 8.7 4.8 20.3 68.5 -6.2 781 4.0 16000 -1.4 29.5 300 14 7 8.8 4.9 20.1 68.2 -6.4 728 3.7 15500 0.0 32.0 295 14 7 9.3 5.1 20.0 68.0 -6.6 672 3.4 15000 1.4 34.5 295 14 7 9.3 5.1 20.0 67.9 -6.7 616 3.1 14500 2.8 37.0 295 14 7 9.8 5.4 19.9 67.9 -6.7 558 2.8 14000 4.3 39.7 290 14 7 9.8 5.4 19.9 67.9 -6.8 499 2.5 13500 5.8 42.4 290 15 7 10.5 5.7 20.0 68.0 -6.8 440 2.2 13000 7.2 45.0 285 15 8 7.9 4.3 19.9 67.8 -6.9 384 1.9 12500 8.4 47.1 275 16 8 7.7 4.2 19.6 67.3 -7.2 333 1.7 12000 9.5 49.1 270 16 8 7.3 4.0 19.3 66.8 -7.6 284 1.4 11750 10.0 50.0 265 16 8 6.6 3.6 19.1 66.4 -7.8 262 1.3 11500 10.4 50.7 265 16 8 5.5 3.0 18.8 65.9 -8.1 241 1.2 11250 10.8 51.4 260 15 8 4.6 2.5 18.4 65.2 -8.5 223 1.1 11000 11.1 52.0 255 15 7 4.8 2.6 18.0 64.5 -8.9 206 1.0 10750 11.5 52.7 255 14 7 4.9 2.7 17.7 63.8 -9.3 188 1.0 10500 11.7 53.1 250 13 7 2.0 1.1 17.2 63.0 -9.8 172 0.9 10250 11.7 53.1 245 13 6 -0.2 -0.1 16.5 61.7 -10.6 166 0.8 10000 11.7 53.1 240 12 6 -0.0 -0.0 15.8 60.4 -11.4 159 0.8 9750 11.7 53.1 240 11 6 1.7 1.0 15.1 59.1 -12.1 152 0.8 9500 11.6 52.9 235 10 5 -6.4 -3.5 14.3 57.8 -13.0 146 0.7 9250 10.4 50.7 235 7 4 -25.6 -14.1 12.3 54.2 -15.0 176 0.9 9000 9.1 48.4 235 4 2 10.1 5.6 10.4 50.7 -17.0 206 1.0 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 * * * * * * 09/29/2024 at 0900 MDT | 09/29/2024 at 1200 MDT | CAPE... +34.4 LI... -1.3 | CAPE... +88.3 LI... -1.6 CINH... -118.1 K Index... +14.2 | CINH... -14.1 K Index... +13.6 | 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 -66.1 -87.0 260 18 9 3.7 2.0 | -65.9 -86.6 245 25 13 3.5 1.9 45000 -58.8 -73.8 270 26 14 6.7 3.7 | -58.8 -73.8 250 35 18 6.9 3.8 40000 -48.7 -55.7 270 35 18 6.9 3.8 | -48.5 -55.3 255 44 23 6.5 3.5 38000 -44.5 -48.1 270 31 16 6.9 3.8 | -44.6 -48.3 255 37 19 6.5 3.5 36000 -40.4 -40.7 275 27 14 6.7 3.7 | -40.7 -41.3 255 31 16 6.4 3.5 34000 -36.7 -34.1 270 20 10 6.2 3.4 | -37.0 -34.6 255 23 12 6.1 3.4 32000 -32.5 -26.5 265 11 6 6.3 3.5 | -32.9 -27.2 250 13 7 6.3 3.4 30000 -28.7 -19.7 275 8 4 6.3 3.5 | -29.1 -20.4 250 11 6 6.4 3.5 29000 -26.8 -16.2 280 6 3 6.3 3.5 | -27.1 -16.8 250 10 5 6.4 3.5 28000 -24.7 -12.5 290 5 3 8.5 4.7 | -25.1 -13.2 250 8 4 8.7 4.8 27000 -22.2 -8.0 295 4 2 8.3 4.5 | -22.5 -8.5 250 7 4 8.5 4.7 26000 -19.8 -3.6 310 3 2 8.3 4.5 | -20.0 -4.0 255 6 3 8.5 4.7 25000 -17.3 0.9 335 3 1 7.6 4.2 | -17.4 0.7 260 5 2 7.6 4.2 24000 -15.2 4.6 355 3 1 6.7 3.7 | -15.4 4.3 270 4 2 6.5 3.6 23000 -13.2 8.2 015 3 2 6.7 3.7 | -13.5 7.7 285 3 1 6.5 3.6 22000 -11.2 11.8 025 4 2 4.3 2.4 | -11.5 11.3 