Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Home |  Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
256
UXUS97 KBOU 081227
SRGBOU

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
0627 MDT Tuesday, April 8, 2025

This forecast is for Tuesday, April 8, 2025:

If the trigger temperature of 64.3 F/17.9 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 787 ft/min (4.0 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 18149 ft MSL (12849 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 74.0 F/23.8 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1030 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1300 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast opaque middle
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 14562 ft MSL (9262 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Wednesday 04/09.... Good

Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor
Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1800 MDT)......... No change
Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... None
Weak PVA/NVA (through 1800 MDT)................ Weak PVA
Potential height of wave....................... 21828 ft MSL (16528 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Wednesday 04/09....... Good

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:31:33 / 19:30:46 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 12 hr 59 min 14 sec (779 min 14 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:01:10 MDT... 57.75 degrees

Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 04/08/2025 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 11391 ft MSL (6091 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 18418 ft MSL (13118 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 18515 ft MSL (13215 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +0.1
K index......................... +8.2

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  -61.1 -78.0   285   31   16   0.4   0.2      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -60.6 -77.1   285   38   20  -0.1  -0.1      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -64.2 -83.6   290   49   25  -2.5  -1.3      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -62.9 -81.2   290   50   26   7.1   3.9      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -58.1 -72.6   295   49   25   7.1   3.9      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -53.6 -64.5   295   47   24   8.5   4.7      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -48.4 -55.1   295   43   22   8.5   4.7      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -43.3 -45.9   295   39   20   8.6   4.7   32.2  89.9     6.6      M    M
 29000  -40.7 -41.3   290   38   20   8.6   4.7   31.6  88.9     6.3      M    M
 28000  -38.1 -36.6   290   37   19   8.6   4.7   31.2  88.2     6.1      M    M
 27000  -35.6 -32.1   290   36   19   7.2   3.9   30.8  87.5     5.8      M    M
 26000  -33.5 -28.3   285   33   17   7.0   3.9   29.7  85.4     5.0      M    M
 25000  -31.4 -24.5   285   31   16   7.0   3.9   28.6  83.6     4.2      M    M
 24000  -29.3 -20.7   285   28   14   7.5   4.1   27.8  82.0     3.5      M    M
 23000  -27.0 -16.6   285   27   14   7.8   4.3   26.9  80.5     2.9      M    M
 22000  -24.6 -12.3   285   26   13   7.8   4.3   26.3  79.3     2.3      M    M
 21000  -22.3  -8.1   285   25   13   8.0   4.4   25.6  78.1     1.8      M    M
 20000  -19.9  -3.8   290   23   12   8.0   4.4   24.9  76.9     1.2      M    M
 19500  -18.7  -1.7   290   22   11   8.0   4.4   24.6  76.3     0.9      M    M
 19000  -17.6   0.3   290   21   11   8.0   4.4   24.4  75.8     0.7      M    M
 18500  -16.4   2.5   295   20   10   7.2   3.9   24.0  75.3     0.4      M    M
 18000  -14.8   5.4   300   17    9   6.9   3.8   23.3  73.9    -0.2   1162  5.9
 17500  -13.8   7.2   305   16    8   7.2   3.9   22.8  73.1    -0.6   1116  5.7
 17000  -12.7   9.1   305   14    7   7.3   4.0   22.4  72.3    -1.0   1068  5.4
 16500  -11.6  11.1   305   13    7   7.2   4.0   22.0  71.6    -1.4   1021  5.2
 16000  -10.5  13.1   310   12    6   7.2   4.0   21.5  70.8    -1.8    973  4.9
 15500   -9.5  14.9   310   11    6   7.2   4.0   21.1  70.0    -2.2    926  4.7
 15000   -8.4  16.9   310   10    5   6.6   3.6   20.6  69.2    -2.6    880  4.5
 14500   -7.4  18.7   315    8    4   6.6   3.6   20.1  68.3    -3.1    836  4.2
 14000   -6.3  20.7   315    7    3   8.0   4.4   19.7  67.5    -3.5    788  4.0
 13500   -5.2  22.6   320    6    3   8.0   4.4   19.4  67.0    -3.8    738  3.7
 13000   -4.0  24.8   320    5    2   8.1   4.5   19.2  66.5    -4.1    687  3.5
 12500   -2.8  27.0   325    4    2   8.1   4.5   18.9  66.0    -4.4    636  3.2
 12000   -1.5  29.3   330    3    2   8.7   4.8   18.7  65.6    -4.6    584  3.0
 11500   -0.2  31.6   330    3    2   8.8   4.8   18.5  65.3    -4.8    530  2.7
 11000    1.1  34.0   330    3    2   9.7   5.3   18.4  65.2    -5.0    475  2.4
 10500    2.6  36.7   325    5    2  10.7   5.9   18.4  65.2    -5.0    416  2.1
 10250    3.4  38.1   320    5    3   6.3   3.5   18.4  65.2    -5.0    386  2.0
 10000    3.7  38.7   320    5    3   7.1   3.9   18.0  64.4    -5.4    368  1.9
  9750    4.5  40.1   320    7    3  12.0   6.6   18.1  64.6    -5.3    336  1.7
  9500    5.4  41.7   315    8    4  10.8   5.9   18.2  64.8    -5.2    304  1.5
  9250    6.2  43.2   315    9    5  10.9   6.0   18.3  65.0    -5.2    272  1.4
  9000    7.0  44.6   315   11    6  10.2   5.6   18.4  65.1    -5.1    241  1.2
  8750    7.7  45.9   310   13    7  10.0   5.5   18.4  65.1    -5.1    211  1.1
  8500    8.5  47.3   310   15    8  10.1   5.6   18.4  65.2    -5.1    181  0.9
  8250    9.2  48.6   310   18    9   9.7   5.3   18.5  65.2    -5.1    152  0.8
  8000    9.9  49.8   305   20   10   8.8   4.8   18.4  65.1    -5.2    124  0.6
  7750   10.5  50.9   305   23   12   7.4   4.1   18.3  64.9    -5.3     98  0.5
  7500   11.0  51.8   300   25   13   6.6   3.6   18.1  64.5    -5.5     75  0.4
  7250   11.5  52.7   300   27   14   6.9   3.8   17.8  64.1    -5.8     53  0.3
  7000   12.0  53.6   295   27   14   6.4   3.5   17.6  63.7    -6.0     30  0.2
  6750   12.5  54.5   295   27   14   6.7   3.7   17.3  63.2    -6.3      8  0.0
  6500   12.8  55.0   290   26   13  -4.0  -2.2   16.9  62.3    -6.8      M    M
  6250   11.9  53.4   285   22   11 -14.2  -7.8   15.3  59.5    -8.4     11  0.1
  6000   10.9  51.6   275   18    9 -12.1  -6.7   13.5  56.3   -10.1     34  0.2
  5750    9.9  49.8   255   15    8 -15.7  -8.6   11.8  53.3   -11.9     57  0.3
  5500    8.0  46.4   240   13    7 -35.5 -19.5    9.3  48.7   -14.5    105  0.5

