Soaring Forecast GJT

 Grand Junction Soaring Forecast

We are testing a new soaring forecast program. During this testing phase, the soaring forecast may not always be available or may not be updated. Please check the date of the soaring forecast before using the data. Feedback to our webmaster regarding this new soaring forecast program will be appreciated.

000
UXUS97 KGJT 161307
SRGGJT

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
707 AM MDT Tuesday, April 16, 2024

This forecast is for Tuesday, April 16, 2024:

If the trigger temperature of 53.4 F/11.9 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 938 ft/min (4.8 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 16504 ft MSL (11665 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 69.0 F/21.0 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1000 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................. 14326 ft MSL (9487 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Wednesday 04/17.... Excellent

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

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:34:38 / 19:52:51 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 18 min 12 sec (798 min 12 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:13:44 MDT... 61.22 degrees

Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 04/16/2024 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 8770 ft MSL (3931 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 12179 ft MSL (7340 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 14235 ft MSL (9395 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -1.7
K index......................... +19.3

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 -57.0 -70.6 285 43 22 1.8 1.0 106.8 224.2 49.1 M M
45000 -52.4 -62.3 265 52 27 6.6 3.6 88.4 191.2 41.4 M M
40000 -52.5 -62.5 295 34 18 -6.9 -3.8 65.2 149.4 29.1 M M
38000 -52.7 -62.9 280 34 18 -0.3 -0.2 56.2 133.1 23.9 M M
36000 -51.0 -59.8 305 31 16 -2.9 -1.6 49.9 121.9 20.2 M M
34000 -54.1 -65.4 285 30 16 -0.4 -0.2 37.1 98.9 11.7 M M
32000 -50.2 -58.4 240 18 9 7.4 4.1 34.5 94.0 10.1 M M
30000 -45.2 -49.4 075 10 5 5.9 3.2 32.3 90.1 8.7 M M
29000 -43.5 -46.3 030 13 7 5.8 3.2 30.7 87.2 7.6 M M
28000 -41.7 -43.1 010 20 10 5.8 3.2 29.2 84.6 6.6 M M
27000 -39.9 -39.8 350 20 10 8.5 4.6 27.8 82.1 5.6 M M
26000 -37.3 -35.1 350 27 14 8.6 4.7 27.4 81.4 5.4 M M
25000 -34.7 -30.5 350 25 13 8.6 4.7 27.0 80.6 5.1 M M
24000 -31.9 -25.4 340 29 15 8.6 4.7 26.8 80.3 5.0 M M
