National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Soaring Forecast for Moriarty NM
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
0723 MDT Saturday March 15 2025

This forecast is for Saturday, March 15, 2025:

If the trigger temperature of 34.0 F/1.1 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Poor
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 397 ft/min (2.0 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 16108 ft MSL (9765 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 47.0 F/8.8 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0945 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast opaque middle
Surface winds during soaring window............ Between 20 mph and 30 mph
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 13964 ft MSL (7622 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 03/16....... Good


Remarks... 

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 07:13:44 / 19:11:44 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 11 hr 58 min 0 sec (718 min 0 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:12:44 MDT... 53.09 degrees

Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 03/15/2025 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. Entire airmass below 32 F / 0 C 
Convective condensation level... 10354 ft MSL (4011 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 13252 ft MSL (6909 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +0.2
K index......................... +10.7

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  -54.0 -65.2   280   32   17   3.8   2.1  105.1 221.2    56.1      M    M
 45000  -48.0 -54.4   285   38   20   3.7   2.0   90.8 195.5    51.0      M    M
 40000  -45.6 -50.1   285   48   25   1.4   0.8   71.4 160.5    41.6      M    M
 38000  -44.9 -48.8   290   51   26  -0.8  -0.4   64.5 148.0    38.0      M    M
 36000  -45.6 -50.1   285   49   25  -1.2  -0.7   54.3 129.8    32.0      M    M
 34000  -46.3 -51.3   285   46   24  -1.2  -0.7   45.3 113.5    26.3      M    M
 32000  -47.3 -53.1   280   36   19  -1.7  -0.9   34.7  94.5    19.4      M    M
 30000  -48.3 -54.9   270   24   12  -1.6  -0.9   25.7  78.3    13.1      M    M
 29000  -48.1 -54.6   255   19   10   4.8   2.6   22.3  72.1    10.6      M    M
 28000  -46.7 -52.1   235   15    8   4.6   2.5   20.1  68.2     9.1      M    M
 27000  -45.3 -49.5   205   14    7   4.6   2.5   18.1  64.6     7.7      M    M
 26000  -44.0 -47.2   180   16    8   6.0   3.3   16.3  61.4     6.3      M    M
 25000  -41.7 -43.1   190   13    7   7.4   4.1   15.3  59.6     5.6      M    M
 24000  -39.5 -39.1   210   10    5   7.4   4.1   14.5  58.0     4.9      M    M
 23000  -37.3 -35.1   235   10    5   7.7   4.2   13.7  56.7     4.4      M    M
 22000  -34.9 -30.8   265   11    6   8.1   4.5   13.0  55.5     3.9      M    M
 21000  -32.5 -26.5   285   14    7   8.1   4.5   12.5  54.4     3.4      M    M
 20000  -30.1 -22.2   295   18    9   7.6   4.2   11.9  53.5     3.0      M    M
 19500  -28.9 -20.0   295   19   10   7.7   4.2   11.5  52.7     2.6      M    M
 19000  -27.8 -18.0   300   21   11   7.7   4.2   11.1  52.0     2.3      M    M
 18500  -26.1 -15.0   300   23   12   7.6   4.2   10.6  51.1     1.9      M    M
 18000  -25.0 -13.0   300   25   13   7.5   4.1   10.3  50.5     1.6      M    M
 17500  -23.9 -11.0   300   26   13   7.2   4.0    9.9  49.8     1.2      M    M
 17000  -22.8  -9.0   305   26   14   7.4   4.0    9.4  49.0     0.8      M    M
 16500  -21.8  -7.2   305   27   14   5.8   3.2    8.9  48.0     0.4      M    M
 16000  -21.0  -5.8   305   27   14   6.0   3.3    8.3  46.9    -0.2    782  4.0
 15500  -20.1  -4.2   310   27   14   5.2   2.9    7.6  45.7    -0.8    742  3.8
 15000  -19.4  -2.9   310   27   14   5.0   2.8    6.8  44.3    -1.6    705  3.6
 14500  -18.6  -1.5   310   27   14   5.0   2.8    6.0  42.9    -2.3    668  3.4
 14000  -17.9  -0.2   310   26   14   5.1   2.8    5.3  41.5    -3.0    631  3.2
 13500  -17.1   1.2   315   26   13   5.4   3.0    4.5  40.1    -3.7    593  3.0
 13000  -16.2   2.8   315   26   13   6.2   3.4    3.9  39.0    -4.3    552  2.8
 12500  -15.3   4.5   315   26   13   6.3   3.5    3.3  38.0    -4.9    510  2.6
 12000  -14.3   6.3   315   27   14   6.9   3.8    2.8  37.1    -5.4    466  2.4
 11500  -13.3   8.1   315   27   14   6.7   3.7    2.4  36.3    -5.9    421  2.1
 11000  -12.3   9.9   315   27   14   7.4   4.1    1.9  35.5    -6.4    376  1.9
 10500  -11.2  11.8   315   28   14   7.5   4.1    1.6  34.9    -6.7    327  1.7
 10250  -10.7  12.7   315   28   14   6.8   3.7    1.4  34.5    -7.0    304  1.5
 10000  -10.2  13.6   315   28   14   7.1   3.9    1.2  34.1    -7.2    281  1.4
  9750   -9.6  14.7   315   28   15   7.6   4.2    1.0  33.8    -7.4    258  1.3
  9500   -9.1  15.6   310   28   15   7.4   4.1    0.8  33.5    -7.6    234  1.2
  9250   -8.5  16.7   310   28   14   7.4   4.1    0.6  33.2    -7.8    210  1.1
  9000   -8.0  17.6   310   28   14   7.1   3.9    0.5  32.8    -8.0    187  0.9
  8750   -7.5  18.5   310   28   14   6.4   3.5    0.2  32.4    -8.3    165  0.8
  8500   -7.0  19.4   310   27   14   6.9   3.8   -0.0  31.9    -8.6    143  0.7
  8250   -6.5  20.3   305   26   13   7.6   4.2   -0.2  31.6    -8.8    120  0.6
  8000   -6.0  21.2   305   25   13   6.9   3.8   -0.4  31.3    -9.0     97  0.5
  7750   -5.5  22.1   305   24   12   5.6   3.1   -0.7  30.8    -9.3     76  0.4
  7500   -5.1  22.8   300   23   12   5.9   3.2   -1.0  30.2    -9.7     57  0.3
  7250   -4.7  23.5   300   21   11   6.3   3.4   -1.3  29.7   -10.0     36  0.2
  7000   -4.2  24.4   295   19   10   6.9   3.8   -1.5  29.3   -10.3     15  0.1
  6750   -3.7  25.3   295   17    9   6.4   3.5   -1.7  28.9   -10.5      M    M
  6500   -3.4  25.9   290   14    7   3.1   1.7   -2.1  28.3   -10.9      M    M
  6250      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M

