Soaring Forecast GJT

 Grand Junction Soaring Forecast

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000
UXUS97 KGJT 151307
SRGGJT

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
707 AM MDT Wednesday, May 15, 2024

This forecast is for Wednesday, May 15, 2024:

If the trigger temperature of 63.5 F/17.5 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 916 ft/min (4.7 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 16028 ft MSL (11172 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 77.0 F/25.5 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................. 14638 ft MSL (9782 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 05/16..... Excellent

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

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:00:16 / 20:20:45 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 20 min 29 sec (860 min 29 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:10:31 MDT... 69.87 degrees

Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 05/15/2024 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 11336 ft MSL (6480 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 12679 ft MSL (7823 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 14781 ft MSL (9925 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -3.5
K index......................... +15.0

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 -55.8 -68.4 255 27 14 5.0 2.7 107.4 225.4 47.1 M M
45000 -52.5 -62.5 255 31 16 -0.0 -0.0 87.1 188.8 38.1 M M
40000 -52.8 -63.0 285 34 18 4.3 2.3 63.5 146.3 25.2 M M
38000 -57.1 -70.8 255 35 18 -3.7 -2.1 48.2 118.7 15.6 M M
36000 -57.2 -71.0 260 48 25 -3.8 -2.1 39.5 103.1 10.0 M M
34000 -52.9 -63.2 255 49 25 9.2 5.0 36.2 97.1 8.0 M M
32000 -47.7 -53.9 260 43 22 8.0 4.4 35.3 95.5 7.5 M M
30000 -42.9 -45.2 265 34 18 8.5 4.7 33.9 93.0 6.7 M M
29000 -40.3 -40.5 270 34 17 8.6 4.7 33.5 92.2 6.4 M M
28000 -37.7 -35.9 270 34 18 8.5 4.7 33.0 91.5 6.2 M M
27000 -35.5 -31.9 285 33 17 7.1 3.9 32.1 89.8 5.5 M M
26000 -33.4 -28.1 285 31 16 7.4 4.1 31.0 87.9 4.8 M M
25000 -31.0 -23.8 275 30 15 8.2 4.5 30.4 86.8 4.3 M M
24000 -28.4 -19.1 280 34 18 9.1 5.0 30.0 86.0 4.0 M M
23000 -25.7 -14.3 280 35 18 9.1 5.0 29.8 85.6 3.9 M M
22000 -22.9 -9.2 285 32 16 9.0 4.9 29.6 85.3 3.8 M M
21000 -20.7 -5.3 295 33 17 7.3 4.0 28.8 83.9 3.1 M M
20000 -18.5 -1.3 300 30 16 7.6 4.2 27.9 82.3 2.4 M M
19500 -17.3 0.9 300 31 16 8.7 4.8 27.7 81.9 2.2 M M
19000 -15.9 3.4 305 27 14 8.7 4.8 27.5 81.6 2.1 M M
18500 -14.1 6.6 310 26 13 7.5 4.1 27.1 80.8 1.8 M M
18000 -12.9 8.8 310 28 14 7.7 4.2 26.7 80.1 1.5 M M
17500 -11.8 10.8 305 30 15 8.1 4.5 26.4 79.5 1.2 M M
17000 -10.4 13.3 305 32 16 7.9 4.3 26.2 79.2 1.1 M M
16500 -9.4 15.1 300 30 15 5.7 3.1 25.7 78.2 0.6 M M
16000 -8.8 16.2 295 24 13 4.2 2.3 24.8 76.6 -0.2 909 4.6
15500 -8.2 17.2 280 21 11 4.3 2.3 23.9 75.0 -1.0 876 4.4
15000 -7.5 18.5 265 19 10 2.1 1.2 23.0 73.5 -1.9 842 4.3
14500 -7.8 18.0 260 20 10 4.4 2.4 21.3 70.3 -3.7 836 4.2
14000 -6.6 20.1 270 14 7 8.2 4.5 21.1 69.9 -3.9 785 4.0
13500 -5.4 22.3 270 12 6 8.0 4.4 20.8 69.5 -4.2 734 3.7
13000 -4.2 24.4 280 7 4 8.1 4.4 20.5 69.0 -4.5 684 3.5
12500 -3.0 26.6 275 5 2 8.7 4.8 20.3 68.5 -4.8 633 3.2
12000 -1.7 28.9 265 3 2 8.9 4.9 20.2 68.3 -5.0 579 2.9
11500 -0.5 31.1 340 5 3 9.0 5.0 20.0 68.0 -5.2 527 2.7
11000 1.0 33.8 315 7 4 8.2 4.5 20.0 68.0 -5.3 469 2.4
10500 1.9 35.4 325 7 3 6.9 3.8 19.5 67.1 -5.9 427 2.2
10250 2.3 36.1 340 5 3 6.5 3.6 19.2 66.6 -6.2 406 2.1
10000 2.8 37.0 345 5 2 7.0 3.9 19.0 66.2 -6.5 386 2.0
9750 3.4 38.1 005 5 2 7.8 4.3 18.8 65.9 -6.6 361 1.8
9500 4.0 39.2 020 5 2 7.7 4.2 18.7 65.6 -6.8 335 1.7
9250 4.6 40.3 015 4 2 7.7 4.2 18.5 65.3 -6.9 310 1.6
9000 5.2 41.4 040 2 1 7.7 4.2 18.3 65.0 -7.1 285 1.4
8750 5.8 42.4 040 3 1 8.4 4.6 18.2 64.8 -7.2 259 1.3
8500 6.4 43.5 025 4 2 8.8 4.8 18.1 64.6 -7.3 232 1.2
8250 7.1 44.8 035 2 1 8.7 4.8 18.0 64.5 -7.4 206 1.0
8000 7.7 45.9 055 1 1 8.7 4.8 18.0 64.3 -7.5 179 0.9
7750 8.3 46.9 075 2 1 8.7 4.8 17.9 64.2 -7.6 152 0.8
7500 9.0 48.2 080 4 2 8.4 4.6 17.8 64.0 -7.7 126 0.6
7250 9.5 49.1 080 6 3 6.6 3.6 17.6 63.7 -7.9 102 0.5
7000 9.9 49.8 075 6 3 5.6 3.1 17.3 63.2 -8.3 83 0.4
6750 10.3 50.5 065 6 3 5.9 3.2 17.0 62.7 -8.6 63 0.3
6500 10.7 51.3 055 4 2 5.8 3.2 16.7 62.1 -9.0 43 0.2
6250 11.1 52.0 040 3 2 5.9 3.2 16.4 61.6 -9.3 24 0.1
6000 11.5 52.7 015 2 1 5.8 3.2 16.1 61.1 -9.7 4 0.0
5750 11.9 53.4 345 3 1 6.4 3.5 15.9 60.5 -10.0 M M
5500 12.4 54.3 305 4 2 4.3 2.3 15.6 60.0 -10.4 M M
5250 12.3 54.1 285 5 3 -3.7 -2.0 14.9 58.8 -11.1 M M
5000 11.7 53.1 275 6 3 -10.4 -5.7 13.6 56.4 -12.6 M M

* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *

05/15/2024 at 0900 MDT | 05/15/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +57.5 LI... +0.4 | CAPE... +23.0 LI... +0.6
CINH... -23.2 K Index... +1.7 | CINH... -32.0 K Index... +7.7
|
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 -54.0 -65.2 260 24 12 1.8 1.0 | -54.2 -65.6 260 24 12 1.8 1.0
45000 -51.7 -61.1 270 28 14 -1.6 -0.9 | -51.8 -61.2 275 26 13 -1.6 -0.9
40000 -53.7 -64.7 280 27 14 -1.3 -0.7 | -53.8 -64.8 270 25 13 -1.4 -0.7
38000 -54.1 -65.4 280 28 15 -0.2 -0.1 | -54.0 -65.2 265 27 14 0.5 0.3
36000 -54.2 -65.6 275 32 16 -0.2 -0.1 | -53.7 -64.7 260 32 17 0.5 0.3
34000 -52.9 -63.2 270 34 17 7.6 4.2 | -52.2 -62.0 260 35 18 6.8 3.7
32000 -48.3 -54.9 270 32 17 7.7 4.2 | -48.1 -54.6 260 33 17 6.9 3.8
30000 -43.6 -46.5 275 31 16 8.1 4.4 | -43.8 -46.8 265 31 16 7.9 4.3
29000 -41.2 -42.2 275 30 15 8.1 4.4 | -41.4 -42.5 265 29 15 7.9 4.3
28000 -38.8 -37.8 280 29 15 8.1 4.4 | -39.1 -38.4 270 27 14 7.9 4.3
27000 -36.4 -33.5 280 29 15 7.9 4.4 | -36.7 -34.1 270 26 13 8.0 4.4
26000 -34.0 -29.2 285 28 14 7.9 4.3 | -34.3 -29.7 275 25 13 8.0 4.4
25000 -31.6 -24.9 285 26 14 7.9 4.3 | -31.9 -25.4 275 23 12 8.0 4.4
24000 -29.3 -20.7 290 25 13 8.0 4.4 | -29.6 -21.3 275 22 11 8.0 4.4
23000 -26.8 -16.2 290 25 13 8.1 4.5 | -27.2 -17.0 275 22 11 8.0 4.4
22000 -23.8 -10.8 290 24 12 8.1 4.5 | -24.2 -11.6 275 21 11 8.0 4.4
21000 -21.4 -6.5 290 23 12 8.1 4.4 | -21.7 -7.1 275 20 10 8.2 4.5
20000 -18.9 -2.0 290 22 11 8.1 4.4 | -19.3 -2.7 280 19 10 8.2 4.5
19500 -17.7 0.1 295 22 11 8.1 4.4 | -18.1 -0.6 280 18 9 8.2 4.5
19000 -16.5 2.3 295 21 11 8.1 4.4 | -16.8 1.8 280 18 9 8.2 4.5
18500 -15.3 4.5 295 21 11 8.6 4.7 | -15.6 3.9 280 17 9 8.1 4.5
18000 -14.0 6.8 300 21 11 8.6 4.7 | -14.4 6.1 285 17 8 8.1 4.5
17500 -12.7 9.1 300 21 11 8.2 4.5 | -13.2 8.2 285 16 8 8.0 4.4
17000 -11.5 11.3 300 21 11 8.0 4.4 | -12.0 10.4 290 16 8 7.9 4.4
16500 -10.3 13.5 305 22 11 7.8 4.3 | -10.8 12.6 295 15 8 7.8 4.3