23000 -29.3 -20.7 340 28 14 9.1 5.0 26.5 79.6 4.8 M M
22000 -26.6 -15.9 340 25 13 9.3 5.1 26.2 79.2 4.6 M M
21000 -24.1 -11.4 340 29 15 7.7 4.2 25.7 78.3 4.2 M M
20000 -21.8 -7.2 335 29 15 7.8 4.3 25.0 77.0 3.6 M M
19500 -20.7 -5.3 340 31 16 7.8 4.3 24.6 76.3 3.3 M M
19000 -19.5 -3.1 345 32 16 7.8 4.3 24.3 75.7 3.1 M M
18500 -18.3 -0.9 345 32 16 7.9 4.3 23.9 75.1 2.8 M M
18000 -17.2 1.0 340 31 16 7.1 3.9 23.6 74.4 2.5 M M
17500 -16.2 2.8 340 31 16 7.1 3.9 23.1 73.6 2.0 M M
17000 -15.1 4.8 330 26 13 2.4 1.3 21.9 71.4 1.0 M M
16500 -14.9 5.2 335 26 13 2.5 1.4 20.4 68.7 -0.3 935 4.7
16000 -14.1 6.6 340 25 13 5.6 3.1 19.7 67.5 -1.0 896 4.6
15500 -13.2 8.2 350 23 12 5.8 3.2 19.0 66.3 -1.6 856 4.3
15000 -12.4 9.7 360 30 15 5.8 3.2 18.4 65.1 -2.2 816 4.1
14500 -11.6 11.1 360 30 15 5.9 3.2 17.7 63.9 -2.9 776 3.9
14000 -10.7 12.7 345 32 16 6.3 3.4 17.1 62.7 -3.5 736 3.7
13500 -9.6 14.7 345 28 15 8.5 4.7 16.7 62.1 -3.9 687 3.5
13000 -8.4 16.9 345 28 14 8.4 4.6 16.5 61.7 -4.1 636 3.2
12500 -7.1 19.2 340 26 13 8.4 4.6 16.3 61.3 -4.4 584 3.0
12000 -5.9 21.4 340 23 12 7.0 3.8 16.0 60.8 -4.7 534 2.7
11500 -5.0 23.0 325 21 11 6.5 3.6 15.5 59.8 -5.2 491 2.5
11000 -3.9 25.0 315 21 11 8.1 4.4 15.1 59.2 -5.6 444 2.3
10500 -2.8 27.0 310 21 11 7.7 4.2 14.8 58.6 -5.9 394 2.0
10250 -2.2 28.0 315 23 12 7.8 4.3 14.6 58.3 -6.1 370 1.9
10000 -1.7 28.9 320 25 13 5.4 3.0 14.4 58.0 -6.4 347 1.8
9750 -1.4 29.5 320 23 12 3.3 1.8 13.9 57.1 -6.8 332 1.7
9500 -1.2 29.8 315 21 11 3.6 2.0 13.5 56.2 -7.3 316 1.6
9250 -0.9 30.4 310 18 10 4.9 2.7 13.0 55.4 -7.8 301 1.5
9000 -0.4 31.3 305 16 8 6.2 3.4 12.7 54.9 -8.1 280 1.4
8750 -0.0 32.0 300 15 8 5.9 3.2 12.4 54.4 -8.4 259 1.3
8500 0.4 32.7 290 15 8 6.0 3.3 12.1 53.9 -8.7 239 1.2
8250 0.9 33.6 285 16 8 5.9 3.3 11.8 53.3 -9.0 218 1.1
8000 1.3 34.3 280 17 9 5.9 3.3 11.6 52.8 -9.3 198 1.0
7750 1.8 35.2 275 17 9 5.9 3.3 11.3 52.3 -9.6 177 0.9
7500 2.2 36.0 270 18 9 5.9 3.3 11.0 51.8 -9.9 157 0.8
7250 2.6 36.7 265 16 8 5.9 3.3 10.7 51.2 -10.3 136 0.7
7000 3.1 37.6 260 12 6 5.9 3.3 10.4 50.7 -10.6 115 0.6
6750 3.5 38.3 265 10 5 5.9 3.3 10.1 50.2 -10.9 95 0.5
6500 4.0 39.2 270 8 4 5.9 3.3 9.8 49.6 -11.2 74 0.4
6250 4.4 39.9 290 8 4 5.9 3.3 9.5 49.1 -11.5 54 0.3
6000 4.8 40.6 300 10 5 5.9 3.3 9.2 48.6 -11.9 33 0.2
5750 5.3 41.5 305 10 5 6.0 3.3 8.9 48.1 -12.2 13 0.1
5500 5.7 42.3 320 9 4 5.8 3.2 8.6 47.5 -12.5 M M
5250 6.2 43.2 335 8 4 6.4 3.5 8.3 47.0 -12.8 M M
5000 6.6 43.9 350 8 4 7.8 4.3 8.1 46.6 -13.2 M M

