Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
566
UXUS97 KBOU 060047
SRGBOU
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, Colorado
1846 MDT Saturday, April 5, 2025
This forecast is for Sunday, April 6, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 45.0 F/7.2 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 885 ft/min (4.5 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 16162 ft MSL (10896 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 59.0 F/15.5 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1030 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................. 13227 ft MSL (7961 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 04/07....... Excellent
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)................ Neither
Potential height of wave....................... 25406 ft MSL (20140 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Monday 04/07.......... Poor
Remarks... Warmer, partly cloudy Sunday
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:34:40 / 19:28:46 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 12 hr 54 min 7 sec (774 min 7 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:01:43 MDT... 57.00 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 04/06/2025 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 5341 ft MSL (75 ft AGL)
Additional freezing level....... 6998 ft MSL (1732 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 15644 ft MSL (10378 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 16065 ft MSL (10799 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +4.2
K index......................... -3.0
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 -56.0 -68.8 295 14 7 0.9 0.5 M M M M M
45000 -54.8 -66.6 320 15 8 0.9 0.5 M M M M M
40000 -56.2 -69.2 005 19 10 -1.0 -0.6 M M M M M
38000 -56.5 -69.7 020 27 14 0.0 0.0 M M M M M
36000 -56.5 -69.7 025 41 21 0.0 0.0 M M M M M
34000 -56.4 -69.5 030 56 29 5.0 2.7 M M M M M
32000 -51.6 -60.9 030 53 27 8.1 4.4 M M M M M
30000 -46.7 -52.1 025 50 26 8.3 4.6 30.4 86.8 11.5 M M
29000 -44.3 -47.7 025 48 25 8.2 4.5 29.7 85.4 11.1 M M
28000 -41.8 -43.2 025 46 24 8.2 4.5 29.1 84.3 10.8 M M
27000 -38.8 -37.8 025 44 23 7.9 4.3 28.5 83.3 10.5 M M
26000 -36.7 -34.1 025 41 21 6.6 3.6 27.3 81.1 9.6 M M
25000 -34.7 -30.5 020 38 20 6.6 3.6 26.1 78.9 8.8 M M
24000 -32.7 -26.9 020 35 18 6.8 3.7 25.0 77.0 8.1 M M
23000 -31.1 -24.0 015 33 17 5.2 2.8 23.4 74.1 6.8 M M
22000 -29.5 -21.1 010 31 16 5.2 2.8 21.7 71.1 5.5 M M