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

           04/08/2025 at 0900 MDT          |       04/08/2025 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +2.1        | CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +0.9
CINH...     0.0    K Index... +11.6        | CINH...    -0.2    K Index... +12.5
                                           |
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 -61.6 -78.9  290  33 17   2.3   1.2 | -61.9 -79.4  280  34 17   2.4   1.3
 45000 -58.2 -72.8  280  38 20   1.5   0.8 | -58.3 -72.9  285  39 20   1.8   1.0
 40000 -62.8 -81.0  295  54 28  -3.1  -1.7 | -63.1 -81.6  295  57 29  -3.3  -1.8
 38000 -61.7 -79.1  295  57 30   5.8   3.2 | -61.8 -79.2  300  60 31   6.4   3.5
 36000 -58.3 -72.9  300  58 30   5.8   3.2 | -57.9 -72.2  295  61 31   6.4   3.5
 34000 -54.4 -65.9  300  58 30   8.6   4.7 | -53.8 -64.8  295  60 31   8.5   4.7
 32000 -49.2 -56.6  295  53 27   8.6   4.7 | -48.6 -55.5  295  56 29   8.6   4.7
 30000 -44.0 -47.2  295  49 25   8.6   4.7 | -43.5 -46.3  295  52 27   8.8   4.8
 29000 -41.5 -42.7  290  46 24   8.6   4.7 | -40.2 -40.4  290  49 25   8.8   4.8
 28000 -38.9 -38.0  290  44 23   8.6   4.7 | -37.6 -35.7  290  47 24   8.8   4.8
 27000 -35.8 -32.4  290  42 22   7.2   4.0 | -35.0 -31.0  290  44 23   7.7   4.2
 26000 -33.6 -28.5  285  39 20   7.4   4.1 | -32.7 -26.9  290  42 21   7.8   4.3
 25000 -31.4 -24.5  285  37 19   7.4   4.1 | -30.3 -22.5  290  39 20   7.9   4.3
 24000 -29.2 -20.6  280  35 18   7.3   4.0 | -28.0 -18.4  290  37 19   7.3   4.0
 23000 -27.0 -16.6  275  31 16   7.3   4.0 | -25.9 -14.6  290  35 18   7.2   3.9
 22000 -24.8 -12.6  270  28 14   7.3   4.0 | -23.7 -10.7  290  34 18   7.2   3.9
 21000 -22.7  -8.9  270  25 13   7.5   4.1 | -21.7  -7.1  295  33 17   6.0   3.3
 20000 -20.4  -4.7  275  24 12   7.5   4.1 | -19.9  -3.8  295  29 15   6.1   3.4
 19500 -19.3  -2.7  275  23 12   7.5   4.1 | -19.0  -2.2  295  28 14   6.1   3.4
 19000 -18.2  -0.8  280  22 12   7.5   4.1 | -18.1  -0.6  295  26 13   6.1   3.4
 18500 -17.1   1.2  285  22 11   7.5   4.1 | -17.1   1.2  295  25 13   6.5   3.6
 18000 -16.0   3.2  290  21 11   7.5   4.1 | -16.2   2.8  295  23 12   6.6   3.6
 17500 -14.9   5.2  295  20 10   7.4   4.1 | -15.2   4.6  300  22 11   6.8   3.7
 17000 -13.8   7.2  295  19 10   7.2   3.9 | -14.1   6.6  300  20 11   7.3   4.0
 16500 -12.8   9.0  300  17  9   7.1   3.9 | -13.1   8.4  300  19 10   7.2   3.9
 16000 -11.6  11.1  305  16  8   8.2   4.5 | -11.9  10.6  300  18  9   8.8   4.8