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

           03/15/2025 at 0900 MDT          |       03/15/2025 at 1200 MDT        
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +3.7        | CAPE...   +28.4    LI...       +1.6
CINH...    -0.0    K Index... +13.9        | CINH...    -0.1    K Index... +14.0
                                           |
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 -54.1 -65.4  285  32 17   3.3   1.8 | -54.1 -65.4  290  36 18   3.2   1.8
 45000 -48.9 -56.0  290  32 16   3.3   1.8 | -49.3 -56.7  300  41 21   3.3   1.8
 40000 -46.4 -51.5  300  42 22   1.5   0.8 | -47.4 -53.3  305  46 23   1.0   0.6
 38000 -45.6 -50.1  305  46 24   0.3   0.2 | -46.8 -52.2  305  48 25   1.6   0.9
 36000 -45.4 -49.7  305  46 24   0.2   0.1 | -45.9 -50.6  310  49 25   1.5   0.8
 34000 -45.3 -49.5  300  46 23   0.2   0.1 | -44.9 -48.8  315  51 26   1.5   0.8
 32000 -45.4 -49.7  300  42 22  -0.3  -0.2 | -44.4 -47.9  315  50 26   0.7   0.4
 30000 -45.6 -50.1  295  37 19  -0.3  -0.2 | -44.0 -47.2  315  49 25   0.7   0.4
 29000 -45.6 -50.1  295  32 17   0.2   0.1 | -43.8 -46.8  315  45 23   0.4   0.2
 28000 -45.5 -49.9  290  24 12   0.2   0.1 | -43.7 -46.7  310  37 19   0.4   0.2
 27000 -45.5 -49.9  285  17  9   0.3   0.1 | -43.6 -46.5  305  30 15   0.4   0.2
 26000 -45.4 -49.7  265  10  5   4.1   2.2 | -43.4 -46.1  295  23 12   3.3   1.8
 25000 -43.1 -45.6  285  10  5   7.6   4.2 | -41.8 -43.2  295  18  9   5.3   2.9
 24000 -40.8 -41.4  300  11  6   7.7   4.2 | -40.2 -40.4  300  13  7   5.3   2.9
 23000 -38.5 -37.3  315  13  7   8.1   4.5 | -38.6 -37.5  315   9  4   6.9   3.8
 22000 -36.0 -32.8  320  15  8   8.6   4.7 | -36.3 -33.3  320  12  6   8.0   4.4
 21000 -33.4 -28.1  325  17  9   8.6   4.7 | -33.9 -29.0  325  16  8   8.0   4.4
 20000 -30.9 -23.6  330  19 10   7.9   4.3 | -31.5 -24.7  325  20 10   7.8   4.3
 19500 -29.7 -21.5  330  20 10   8.0   4.4 | -30.3 -22.5  325  21 11   7.8   4.3
 19000 -27.9 -18.2  330  22 11   8.0   4.4 | -28.5 -19.3  320  24 12   7.8   4.3
 18500 -26.7 -16.1  330  23 12   8.0   4.4 | -27.4 -17.3  320  25 13   7.8   4.3
 18000 -25.6 -14.1  330  24 12   7.6   4.2 | -26.2 -15.2  320  27 14   8.0   4.4
 17500 -24.5 -12.1  330  25 13   7.2   3.9 | -25.0 -13.0  320  27 14   8.1   4.4
 17000 -23.4 -10.1  330  26 13   7.1   3.9 | -23.8 -10.8  315  27 14   8.0   4.4