21000 -28.0 -18.4 360 29 15 5.9 3.2 20.2 68.3 4.3 M M
20000 -26.0 -14.8 360 28 14 6.8 3.7 19.0 66.2 3.4 M M
19500 -25.0 -13.0 360 27 14 6.8 3.7 18.5 65.3 2.9 M M
19000 -24.0 -11.2 360 27 14 6.8 3.7 18.0 64.4 2.5 M M
18500 -22.9 -9.2 360 26 13 6.8 3.7 17.5 63.6 2.1 M M
18000 -21.9 -7.4 360 25 13 6.9 3.8 17.0 62.6 1.7 M M
17500 -20.9 -5.6 360 25 13 6.9 3.8 16.5 61.7 1.3 M M
17000 -19.9 -3.8 360 24 12 6.8 3.7 16.0 60.8 0.8 M M
16500 -18.9 -2.0 360 23 12 6.8 3.7 15.5 59.9 0.4 M M
16000 -17.9 -0.2 360 22 12 6.8 3.8 15.0 59.0 -0.1 877 4.5
15500 -16.9 1.6 355 22 11 6.9 3.8 14.5 58.1 -0.5 832 4.2
15000 -15.8 3.6 355 21 11 6.7 3.7 14.1 57.3 -1.0 786 4.0
14500 -14.9 5.2 355 21 11 6.3 3.5 13.5 56.3 -1.5 743 3.8
14000 -14.0 6.8 350 21 11 6.3 3.4 12.9 55.3 -2.0 700 3.6
13500 -13.0 8.6 350 21 11 6.2 3.4 12.3 54.2 -2.6 658 3.3
13000 -11.6 11.1 350 20 10 5.8 3.2 11.4 52.6 -3.4 594 3.0
12500 -10.8 12.6 350 19 10 5.7 3.1 10.8 51.4 -4.0 554 2.8
12000 -9.9 14.2 350 18 9 6.1 3.4 10.1 50.3 -4.6 513 2.6
11500 -9.0 15.8 350 16 8 6.3 3.4 9.6 49.3 -5.2 471 2.4
11000 -8.1 17.4 350 15 7 7.1 3.9 9.1 48.3 -5.7 427 2.2
10500 -7.0 19.4 345 12 6 7.8 4.3 8.7 47.6 -6.2 381 1.9
10250 -6.5 20.3 345 11 6 4.9 2.7 8.5 47.3 -6.4 357 1.8
10000 -6.2 20.8 340 11 5 3.2 1.8 7.9 46.3 -6.9 343 1.7
9750 -5.8 21.6 340 10 5 7.4 4.1 7.6 45.7 -7.3 324 1.6
9500 -5.2 22.6 335 9 5 9.7 5.3 7.5 45.6 -7.4 297 1.5
9250 -4.5 23.9 330 8 4 6.5 3.5 7.5 45.4 -7.5 270 1.4
9000 -4.2 24.4 330 8 4 3.6 2.0 7.0 44.6 -7.9 254 1.3
8750 -3.8 25.2 330 8 4 8.2 4.5 6.7 44.0 -8.3 234 1.2
8500 -3.1 26.4 325 7 4 9.9 5.4 6.7 44.1 -8.3 205 1.0
8250 -2.5 27.5 325 6 3 6.7 3.7 6.6 43.9 -8.4 180 0.9
8000 -2.1 28.2 320 6 3 4.2 2.3 6.3 43.3 -8.8 160 0.8
7750 -1.7 28.9 320 5 3 9.3 5.1 5.9 42.7 -9.1 141 0.7
7500 -0.8 30.6 310 5 2 9.6 5.3 6.1 42.9 -9.0 108 0.5
7250 -0.4 31.3 300 4 2 5.1 2.8 5.8 42.4 -9.3 87 0.4
7000 0.0 32.0 290 4 2 5.4 3.0 5.5 41.8 -9.7 67 0.3
6750 0.4 32.7 280 4 2 7.3 4.0 5.2 41.3 -10.0 48 0.2
6500 1.0 33.8 265 5 3 6.1 3.4 5.0 41.0 -10.2 23 0.1
6250 1.3 34.3 255 5 3 3.9 2.1 4.6 40.2 -10.7 8 0.0
6000 1.6 34.9 250 6 3 2.3 1.3 4.2 39.5 -11.2 M M
5750 1.4 34.5 245 6 3 -6.8 -3.8 3.3 37.9 -12.1 M M
5500 0.5 32.9 235 5 3 -13.6 -7.5 1.7 35.1 -13.7 7 0.0
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
04/06/2025 at 0900 MDT | 04/06/2025 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.6 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +5.2
CINH... -1.1 K Index... -7.7 | CINH... -0.0 K Index... -6.1
|