 15500 -10.4  13.3  310  14  7   8.0   4.4 | -10.6  12.9  300  17  9   8.6   4.7
 15000  -9.2  15.4  310  13  7   8.8   4.8 |  -9.3  15.3  300  16  8   9.1   5.0
 14500  -7.9  17.8  315  13  7   8.9   4.9 |  -7.3  18.9  300  14  7   9.2   5.0
 14000  -5.9  21.4  315  12  6   8.8   4.8 |  -5.9  21.4  300  13  7   8.8   4.8
 13500  -4.6  23.7  315  12  6   8.7   4.8 |  -4.6  23.7  295  12  6   8.8   4.8
 13000  -3.3  26.1  315  11  6   9.0   4.9 |  -3.3  26.1  295  11  6   9.4   5.2
 12500  -1.9  28.6  315   9  5   9.0   4.9 |  -1.9  28.6  290  12  6   9.4   5.2
 12000  -0.6  30.9  310   8  4   9.0   4.9 |  -0.5  31.1  285  12  6   9.3   5.1
 11500   0.8  33.4  305   8  4   9.1   5.0 |   0.9  33.6  290  14  7   9.3   5.1
 11000   2.0  35.6  300   7  4   7.7   4.2 |   2.3  36.1  290  16  8   8.8   4.8
 10500   3.2  37.8  285   6  3   8.3   4.5 |   3.6  38.5  295  17  9   9.5   5.2
 10250   3.7  38.7  275   5  3   5.1   2.8 |   4.2  39.6  295  18  9   5.6   3.1
 10000   4.1  39.4  270   5  3   6.6   3.6 |   4.5  40.1  295  18  9   6.6   3.6
  9750   4.8  40.6  260   5  3  10.6   5.8 |   5.3  41.5  290  18  9  11.1   6.1
  9500   5.5  41.9  250   5  3  10.3   5.6 |   6.0  42.8  290  18  9  10.4   5.7
  9250   6.3  43.3  240   5  3   7.8   4.3 |   6.8  44.2  290  18  9   8.8   4.9
  9000   6.8  44.2  240   5  3   8.1   4.4 |   7.4  45.3  290  17  9   8.5   4.7
  8750   7.5  45.5  250   6  3  11.3   6.2 |   8.1  46.6  285  16  8  10.3   5.6
  8500   8.3  46.9  260   6  3  10.7   5.9 |   8.8  47.8  285  15  8   9.8   5.4
  8250   9.1  48.4  270   7  4   9.5   5.2 |   9.6  49.3  280  14  7   9.7   5.3
  8000   9.8  49.6  280   8  4   8.7   4.8 |  10.3  50.5  275  13  7   9.6   5.2
  7750  10.5  50.9  285   9  5   9.8   5.4 |  11.0  51.8  275  13  7   9.8   5.4
  7500  11.2  52.2  285  10  5   9.8   5.4 |  11.7  53.1  270  13  6   9.9   5.4
  7250  11.9  53.4  285  12  6   9.7   5.3 |  12.5  54.5  270  12  6  10.2   5.6
  7000  12.6  54.7  285  14  7   8.9   4.9 |  13.2  55.8  270  12  6  10.3   5.7
  6750  13.3  55.9  285  15  8  12.1   6.7 |  14.0  57.2  270  12  6   9.4   5.1
  6500  14.1  57.4  285  17  9   1.2   0.7 |  14.7  58.5  270  12  6  10.0   5.5
  6250  13.5  56.3  275  16  8  -9.9  -5.4 |  15.5  59.9  265  12  6  11.5   6.3
  6000  12.9  55.2  270  15  8  -6.8  -3.7 |  16.3  61.3  265  11  6  10.6   5.8
  5750  12.3  54.1  255  15  8  -8.7  -4.8 |  17.1  62.8  265  11  6  12.3   6.7
  5500  11.6  52.9  240  12  6  -7.9  -4.4 |  18.3  64.9  265  11  5  19.2  10.5