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

04/16/2024 at 0900 MDT | 04/16/2024 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +3.2 | CAPE... +14.6 LI... +3.3
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +15.9 | CINH... -2.1 K Index... +15.3
|
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 -56.1 -69.0 265 33 17 2.0 1.1 | -56.9 -70.4 265 37 19 2.4 1.3
45000 -53.0 -63.4 270 43 22 1.1 0.6 | -53.3 -63.9 275 42 22 1.1 0.6
40000 -51.8 -61.2 275 30 16 0.9 0.5 | -52.1 -61.8 280 34 17 0.8 0.5
38000 -51.9 -61.4 285 27 14 -1.7 -0.9 | -52.3 -62.1 285 31 16 -1.7 -0.9
36000 -53.0 -63.4 300 28 14 -1.7 -0.9 | -53.4 -64.1 300 27 14 -1.7 -0.9
34000 -53.3 -63.9 305 29 15 6.1 3.3 | -53.4 -64.1 310 27 14 6.5 3.6
32000 -50.0 -58.0 290 26 14 5.5 3.0 | -49.5 -57.1 320 28 15 6.4 3.5
30000 -46.3 -51.3 280 26 13 8.5 4.7 | -45.5 -49.9 325 29 15 8.0 4.4
29000 -43.8 -46.8 285 25 13 8.4 4.6 | -43.1 -45.6 325 28 14 8.1 4.4
28000 -41.3 -42.3 290 25 13 8.4 4.6 | -40.6 -41.1 325 27 14 8.1 4.4
27000 -38.7 -37.7 295 24 13 8.6 4.7 | -38.2 -36.8 325 25 13 8.3 4.6
26000 -36.1 -33.0 300 25 13 8.8 4.8 | -35.6 -32.1 320 25 13 8.7 4.8
25000 -33.5 -28.3 305 27 14 8.8 4.8 | -33.1 -27.6 320 24 12 8.7 4.8
24000 -30.8 -23.4 310 28 14 8.8 4.8 | -30.5 -22.9 320 24 12 8.6 4.7
23000 -28.3 -18.9 315 28 15 8.3 4.5 | -27.9 -18.2 320 23 12 8.5 4.6
22000 -25.2 -13.4 320 28 14 8.3 4.5 | -24.8 -12.6 320 23 12 8.5 4.6
21000 -22.8 -9.0 325 28 14 7.3 4.0 | -22.3 -8.1 320 23 12 7.4 4.1
20000 -20.7 -5.3 325 27 14 7.3 4.0 | -20.1 -4.2 315 23 12 7.5 4.1
19500 -19.6 -3.3 330 26 13 7.4 4.0 | -18.9 -2.0 315 23 12 7.5 4.1
19000 -18.5 -1.3 330 26 13 7.4 4.1 | -17.8 -0.0 315 23 12 7.6 4.2
18500 -17.4 0.7 330 25 13 6.6 3.6 | -16.8 1.8 315 22 12 6.6 3.6
18000 -16.5 2.3 335 25 13 6.4 3.5 | -15.8 3.6 315 22 12 6.5 3.6
17500 -15.6 3.9 335 24 13 6.3 3.5 | -14.8 5.4 315 22 11 6.1 3.4
17000 -14.7 5.5 335 24 12 6.1 3.4 | -14.0 6.8 315 22 11 5.4 3.0
16500 -13.8 7.2 335 23 12 6.2 3.4 | -13.2 8.2 315 22 11 5.5 3.0