 16500 -22.4  -8.3  330  26 13   6.3   3.4 | -22.7  -8.9  315  27 14   7.1   3.9
 16000 -21.5  -6.7  330  26 13   6.4   3.5 | -21.6  -6.9  315  27 14   7.3   4.0
 15500 -20.6  -5.1  330  26 13   6.0   3.3 | -20.6  -5.1  315  27 14   6.2   3.4
 15000 -19.7  -3.5  330  26 13   6.0   3.3 | -19.7  -3.5  315  26 13   6.3   3.5
 14500 -18.8  -1.8  330  26 13   6.0   3.3 | -18.9  -2.0  315  25 13   4.6   2.5
 14000 -17.9  -0.2  330  26 13   6.0   3.3 | -18.3  -0.9  310  23 12   4.2   2.3
 13500 -17.0   1.4  330  26 13   6.5   3.6 | -17.6   0.3  310  22 11   6.7   3.7
 13000 -16.0   3.2  330  25 13   6.9   3.8 | -16.4   2.5  310  21 11   7.9   4.3
 12500 -14.9   5.2  330  25 13   7.0   3.8 | -15.2   4.6  310  21 11   8.8   4.8
 12000 -13.9   7.0  330  25 13   7.0   3.9 | -13.9   7.0  310  21 11   9.3   5.1
 11500 -12.9   8.8  330  24 13   6.6   3.6 | -12.5   9.5  310  21 11   7.9   4.3
 11000 -11.9  10.6  325  24 12   7.6   4.2 | -11.3  11.7  310  21 11   9.7   5.3
 10500 -10.7  12.7  325  24 12   7.0   3.8 |  -9.9  14.2  310  21 11   8.7   4.8
 10250 -10.2  13.6  325  24 12   5.6   3.1 |  -9.3  15.3  310  21 11   7.5   4.1
 10000  -9.8  14.4  325  24 12   7.0   3.8 |  -8.7  16.3  310  21 11   9.5   5.2
  9750  -9.2  15.4  320  24 12   7.9   4.3 |  -7.9  17.8  305  21 11  10.6   5.8
  9500  -8.7  16.3  320  23 12   6.1   3.4 |  -7.1  19.2  305  21 11   9.1   5.0
  9250  -8.3  17.1  320  22 11   5.2   2.9 |  -6.5  20.3  305  21 11   8.7   4.8
  9000  -8.0  17.6  315  21 11   5.3   2.9 |  -5.8  21.6  305  21 11   9.5   5.2
  8750  -7.6  18.3  310  20 10   6.4   3.5 |  -5.1  22.8  305  21 11  10.0   5.5
  8500  -7.0  19.4  310  19 10   8.2   4.5 |  -4.3  24.3  305  20 11   9.7   5.3
  8250  -6.4  20.5  310  18  9   8.0   4.4 |  -3.6  25.5  305  20 11   9.3   5.1
  8000  -5.8  21.6  305  18  9   9.0   4.9 |  -2.9  26.8  305  20 10  10.7   5.9
  7750  -5.1  22.8  305  17  9   9.4   5.2 |  -2.0  28.4  305  20 10  10.8   5.9
  7500  -4.4  24.1  300  17  9   8.8   4.8 |  -1.3  29.7  300  20 10   9.4   5.2
  7250  -3.8  25.2  300  16  8   8.8   4.8 |  -0.6  30.9  300  20 10   9.8   5.4
  7000  -3.1  26.4  300  16  8   9.3   5.1 |   0.1  32.2  300  20 10   9.8   5.4
  6750  -2.3  27.9  300  15  8  12.0   6.6 |   1.0  33.8  300  19 10  15.9   8.7
  6500  -1.3  29.7  300  13  7  14.5   8.0 |   2.6  36.7  300  17  9  25.2  13.8
  6250     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M