310 2 1 4.8 2.6 21000 -10.6 12.9 355 3 1 2.2 1.2 | -10.6 12.9 295 3 2 3.3 1.8 20000 -10.0 14.0 305 3 2 2.5 1.4 | -9.7 14.5 285 5 2 3.4 1.9 19500 -9.7 14.5 290 4 2 2.8 1.5 | -9.2 15.4 285 5 3 3.6 2.0 19000 -9.0 15.8 290 5 3 6.6 3.6 | -8.5 16.7 285 6 3 6.5 3.6 18500 -8.1 17.4 295 6 3 6.4 3.5 | -7.6 18.3 290 6 3 6.3 3.5 18000 -7.2 19.0 300 7 4 7.6 4.2 | -6.7 19.9 290 6 3 7.3 4.0 17500 -6.0 21.2 300 7 4 8.3 4.5 | -5.5 22.1 295 5 3 7.9 4.3 17000 -4.8 23.4 300 8 4 8.4 4.6 | -4.3 24.3 295 5 3 7.9 4.4 16500 -3.5 25.7 300 9 5 9.1 5.0 | -3.1 26.4 295 6 3 8.5 4.6 16000 -2.2 28.0 295 10 5 9.1 5.0 | -1.9 28.6 300 7 4 8.5 4.6 15500 -0.1 31.8 290 12 6 9.2 5.0 | -0.7 30.7 300 9 4 9.1 5.0 15000 1.3 34.3 290 13 7 9.3 5.1 | 1.3 34.3 300 10 5 9.3 5.1 14500 2.5 36.5 290 14 7 8.7 4.8 | 2.5 36.5 300 11 6 9.0 4.9 14000 4.0 39.2 290 15 8 10.1 5.5 | 4.0 39.2 300 11 6 10.0 5.5 13500 5.5 41.9 290 16 8 10.1 5.6 | 5.6 42.1 295 11 6 11.2 6.2 13000 6.9 44.4 290 16 8 9.1 5.0 | 7.0 44.6 295 11 6 8.5 4.6 12500 8.3 46.9 290 16 8 9.0 5.0 | 8.4 47.1 295 11 6 9.8 5.4 12000 9.5 49.1 290 15 8 9.0 4.9 | 9.8 49.6 290 10 5 9.7 5.3 11750 10.2 50.4 285 15 8 8.7 4.8 | 10.5 50.9 290 10 5 9.1 5.0 11500 10.7 51.3 285 14 7 7.2 4.0 | 11.2 52.2 290 10 5 9.5 5.2 11250 11.2 52.2 285 14 7 6.3 3.5 | 11.9 53.4 285 10 5 9.6 5.3 11000 11.6 52.9 280 14 7 6.5 3.6 | 12.6 54.7 285 9 5 9.5 5.2 10750 12.1 53.8 280 14 7 6.8 3.7 | 13.3 55.9 285 9 5 10.2 5.6 10500 12.5 54.5 275 14 7 2.9 1.6 | 14.1 57.4 285 9 5 10.7 5.9 10250 12.5 54.5 270 14 7 -0.2 -0.1 | 14.9 58.8 285 9 4 10.3 5.7 10000 12.5 54.5 265 13 7 0.6 0.3 | 15.6 60.1 280 8 4 10.7 5.9 9750 12.5 54.5 260 13 7 0.6 0.3 | 16.4 61.5 280 8 4 9.6 5.3 9500 12.6 54.7 255 12 6 3.9 2.2 | 17.2 63.0 280 8 4 15.2 8.4 9250 13.0 55.4 250 9 4 8.6 4.7 | 18.8 65.8 275 7 4 27.5 15.1 9000 13.4 56.1 235 6 3 0.7 0.4 | 20.4 68.7 275 7 3 4.9 2.7 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 09/29/2024 at 1500 MDT | 09/29/2024 at 1800 MDT | CAPE... +66.2 LI... -1.8 | CAPE... +44.5 LI... -0.9 CINH... -2.3 K Index... +22.9 | CINH... -25.5 K Index... +24.6 | 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 -65.9 -86.6 245 32 17 3.7 2.0 | -65.6 -86.1 255 35 18 3.8 2.1 45000 -58.5 -73.3 250 45 23 6.5 3.6 | -58.2 -72.8 260 44 23 6.3 3.4 40000 -48.8 -55.8 255 51 26 6.1 3.3 | -48.8 -55.8 265 44 23 6.4 3.5 38000 -45.1 -49.2 255 45 23 6.1 3.3 | -45.0 -49.0 265 41 21 6.4 3.5 36000 -41.4 -42.5 250 39 20 6.1 3.4 | -41.2 -42.2 265 38 20 6.4 3.5 34000 -37.7 -35.9 250 31 16 6.2 3.4 | -37.8 -36.0 260 33 17 