           04/08/2025 at 1500 MDT          |       04/08/2025 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +0.4        | CAPE...   +11.5    LI...       -0.4
CINH...    -0.2    K Index... +16.0        | CINH...   -18.4    K Index... +19.2
                                           |
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 -62.8 -81.0  280  37 19   1.5   0.8 | -62.7 -80.9  290  37 19   1.9   1.0
 45000 -60.6 -77.1  290  46 23   1.0   0.6 | -59.9 -75.8  300  51 26  -1.3  -0.7
 40000 -64.3 -83.7  295  67 35  -2.5  -1.4 | -63.2 -81.8  300  67 34  -2.2  -1.2
 38000 -62.1 -79.8  295  69 35   7.5   4.1 | -61.5 -78.7  300  69 35   6.4   3.5
 36000 -57.6 -71.7  295  65 34   7.5   4.1 | -57.6 -71.7  300  68 35   6.4   3.5
 34000 -52.9 -63.2  290  62 32   8.7   4.8 | -53.4 -64.1  305  65 33   9.1   5.0
 32000 -47.7 -53.9  290  58 30   8.7   4.8 | -47.8 -54.0  300  56 29   9.2   5.0
 30000 -42.5 -44.5  290  53 27   8.7   4.8 | -41.9 -43.4  300  49 25   8.3   4.6
 29000 -39.2 -38.6  290  49 25   8.7   4.8 | -39.4 -38.9  300  49 25   8.3   4.6
 28000 -36.6 -33.9  290  46 24   8.7   4.8 | -36.9 -34.4  300  49 25   8.3   4.6
 27000 -34.1 -29.4  290  44 22   7.3   4.0 | -34.4 -29.9  300  48 25   7.8   4.3
 26000 -31.9 -25.4  290  43 22   7.5   4.1 | -32.1 -25.8  300  45 23   7.8   4.3
 25000 -29.7 -21.5  290  43 22   7.5   4.1 | -29.7 -21.5  300  43 22   7.8   4.3
 24000 -27.5 -17.5  285  43 22   6.2   3.4 | -27.4 -17.3  300  41 21   6.8   3.8
 23000 -25.7 -14.3  285  42 21   6.0   3.3 | -25.4 -13.7  300  40 21   6.7   3.7
 22000 -23.9 -11.0  285  40 21   6.0   3.3 | -23.5 -10.3  295  40 20   6.7   3.7
 21000 -22.1  -7.8  285  39 20   6.9   3.8 | -21.5  -6.7  295  39 20   6.0   3.3
 20000 -20.0  -4.0  285  37 19   6.8   3.7 | -19.7  -3.5  290  38 20   6.1   3.3
 19500 -19.0  -2.2  285  36 19   6.8   3.7 | -18.9  -2.0  290  38 19   6.1   3.3
 19000 -18.0  -0.4  285  36 18   6.7   3.7 | -18.0  -0.4  290  37 19   6.0   3.3
 18500 -17.0   1.4  285  35 18   7.4   4.1 | -17.0   1.4  290  37 19   8.0   4.4
 18000 -15.9   3.4  285  34 17   7.5   4.1 | -15.8   3.6  290  36 18   8.1   4.5
 17500 -14.8   5.4  285  33 17   7.6   4.2 | -14.6   5.7  285  35 18   8.2   4.5
 17000 -13.6   7.5  285  32 16   7.8   4.3 | -13.4   7.9  285  34 18   8.3   4.5
 16500 -12.5   9.5  285  30 16   7.8   4.3 | -12.1  10.2  285  33 17   8.3   4.5
 16000 -11.3  11.7  285  29 15   8.7   4.8 | -10.9  12.4  280  32 16   8.5   4.7
 15500 -10.0  14.0  285  27 14   8.6   4.7 |  -9.0  15.8  280  30 15   8.6   4.7
 15000  -8.7  16.3  285  26 13   8.8   4.8 |  -7.7  18.1  280  28 14   8.9   4.9
 14500  -6.8  19.8  285  23 12   8.8   4.8 |  -6.4  20.5  275  26 13   8.9   4.9