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 -69.0 295 12 6 1.2 0.7 | -56.6 -69.9 285 14 7 1.3 0.7
45000 -54.3 -65.7 325 10 5 1.3 0.7 | -54.6 -66.3 305 16 8 1.6 0.9
40000 -56.9 -70.4 360 24 12 -1.8 -1.0 | -58.3 -72.9 355 26 14 -2.6 -1.4
38000 -57.3 -71.1 005 30 15 1.2 0.7 | -58.5 -73.3 360 31 16 3.0 1.7
36000 -56.6 -69.9 015 36 19 1.2 0.6 | -56.8 -70.2 360 34 18 3.0 1.6
34000 -55.8 -68.4 020 42 22 5.6 3.1 | -54.8 -66.6 360 37 19 6.4 3.5
32000 -51.0 -59.8 020 42 22 7.9 4.4 | -50.4 -58.7 360 37 19 7.4 4.1
30000 -46.2 -51.2 015 42 21 8.1 4.4 | -45.9 -50.6 360 36 19 8.1 4.5
29000 -43.3 -45.9 015 40 20 7.9 4.3 | -42.9 -45.2 360 34 18 8.0 4.4
28000 -40.9 -41.6 015 38 20 7.9 4.3 | -40.5 -40.9 005 33 17 8.0 4.4
27000 -38.6 -37.5 015 37 19 7.8 4.3 | -38.1 -36.6 005 32 16 7.9 4.3
26000 -36.3 -33.3 010 36 18 7.5 4.1 | -35.9 -32.6 005 32 16 7.5 4.1
25000 -34.0 -29.2 010 34 18 7.6 4.1 | -33.6 -28.5 005 31 16 7.5 4.1
24000 -31.7 -25.1 010 33 17 7.7 4.2 | -31.4 -24.5 005 31 16 7.5 4.1
23000 -30.0 -22.0 010 33 17 5.3 2.9 | -29.8 -21.6 005 31 16 4.5 2.5
22000 -28.4 -19.1 010 33 17 5.3 2.9 | -28.5 -19.3 005 31 16 4.5 2.5
21000 -26.8 -16.2 010 33 17 5.4 3.0 | -27.1 -16.8 005 31 16 5.3 2.9
20000 -25.2 -13.4 010 32 16 5.6 3.1 | -25.3 -13.5 005 31 16 6.1 3.4
19500 -24.3 -11.7 010 31 16 5.6 3.1 | -24.4 -11.9 005 30 16 6.2 3.4
19000 -23.5 -10.3 010 30 15 5.6 3.1 | -23.5 -10.3 005 30 15 6.2 3.4
18500 -22.7 -8.9 010 29 15 5.9 3.2 | -22.6 -8.7 005 30 15 6.7 3.7
18000 -21.7 -7.1 005 28 15 6.7 3.7 | -21.5 -6.7 005 29 15 7.7 4.2
17500 -20.7 -5.3 005 27 14 6.7 3.7 | -20.3 -4.5 005 28 14 7.7 4.2
17000 -19.7 -3.5 005 27 14 6.8 3.7 | -19.2 -2.6 005 27 14 7.6 4.1
16500 -18.7 -1.7 005 26 13 6.8 3.7 | -18.0 -0.4 005 26 13 7.6 4.2
16000 -17.7 0.1 360 25 13 6.7 3.7 | -16.9 1.6 005 26 13 6.9 3.8
15500 -16.7 1.9 360 24 13 6.6 3.6 | -15.9 3.4 360 25 13 6.7 3.7
15000 -15.2 4.6 355 24 12 6.1 3.4 | -14.5 5.9 355 25 13 5.6 3.1
14500 -14.3 6.3 350 23 12 6.1 3.4 | -13.7 7.3 350 25 13 5.6 3.1
14000 -13.4 7.9 350 23 12 6.0 3.3 | -12.8 9.0 350 25 13 5.6 3.1
13500 -12.5 9.5 345 23 12 6.0 3.3 | -12.0 10.4 345 25 13 5.6 3.0
13000 -11.6 11.1 345 23 12 6.0 3.3 | -11.1 12.0 345 25 13 6.2 3.4
12500 -10.7 12.7 345 22 11 6.0 3.3 | -10.2 13.6 340 24 12 6.4 3.5
12000 -9.9 14.2 345 21 11 6.2 3.4 | -9.2 15.4 340 22 12 7.1 3.9
11500 -8.9 16.0 345 19 10 6.3 3.5 | -8.1 17.4 340 21 11 7.3 4.0
11000 -8.0 17.6 345 18 9 7.2 3.9 | -7.0 19.4 340 20 10 7.8 4.3
10500 -6.9 19.6 350 16 8 8.1 4.5 | -5.9 21.4 340 18 9 8.7 4.8