16000 -9.3 15.3 305 21 11 6.5 3.6 | -9.7 14.5 295 15 7 7.2 4.0
15500 -8.3 17.1 305 21 11 6.8 3.7 | -8.6 16.5 300 14 7 7.4 4.1
15000 -7.4 18.7 305 19 10 4.7 2.6 | -7.7 18.1 305 13 7 5.7 3.1
14500 -6.8 19.8 305 18 9 4.8 2.6 | -6.9 19.6 305 12 6 5.9 3.2
14000 -6.0 21.2 300 16 8 5.5 3.0 | -6.0 21.2 310 10 5 5.9 3.2
13500 -5.2 22.6 300 14 7 5.8 3.2 | -5.2 22.6 310 9 5 5.9 3.2
13000 -4.4 24.1 295 12 6 6.5 3.6 | -4.3 24.3 315 8 4 7.1 3.9
12500 -3.4 25.9 295 10 5 7.0 3.8 | -3.2 26.2 320 7 4 7.7 4.2
12000 -2.4 27.7 290 8 4 7.2 4.0 | -2.1 28.2 325 6 3 8.2 4.5
11500 -1.4 29.5 300 6 3 7.4 4.0 | -0.9 30.4 330 6 3 8.5 4.7
11000 -0.3 31.5 310 4 2 7.2 4.0 | 0.4 32.7 335 5 3 8.0 4.4
10500 0.7 33.3 330 4 2 6.7 3.7 | 1.5 34.7 340 5 3 6.8 3.7
10250 1.2 34.2 340 4 2 8.8 4.8 | 2.0 35.6 345 5 3 10.4 5.7
10000 1.9 35.4 360 4 2 9.2 5.1 | 2.9 37.2 350 5 3 11.5 6.3
9750 2.4 36.3 010 4 2 7.4 4.1 | 3.6 38.5 350 5 3 8.6 4.7
9500 3.0 37.4 020 5 3 8.0 4.4 | 4.3 39.7 355 5 3 9.6 5.3
9250 3.6 38.5 025 6 3 7.5 4.1 | 5.0 41.0 355 5 3 8.6 4.7
9000 4.1 39.4 025 6 3 7.5 4.1 | 5.6 42.1 355 5 3 9.1 5.0
8750 4.7 40.5 030 6 3 8.0 4.4 | 6.3 43.3 355 5 3 10.0 5.5
8500 5.3 41.5 030 7 4 8.2 4.5 | 7.0 44.6 355 5 3 10.1 5.5
8250 5.8 42.4 030 8 4 7.4 4.1 | 7.8 46.0 360 5 3 8.9 4.9
8000 6.9 44.4 040 7 4 8.1 4.4 | 9.1 48.4 360 5 2 10.5 5.8
7750 7.5 45.5 040 7 4 9.5 5.2 | 9.9 49.8 360 5 3 12.0 6.6
7500 8.1 46.6 040 7 4 7.1 3.9 | 10.8 51.4 360 5 3 9.3 5.1
7250 8.5 47.3 045 7 4 4.8 2.6 | 11.3 52.3 360 5 2 7.1 3.9
7000 9.0 48.2 050 7 3 9.2 5.0 | 12.0 53.6 360 4 2 11.1 6.1
6750 9.8 49.6 045 6 3 11.3 6.2 | 12.9 55.2 360 5 2 12.6 6.9
6500 10.5 50.9 045 6 3 9.4 5.2 | 13.7 56.7 360 5 2 10.4 5.7
6250 11.2 52.2 050 6 3 9.3 5.1 | 14.5 58.1 360 4 2 10.4 5.7
6000 11.9 53.4 050 6 3 8.8 4.8 | 15.3 59.5 360 4 2 8.4 4.6
5750 12.6 54.7 045 5 2 13.0 7.1 | 15.9 60.6 360 4 2 14.1 7.7
5500 14.4 57.9 050 5 2 43.6 23.9 | 18.8 65.8 360 4 2 79.1 43.4
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