16000 -12.9 8.8 335 22 12 5.6 3.1 | -12.5 9.5 315 21 11 4.8 2.6
15500 -12.1 10.2 335 22 11 5.6 3.1 | -11.8 10.8 315 20 10 4.8 2.7
15000 -11.3 11.7 335 21 11 5.3 2.9 | -11.1 12.0 315 20 10 5.7 3.1
14500 -10.5 13.1 335 20 10 5.2 2.9 | -10.2 13.6 320 19 10 5.9 3.2
14000 -9.8 14.4 335 19 10 5.2 2.9 | -9.4 15.1 320 18 10 6.0 3.3
13500 -9.1 15.6 335 19 10 5.2 2.8 | -8.5 16.7 325 18 9 6.1 3.4
13000 -8.3 17.1 335 18 9 5.5 3.0 | -7.6 18.3 325 17 9 5.9 3.2
12500 -7.5 18.5 335 17 9 6.1 3.4 | -6.8 19.8 325 16 8 5.6 3.1
12000 -6.6 20.1 335 16 8 6.4 3.5 | -6.0 21.2 325 14 7 6.1 3.3
11500 -5.6 21.9 335 16 8 7.2 4.0 | -5.1 22.8 325 13 7 6.9 3.8
11000 -4.5 23.9 335 15 8 7.2 3.9 | -4.1 24.6 325 12 6 7.2 3.9
10500 -3.5 25.7 335 15 8 7.0 3.8 | -3.0 26.6 325 11 6 7.4 4.1
10250 -3.0 26.6 335 15 8 7.0 3.9 | -2.4 27.7 325 11 5 8.7 4.8
10000 -2.5 27.5 335 15 8 6.2 3.4 | -1.7 28.9 320 10 5 9.1 5.0
9750 -2.1 28.2 330 14 7 6.0 3.3 | -1.1 30.0 320 10 5 7.9 4.4
9500 -1.6 29.1 330 13 7 6.5 3.6 | -0.5 31.1 320 9 5 8.3 4.6
9250 -1.2 29.8 325 13 7 6.5 3.5 | 0.1 32.2 320 9 5 8.0 4.4
9000 -0.7 30.7 325 13 6 6.9 3.8 | 0.7 33.3 320 8 4 7.9 4.3
8750 -0.2 31.6 320 12 6 5.8 3.2 | 1.3 34.3 315 8 4 8.2 4.5
8500 0.2 32.4 315 11 6 4.8 2.6 | 1.9 35.4 310 8 4 8.7 4.8
8250 0.9 33.6 300 9 5 4.3 2.4 | 2.5 36.5 310 7 4 7.7 4.2
8000 1.2 34.2 295 9 5 6.2 3.4 | 3.6 38.5 305 7 3 8.7 4.8
7750 1.8 35.2 290 8 4 7.9 4.3 | 4.3 39.7 305 6 3 10.5 5.8
7500 2.3 36.1 285 6 3 6.9 3.8 | 5.0 41.0 300 6 3 8.9 4.9
7250 2.8 37.0 280 7 3 5.5 3.0 | 5.6 42.1 300 6 3 7.4 4.1
7000 3.3 37.9 280 7 4 9.4 5.1 | 6.3 43.3 300 6 3 10.8 6.0
6750 4.2 39.6 275 6 3 11.8 6.5 | 7.2 45.0 300 5 3 12.5 6.9
6500 4.9 40.8 275 5 3 9.0 4.9 | 8.0 46.4 300 5 3 10.5 5.7
6250 5.6 42.1 280 5 2 8.6 4.7 | 8.8 47.8 300 5 3 10.3 5.6
6000 6.2 43.2 280 4 2 8.5 4.6 | 9.6 49.3 300 5 3 10.1 5.6
5750 6.9 44.4 275 4 2 11.6 6.4 | 10.5 50.9 300 5 2 16.7 9.1
5500 8.4 47.1 280 3 2 32.8 18.0 | 12.8 55.0 300 5 2 53.2 29.2
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