5.5 3.0 32000 -34.0 -29.2 255 22 11 6.1 3.4 | -34.5 -30.1 255 26 14 5.4 3.0 30000 -29.5 -21.1 250 17 9 6.7 3.7 | -29.9 -21.8 250 21 11 7.1 3.9 29000 -27.5 -17.5 250 15 8 6.7 3.7 | -27.8 -18.0 250 18 9 7.1 3.9 28000 -25.4 -13.7 250 13 7 8.6 4.7 | -25.6 -14.1 245 16 8 7.8 4.3 27000 -22.8 -9.0 250 12 6 8.4 4.6 | -23.3 -9.9 250 14 7 7.8 4.3 26000 -20.3 -4.5 250 10 5 8.4 4.6 | -21.0 -5.8 250 13 7 7.8 4.3 25000 -17.8 -0.0 255 9 5 7.4 4.1 | -18.6 -1.5 255 11 6 6.9 3.8 24000 -16.0 3.2 260 7 4 5.8 3.2 | -17.2 1.0 270 10 5 4.8 2.6 23000 -14.2 6.4 270 6 3 5.8 3.2 | -15.8 3.6 285 10 5 4.9 2.7 22000 -12.5 9.5 285 5 3 4.9 2.7 | -14.4 6.1 305 10 5 6.0 3.3 21000 -11.4 11.5 300 7 4 4.0 2.2 | -12.3 9.9 320 11 6 7.3 4.0 20000 -10.3 13.5 305 9 5 4.3 2.4 | -10.2 13.6 330 13 7 7.3 4.0 19500 -9.7 14.5 310 10 5 4.6 2.5 | -9.2 15.4 335 14 7 7.3 4.0 19000 -8.7 16.3 310 11 6 9.3 5.1 | -8.0 17.6 340 14 7 8.2 4.5 18500 -7.5 18.5 310 11 5 9.0 5.0 | -6.8 19.8 340 13 7 8.1 4.5 18000 -6.2 20.8 310 10 5 9.2 5.0 | -5.6 21.9 345 12 6 7.7 4.2 17500 -4.9 23.2 305 10 5 9.2 5.1 | -4.6 23.7 340 10 5 7.4 4.0 17000 -3.5 25.7 300 9 5 9.3 5.1 | -3.5 25.7 340 9 5 7.3 4.0 16500 -2.1 28.2 300 8 4 9.4 5.2 | -2.3 27.9 335 8 4 8.8 4.8 16000 -0.7 30.7 300 8 4 9.4 5.2 | -1.0 30.2 325 7 4 8.7 4.7 15500 0.7 33.3 295 7 4 9.6 5.3 | 0.3 32.5 320 6 3 9.5 5.2 15000 2.8 37.0 295 6 3 9.8 5.4 | 2.4 36.3 305 6 3 9.8 5.4 14500 4.2 39.6 290 6 3 9.5 5.2 | 3.8 38.8 300 6 3 9.1 5.0 14000 5.7 42.3 290 6 3 9.9 5.4 | 5.3 41.5 295 5 3 9.6 5.3 13500 7.3 45.1 290 5 3 10.7 5.9 | 6.7 44.1 290 5 3 10.1 5.5 13000 8.7 47.7 290 5 3 8.8 4.8 | 8.2 46.8 285 5 2 9.7 5.3 12500 10.1 50.2 290 5 2 9.8 5.4 | 9.7 49.5 280 4 2 9.5 5.2 12000 11.6 52.9 285 4 2 9.9 5.4 | 11.0 51.8 270 4 2 9.6 5.3 11750 12.3 54.1 290 4 2 9.7 5.3 | 11.8 53.2 270 4 2 10.1 5.5 11500 13.0 55.4 290 4 2 9.6 5.3 | 12.5 54.5 270 4 2 9.5 5.2 11250 13.8 56.8 285 4 2 9.5 5.2 | 13.2 55.8 265 4 2 9.0 4.9 11000 14.5 58.1 285 4 2 9.4 5.2 | 13.9 57.0 260 4 2 8.9 4.9 10750 15.2 59.4 285 4 2 10.5 5.8 | 14.6 58.3 260 3 2 10.6 5.8 10500 16.0 60.8 290 4 2 11.0 6.0 | 15.4 59.7 255 3 2 10.8 5.9 10250 16.8 62.2 290 3 2 10.1 5.5 | 16.2 61.2 255 3 2 9.3 5.1 10000 17.6 63.7 290 3 2 10.9 6.0 | 16.9 62.4 250 3 2 9.3 5.1 9750 18.3 64.9 290 3 2 8.6 4.7 | 17.6 63.7 250 3 2 9.8 5.4 9500 19.0 66.2 290 3 1 12.9 7.1 | 18.3 64.9 245 3 1 8.7 4.8 9250 20.5 68.9 285 3 1 26.7 14.6 | 18.7 65.7 240 2 1 5.1 2.8 9000 22.0 71.6 280 3 1 1.9 1.1 | 19.1 66.4 230 2 1 10.8 5.9 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