05/15/2024 at 1500 MDT | 05/15/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +111.4 LI... -0.6 | CAPE... +178.1 LI... -1.0
CINH... -21.7 K Index... +16.9 | CINH... -14.4 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 -54.7 -66.5 260 26 13 1.8 1.0 | -54.6 -66.3 260 25 13 1.4 0.8
45000 -52.3 -62.1 265 25 13 -1.0 -0.5 | -52.7 -62.9 260 24 13 -0.8 -0.5
40000 -53.5 -64.3 255 29 15 -0.8 -0.4 | -53.8 -64.8 260 28 14 -0.7 -0.4
38000 -53.3 -63.9 250 32 17 1.0 0.6 | -53.5 -64.3 260 32 16 1.4 0.8
36000 -52.6 -62.7 250 37 19 1.0 0.6 | -52.5 -62.5 255 38 20 1.4 0.8
34000 -51.1 -60.0 250 40 21 5.6 3.1 | -50.8 -59.4 250 41 21 5.6 3.1
32000 -47.7 -53.9 250 38 19 5.7 3.1 | -47.4 -53.3 240 39 20 5.7 3.1
30000 -43.8 -46.8 245 35 18 8.3 4.6 | -43.7 -46.7 240 36 19 7.7 4.2
29000 -41.4 -42.5 250 32 17 8.3 4.6 | -41.3 -42.3 240 33 17 7.8 4.3
28000 -38.9 -38.0 250 30 15 8.3 4.6 | -39.0 -38.2 245 31 16 7.8 4.3
27000 -36.4 -33.5 255 28 14 8.0 4.4 | -36.7 -34.1 250 29 15 8.3 4.5
26000 -34.0 -29.2 255 27 14 8.0 4.4 | -34.2 -29.6 250 27 14 8.4 4.6
25000 -31.6 -24.9 255 25 13 8.0 4.4 | -31.7 -25.1 255 25 13 8.4 4.6
24000 -29.3 -20.7 260 24 12 7.7 4.2 | -29.2 -20.6 260 24 12 8.1 4.4
23000 -27.1 -16.8 260 23 12 7.4 4.1 | -26.8 -16.2 260 22 11 7.9 4.3
22000 -24.3 -11.7 260 21 11 7.4 4.1 | -23.9 -11.0 265 19 10 7.9 4.3
21000 -22.1 -7.8 265 19 10 7.9 4.3 | -21.6 -6.9 265 17 9 7.8 4.3
20000 -19.7 -3.5 265 17 9 7.9 4.3 | -19.3 -2.7 265 15 8 7.8 4.3
19500 -18.5 -1.3 265 15 8 7.9 4.3 | -18.1 -0.6 270 14 7 7.8 4.3
19000 -17.4 0.7 265 14 7 7.9 4.3 | -17.0 1.4 270 13 6 7.8 4.3
18500 -16.2 2.8 265 13 7 8.0 4.4 | -15.8 3.6 270 12 6 8.1 4.5
18000 -15.0 5.0 270 12 6 8.0 4.4 | -14.6 5.7 270 11 6 8.1 4.5
17500 -13.8 7.2 270 11 6 8.1 4.4 | -13.4 7.9 275 10 5 8.1 4.4
17000 -12.6 9.3 270 10 5 8.1 4.5 | -12.2 10.0 275 9 5 8.1 4.4
16500 -11.4 11.5 275 9 5 8.2 4.5 | -11.0 12.2 280 9 4 8.2 4.5
16000 -10.2 13.6 280 8 4 8.4 4.6 | -9.8 14.4 280 8 4 8.4 4.6