04/16/2024 at 1500 MDT | 04/16/2024 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +8.4 LI... +2.4 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +2.0
CINH... -0.6 K Index... +15.2 | CINH... -0.5 K Index... +17.0
|
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 -56.2 -69.2 265 40 21 2.6 1.4 | -56.7 -70.1 265 42 21 2.4 1.3
45000 -52.5 -62.5 270 42 22 -0.8 -0.4 | -53.4 -64.1 265 45 23 -1.9 -1.0
40000 -54.2 -65.6 285 35 18 -1.1 -0.6 | -56.7 -70.1 295 32 17 -2.2 -1.2
38000 -54.2 -65.6 295 32 16 0.7 0.4 | -56.4 -69.5 315 34 18 2.5 1.4
36000 -53.8 -64.8 305 29 15 0.7 0.4 | -54.9 -66.8 330 41 21 2.5 1.4
34000 -52.6 -62.7 310 28 14 5.7 3.1 | -52.6 -62.7 340 47 24 7.1 3.9
32000 -49.1 -56.4 315 30 15 5.8 3.2 | -48.2 -54.8 340 46 24 7.2 4.0
30000 -45.3 -49.5 315 30 15 8.2 4.5 | -43.8 -46.8 340 43 22 8.1 4.4
29000 -42.8 -45.0 310 28 15 8.3 4.6 | -41.3 -42.3 340 39 20 8.1 4.4
28000 -40.3 -40.5 310 27 14 8.3 4.6 | -38.9 -38.0 335 35 18 8.1 4.4
27000 -37.8 -36.0 310 25 13 8.5 4.7 | -36.5 -33.7 335 32 16 7.8 4.3
26000 -35.2 -31.4 310 24 12 8.7 4.7 | -34.2 -29.6 330 29 15 7.7 4.2
25000 -32.6 -26.7 310 23 12 8.7 4.8 | -31.9 -25.4 325 27 14 7.7 4.2
24000 -30.0 -22.0 315 22 11 8.6 4.7 | -29.6 -21.3 320 25 13 7.9 4.3
23000 -26.8 -16.2 315 21 11 8.6 4.7 | -26.5 -15.7 315 24 12 8.3 4.6
22000 -24.2 -11.6 320 21 11 8.6 4.7 | -24.0 -11.2 310 22 11 8.3 4.6
21000 -21.8 -7.2 320 20 11 7.6 4.2 | -21.5 -6.7 310 21 11 8.1 4.4
20000 -19.5 -3.1 315 21 11 7.7 4.2 | -19.1 -2.4 310 20 10 8.1 4.4
19500 -18.3 -0.9 315 21 11 7.7 4.2 | -17.9 -0.2 310 19 10 8.1 4.4
19000 -17.2 1.0 315 22 11 7.8 4.3 | -16.7 1.9 310 19 10 8.2 4.5
18500 -16.1 3.0 310 22 11 6.5 3.6 | -15.6 3.9 310 19 10 7.1 3.9
18000 -15.1 4.8 310 22 11 6.5 3.6 | -14.5 5.9 310 18 10 7.2 4.0
17500 -14.2 6.4 310 22 11 6.1 3.4 | -13.4 7.9 310 18 9 6.5 3.6
17000 -13.3 8.1 310 22 11 5.7 3.1 | -12.6 9.3 310 18 9 5.9 3.3
16500 -12.5 9.5 310 21 11 5.7 3.1 | -11.7 10.9 310 18 9 5.9 3.2
16000 -11.7 10.9 305 21 11 5.2 2.9 | -10.9 12.4 310 18 9 5.1 2.8
15500 -11.0 12.2 305 20 10 5.3 2.9 | -10.2 13.6 310 17 9 5.1 2.8
15000 -10.2 13.6 305 19 10 5.7 3.1 | -9.4 15.1 310 17 9 6.4 3.5
14500 -9.4 15.1 305 19 10 5.7 3.1 | -8.5 16.7 305 16 8 6.4 3.5
14000 -8.5 16.7 305 18 9 6.8 3.7 | -7.6 18.3 305 16 8 7.6 4.2
13500 -7.5 18.5 305 17 9 7.3 4.0 | -6.4 20.5 300 14 7 8.1 4.4
13000 -6.4 20.5 305 16 8 7.8 4.3 | -5.2 22.6 295 13 7 8.5 4.7
12500 -5.2 22.6 305 15 8 8.2 4.5 | -3.9 25.0 290 12 6 8.9 4.9
12000 -4.0 24.8 300 14 7 8.3 4.6 | -2.6 27.3 280 11 6 9.0 5.0
11500 -2.8 27.0 300 13 7 8.4 4.6 | -1.2 29.8 280 11 6 9.1 5.0
11000 -1.5 29.3 300 12 6 8.3 4.6 | 0.1 32.2 275 11 6 8.4 4.6
10500 -0.3 31.5 295 11 6 7.8 4.3 | 1.3 34.3 275 11 6 6.8 3.7
10250 0.3 32.5 295 11 6 10.0 5.5 | 1.9 35.4 275 11 5 11.5 6.3
10000 1.1 34.0 295 10 5 10.2 5.6 | 2.9 37.2 270 11 5 12.4 6.8
9750 1.8 35.2 290 10 5 8.1 4.5 | 3.6 38.5 270 10 5 8.0 4.4
9500 2.4 36.3 290 9 5 8.8 4.8 | 4.2 39.6 275 10 5 9.7 5.3
9250 3.0 37.4 290 9 4 8.4 4.6 | 4.9 40.8 275 10 5 7.3 4.0
9000 3.7 38.7 290 8 4 8.7 4.8 | 5.4 41.7 275 10 5 7.7 4.2
8750 4.3 39.7 290 8 4 9.2 5.0 | 6.1 43.0 275 9 5 10.0 5.5
8500 5.7 42.3 290 7 4 8.7 4.8 | 7.5 45.5 275 9 4 9.0 4.9
8250 6.3 43.3 285 7 4 8.6 4.7 | 8.2 46.8 275 8 4 8.3 4.6
8000 7.0 44.6 285 7 4 10.2 5.6 | 8.8 47.8 275 8 4 9.7 5.3
7750 7.8 46.0 285 7 4 11.5 6.3 | 9.6 49.3 275 8 4 10.7 5.9
7500 8.6 47.5 285 7 3 9.2 5.0 | 10.4 50.7 275 8 4 9.3 5.1
7250 9.2 48.6 285 7 3 7.1 3.9 | 11.0 51.8 275 8 4 8.0 4.4
7000 9.8 49.6 285 7 3 10.7 5.9 | 11.6 52.9 275 8 4 10.2 5.6
6750 10.7 51.3 285 6 3 12.4 6.8 | 12.5 54.5 275 8 4 11.4 6.2
6500 11.6 52.9 285 6 3 10.6 5.8 | 13.3 55.9 275 7 4 10.2 5.6
6250 12.4 54.3 285 6 3 10.7 5.9 | 14.0 57.2 275 7 4 10.4 5.7
6000 13.1 55.6 285 6 3 8.8 4.8 | 14.8 58.6 270 7 4 8.3 4.6
5750 13.9 57.0 285 5 3 14.4 7.9 | 15.4 59.7 275 7 4 9.8 5.4
5500 16.6 61.9 285 5 3 75.7 41.5 | 17.2 63.0 275 6 3 52.0 28.5
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