           03/15/2025 at 1500 MDT          |       03/15/2025 at 1800 MDT        
                                           |
CAPE...   +47.2    LI...       +0.8        | CAPE...   +15.3    LI...       +1.1
CINH...    -0.1    K Index... +13.3        | CINH...    -0.6    K Index...  +6.9
                                           |
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 -55.3 -67.5  295  41 21   2.7   1.5 | -55.7 -68.3  300  43 22   1.6   0.9
 45000 -51.3 -60.3  305  48 25   2.7   1.5 | -53.4 -64.1  310  52 27   1.5   0.8
 40000 -48.4 -55.1  305  58 30   1.9   1.0 | -50.6 -59.1  310  81 41   1.9   1.0
 38000 -47.4 -53.3  305  61 32   0.5   0.3 | -49.4 -56.9  310  89 46   1.9   1.0
 36000 -47.0 -52.6  310  65 33   0.6   0.3 | -48.1 -54.6  315  83 43   1.9   1.0
 34000 -46.6 -51.9  315  69 36   0.5   0.3 | -47.0 -52.6  320  78 40   1.9   1.1
 32000 -45.4 -49.7  320  69 36   2.4   1.3 | -45.0 -49.0  325  82 42   3.4   1.9
 30000 -43.9 -47.0  320  69 35   2.4   1.3 | -43.0 -45.4  325  88 45   3.3   1.8
 29000 -43.0 -45.4  320  66 34   3.5   1.9 | -41.7 -43.1  325  87 45   4.8   2.6
 28000 -41.9 -43.4  315  61 31   3.5   1.9 | -40.2 -40.4  325  86 44   4.8   2.6
 27000 -40.9 -41.6  315  56 29   3.5   1.9 | -38.8 -37.8  325  84 43   4.8   2.6
 26000 -39.9 -39.8  315  51 26   2.6   1.4 | -37.3 -35.1  325  82 42   5.3   2.9
 25000 -39.1 -38.4  310  44 23   2.4   1.3 | -35.7 -32.3  325  76 39   5.3   2.9
 24000 -38.4 -37.1  305  37 19   2.4   1.3 | -34.1 -29.4  325  71 36   5.3   2.9
 23000 -37.6 -35.7  295  31 16   5.5   3.0 | -32.7 -26.9  320  65 33   2.7   1.5
 22000 -35.5 -31.9  295  27 14   6.9   3.8 | -31.9 -25.4  320  57 29   2.5   1.4
 21000 -33.4 -28.1  290  23 12   6.9   3.8 | -31.2 -24.2  315  49 25   2.6   1.4
 20000 -31.3 -24.3  290  20 10   8.0   4.4 | -30.0 -22.0  315  43 22   6.0   3.3
 19500 -30.1 -22.2  295  21 11   7.9   4.3 | -28.7 -19.7  315  40 20   5.9   3.2
 19000 -28.3 -18.9  305  22 11   7.9   4.3 | -27.8 -18.0  310  38 19   5.9   3.2
 18500 -27.1 -16.8  310  22 12   8.0   4.4 | -26.9 -16.4  310  36 18   6.0   3.3
 18000 -26.0 -14.8  315  23 12   5.8   3.2 | -26.1 -15.0  310  34 18   4.9   2.7
 17500 -25.3 -13.5  315  25 13   5.2   2.8 | -25.4 -13.7  310  33 17   4.9   2.7
 17000 -24.6 -12.3  315  26 13   5.7   3.1 | -24.7 -12.5  310  32 17   6.3   3.4
 16500 -23.6 -10.5  315  27 14   7.2   3.9 | -23.6 -10.5  310  32 16   8.1   4.4
 16000 -22.5  -8.5  315  27 14   7.0   3.8 | -22.4  -8.3  310  31 16   8.3   4.5
 15500 -21.3  -6.3  315  27 14   9.4   5.1 | -21.0  -5.8  310  31 16   9.6   5.2
 15000 -20.0  -4.0  315  28 14   9.1   5.0 | -19.6  -3.3  305  31 16   9.5   5.2
 14500 -18.6  -1.5  315  28 14   9.4   5.1 | -18.2  -0.8  305  31 16   8.9   4.9
 14000 -17.2   1.0  310  28 14   9.4   5.2 | -16.9   1.6  305  31 16   8.9   4.9