15500 -9.0 15.8 290 7 4 8.4 4.6 | -8.5 16.7 290 7 4 8.4 4.6
15000 -7.7 18.1 300 7 3 8.2 4.5 | -7.2 19.0 295 7 4 8.9 4.9
14500 -6.5 20.3 305 6 3 8.2 4.5 | -5.9 21.4 305 7 3 8.8 4.9
14000 -5.3 22.5 320 6 3 8.3 4.6 | -4.6 23.7 315 6 3 8.8 4.8
13500 -4.1 24.6 325 5 3 8.4 4.6 | -3.3 26.1 330 6 3 8.7 4.8
13000 -2.9 26.8 335 5 3 8.6 4.7 | -2.1 28.2 340 6 3 8.7 4.8
12500 -1.6 29.1 345 5 3 8.7 4.7 | -0.8 30.6 350 7 3 8.6 4.7
12000 -0.3 31.5 355 5 3 8.8 4.8 | 0.4 32.7 360 7 4 8.8 4.8
11500 1.0 33.8 355 6 3 8.9 4.9 | 1.7 35.1 005 7 4 8.9 4.9
11000 2.3 36.1 360 6 3 8.1 4.4 | 3.1 37.6 010 8 4 8.4 4.6
10500 3.4 38.1 360 6 3 6.4 3.5 | 4.2 39.6 015 8 4 6.9 3.8
10250 3.9 39.0 005 6 3 11.6 6.4 | 4.8 40.6 015 8 4 11.5 6.3
10000 5.0 41.0 005 6 3 12.9 7.1 | 5.8 42.4 015 9 4 12.4 6.8
9750 5.7 42.3 005 6 3 8.4 4.6 | 6.5 43.7 015 9 4 8.4 4.6
9500 6.4 43.5 005 6 3 10.0 5.5 | 7.2 45.0 015 9 4 8.9 4.9
9250 7.1 44.8 005 6 3 8.0 4.4 | 7.8 46.0 015 9 4 10.1 5.5
9000 7.6 45.7 005 6 3 8.7 4.8 | 8.6 47.5 020 9 5 10.5 5.8
8750 8.4 47.1 005 6 3 10.7 5.9 | 9.3 48.7 020 9 5 9.4 5.2
8500 9.2 48.6 005 6 3 10.3 5.7 | 10.8 51.4 020 9 5 9.3 5.1
8250 10.6 51.1 010 6 3 9.4 5.2 | 11.4 52.5 020 9 5 9.2 5.0
8000 11.4 52.5 010 6 3 10.2 5.6 | 12.1 53.8 020 9 5 9.9 5.4
7750 12.1 53.8 010 6 3 10.9 6.0 | 12.9 55.2 020 9 5 10.4 5.7
7500 12.9 55.2 010 6 3 9.3 5.1 | 13.7 56.7 020 9 5 9.4 5.2
7250 13.5 56.3 010 6 3 7.9 4.3 | 14.3 57.7 020 9 5 8.4 4.6
7000 14.2 57.6 010 5 3 10.4 5.7 | 15.0 59.0 020 9 5 9.7 5.3
6750 15.1 59.2 010 6 3 11.8 6.5 | 15.7 60.3 020 9 5 10.6 5.8
6500 15.9 60.6 010 6 3 10.9 6.0 | 16.5 61.7 020 9 5 10.6 5.8
6250 16.7 62.1 010 5 3 11.4 6.3 | 17.3 63.1 025 9 5 11.5 6.3
6000 17.5 63.5 010 5 2 8.2 4.5 | 18.1 64.6 025 9 5 8.5 4.6
5750 18.1 64.6 010 5 3 11.9 6.5 | 18.7 65.7 025 9 4 9.7 5.3
5500 20.9 69.6 010 5 2 80.8 44.3 | 20.7 69.3 025 8 4 58.2 32.0
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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