 14000  -5.4  22.3  285  22 11   9.1   5.0 |  -5.1  22.8  275  24 12   9.0   4.9
 13500  -4.1  24.6  285  20 11   9.1   5.0 |  -3.7  25.3  275  22 12   9.0   4.9
 13000  -2.7  27.1  280  19 10   9.0   4.9 |  -2.4  27.7  275  21 11   9.3   5.1
 12500  -1.4  29.5  280  18  9   9.0   4.9 |  -1.0  30.2  275  20 10   9.3   5.1
 12000  -0.0  32.0  280  16  8   9.2   5.0 |   0.4  32.7  275  19 10   9.4   5.1
 11500   1.3  34.3  280  14  7   9.3   5.1 |   1.8  35.2  275  18  9   9.5   5.2
 11000   2.6  36.7  280  13  6   7.8   4.3 |   3.2  37.8  275  16  8   8.1   4.5
 10500   3.8  38.8  280  12  6   6.5   3.6 |   4.4  39.9  280  15  8   7.2   3.9
 10250   4.4  39.9  280  11  6  12.5   6.9 |   5.0  41.0  280  15  8  11.2   6.2
 10000   5.5  41.9  280  11  6  13.8   7.6 |   5.9  42.6  285  14  7  12.0   6.6
  9750   6.3  43.3  280  11  6   8.6   4.7 |   6.6  43.9  285  13  7   8.3   4.6
  9500   7.0  44.6  275  11  5  10.6   5.8 |   7.3  45.1  285  13  7   9.5   5.2
  9250   7.7  45.9  275  10  5   7.9   4.3 |   8.0  46.4  290  12  6   8.5   4.7
  9000   8.3  46.9  275  10  5   8.5   4.6 |   8.6  47.5  290  12  6   9.1   5.0
  8750   9.1  48.4  275  10  5  11.1   6.1 |   9.4  48.9  290  12  6  10.3   5.7
  8500   9.8  49.6  275  10  5  10.5   5.7 |  10.1  50.2  290  12  6   9.9   5.4
  8250  10.6  51.1  275  10  5  10.0   5.5 |  10.9  51.6  290  12  6  10.6   5.8
  8000  11.3  52.3  275  10  5   9.6   5.3 |  11.7  53.1  290  11  6  10.4   5.7
  7750  12.1  53.8  275  10  5  10.1   5.5 |  12.4  54.3  290  11  6   8.9   4.9
  7500  12.8  55.0  275  10  5  10.1   5.6 |  13.0  55.4  290  11  6   9.0   4.9
  7250  13.6  56.5  275  10  5  10.2   5.6 |  13.8  56.8  290  11  6  10.5   5.8
  7000  14.4  57.9  275  10  5  10.2   5.6 |  14.6  58.3  290  11  6  11.2   6.1
  6750  15.1  59.2  275  10  5   9.9   5.4 |  15.4  59.7  290  11  6   9.0   4.9
  6500  15.8  60.4  275  10  5  10.2   5.6 |  16.0  60.8  295  11  5   9.1   5.0
  6250  16.6  61.9  275   9  5  10.9   6.0 |  16.8  62.2  295  10  5  10.8   5.9
  6000  17.4  63.3  275   9  5  10.4   5.7 |  17.6  63.7  295  10  5  10.8   5.9
  5750  18.2  64.8  275   9  5  12.1   6.6 |  18.3  64.9  295  10  5   9.7   5.3
  5500  19.4  66.9  275   9  5  19.5  10.7 |  19.0  66.2  295   9  5   8.9   4.9
________________________________________________________________________________

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 near the old Stapleton
Airport site in Denver, Colorado at

                   North Latitude:  39 deg 46 min 5.016 sec
                   West Longitude: 104 deg 52 min 9.984 sec
                   Elevation: 5285 feet (1611 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.

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