 13500 -15.8   3.6  310  28 15   9.3   5.1 | -15.5   4.1  305  32 16   9.5   5.2
 13000 -14.4   6.1  310  29 15   9.3   5.1 | -14.1   6.6  305  32 16   9.5   5.2
 12500 -13.0   8.6  310  29 15   9.2   5.1 | -12.7   9.1  305  32 16   9.4   5.2
 12000 -11.6  11.1  310  29 15   9.2   5.1 | -11.3  11.7  305  32 17   9.5   5.2
 11500 -10.3  13.5  305  30 15   8.2   4.5 |  -9.9  14.2  305  32 17   8.0   4.4
 11000  -9.0  15.8  305  30 15  10.3   5.7 |  -8.6  16.5  305  33 17  11.1   6.1
 10500  -7.5  18.5  305  31 16   8.8   4.8 |  -7.0  19.4  305  33 17   8.9   4.9
 10250  -6.8  19.8  305  31 16   8.0   4.4 |  -6.4  20.5  305  33 17   8.1   4.4
 10000  -6.2  20.8  305  31 16   9.6   5.3 |  -5.7  21.7  305  34 17  11.0   6.0
  9750  -5.4  22.3  305  31 16  10.4   5.7 |  -4.8  23.4  305  34 17  11.4   6.3
  9500  -4.7  23.5  305  31 16   9.4   5.2 |  -4.1  24.6  305  34 17   8.9   4.9
  9250  -4.0  24.8  305  32 16   9.2   5.1 |  -3.4  25.9  305  34 18   9.2   5.0
  9000  -3.3  26.1  305  32 16   9.8   5.4 |  -2.7  27.1  305  34 18   9.8   5.4
  8750  -2.5  27.5  305  32 16  10.2   5.6 |  -1.9  28.6  305  34 18  10.2   5.6
  8500  -1.8  28.8  305  32 16   9.8   5.4 |  -1.2  29.8  305  34 18   9.8   5.4
  8250  -1.1  30.0  305  32 16   9.7   5.3 |  -0.5  31.1  305  34 18   9.9   5.5
  8000  -0.3  31.5  305  32 16  10.4   5.7 |   0.3  32.5  305  34 18  10.0   5.5
  7750   0.5  32.9  305  32 16  10.3   5.6 |   1.0  33.8  305  34 17   9.9   5.4
  7500   1.2  34.2  300  32 16   9.6   5.3 |   1.8  35.2  305  33 17   9.9   5.4
  7250   1.9  35.4  300  31 16   9.5   5.2 |   2.5  36.5  305  33 17   9.7   5.3
  7000   2.7  36.9  300  31 16  10.7   5.9 |   3.3  37.9  305  32 16  11.0   6.0
  6750   3.7  38.7  300  29 15  17.4   9.5 |   4.2  39.6  305  30 15  13.1   7.2
  6500   5.3  41.5  300  26 14  24.3  13.4 |   5.2  41.4  305  26 14  13.3   7.3
  6250     M     M    M   M  M     M     M |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
________________________________________________________________________________

This product is issued once per day, at approximately 730 AM local 
time. It is not continuously monitored nor updated after its initial 
issuance. 

The information contained herein is based on numerical weather prediction
model data for the Moriarty Municipal Airport site in Moriarty, New Mexico at

                   North Latitude:  34.9781667 deg
                   West Longitude: 106.0000278 deg
                   Elevation: 6204.2 feet (1891.0 meters)

and may not be representative of other areas along and east of the Sandia
and Manzano 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 are welcome and should be directed
to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this page.

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