10250 -6.3 20.7 350 15 8 4.9 2.7 | -5.3 22.5 340 18 9 4.5 2.4
10000 -6.1 21.0 350 15 8 3.8 2.1 | -5.1 22.8 345 17 9 4.5 2.5
9750 -5.6 21.9 350 14 7 9.0 4.9 | -4.5 23.9 345 16 8 10.2 5.6
9500 -4.8 23.4 350 13 7 11.4 6.2 | -3.7 25.3 340 14 7 11.2 6.1
9250 -4.1 24.6 345 12 6 8.0 4.4 | -3.0 26.6 340 13 7 7.9 4.3
9000 -3.6 25.5 345 11 6 4.9 2.7 | -2.5 27.5 340 12 6 5.4 3.0
8750 -3.2 26.2 345 11 6 8.4 4.6 | -2.0 28.4 340 11 6 9.4 5.2
8500 -2.5 27.5 340 10 5 9.9 5.4 | -1.2 29.8 340 9 5 10.6 5.8
8250 -1.8 28.8 340 9 5 6.9 3.8 | -0.5 31.1 335 8 4 8.3 4.6
8000 -1.4 29.5 335 8 4 4.7 2.6 | 0.0 32.0 335 8 4 6.9 3.8
7750 -1.0 30.2 335 8 4 8.4 4.6 | 0.6 33.1 335 7 4 10.8 5.9
7500 -0.3 31.5 325 7 4 8.6 4.7 | 1.5 34.7 335 7 3 11.1 6.1
7250 0.2 32.4 320 6 3 5.2 2.8 | 2.2 36.0 335 6 3 8.1 4.5
7000 0.6 33.1 315 6 3 4.6 2.5 | 2.8 37.0 335 6 3 7.1 3.9
6750 0.9 33.6 310 5 3 7.8 4.3 | 3.4 38.1 335 6 3 12.4 6.8
6500 1.6 34.9 300 6 3 8.2 4.5 | 4.5 40.1 330 6 3 13.6 7.4
6250 2.1 35.8 295 6 3 5.9 3.3 | 5.3 41.5 330 5 3 9.9 5.4
6000 2.5 36.5 290 6 3 4.8 2.6 | 6.1 43.0 330 5 3 8.9 4.9
5750 2.8 37.0 285 5 3 4.6 2.5 | 6.8 44.2 330 5 3 13.3 7.3
5500 3.3 37.9 275 4 2 11.1 6.1 | 8.3 46.9 330 5 2 28.3 15.5
04/06/2025 at 1500 MDT | 04/06/2025 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +2.6 | CAPE... +3.9 LI... +0.6
CINH... -0.1 K Index... +8.3 | CINH... -1.8 K Index... +15.7
|
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 -57.3 -71.1 290 18 9 0.8 0.4 | -57.5 -71.5 290 18 9 0.7 0.4
45000 -56.1 -69.0 310 20 11 0.9 0.5 | -56.5 -69.7 310 21 11 0.8 0.5
40000 -58.2 -72.8 345 32 16 -1.5 -0.8 | -58.2 -72.8 350 37 19 -1.2 -0.7
38000 -57.9 -72.2 350 36 19 3.4 1.8 | -57.7 -71.9 355 42 22 3.7 2.0
36000 -55.9 -68.6 355 38 20 3.3 1.8 | -55.5 -67.9 005 44 23 3.7 2.0
34000 -53.8 -64.8 355 39 20 5.3 2.9 | -53.2 -63.8 010 46 24 5.2 2.8
32000 -50.3 -58.5 355 37 19 5.8 3.2 | -50.0 -58.0 005 43 22 5.4 3.0
30000 -46.7 -52.1 350 34 18 8.2 4.5 | -46.6 -51.9 005 39 20 7.6 4.2
29000 -44.2 -47.6 350 33 17 8.3 4.5 | -44.3 -47.7 005 39 20 7.6 4.2
28000 -41.7 -43.1 355 33 17 8.3 4.5 | -42.1 -43.8 005 38 20 7.6 4.2
27000 -38.6 -37.5 355 32 17 8.1 4.4 | -39.2 -38.6 005 38 19 7.7 4.2
26000 -36.3 -33.3 355 32 17 7.7 4.2 | -36.9 -34.4 005 38 19 7.8 4.3
25000 -34.0 -29.2 360 33 17 7.7 4.2 | -34.5 -30.1 010 38 20 7.8 4.3
24000 -31.7 -25.1 360 33 17 7.5 4.1 | -32.2 -26.0 010 38 20 7.7 4.2
23000 -30.1 -22.2 360 32 17 5.0 2.7 | -30.2 -22.4 010 37 19 6.6 3.6
22000 -28.6 -19.5 360 31 16 5.0 2.8 | -28.2 -18.8 005 36 19 6.6 3.6
21000 -27.1 -16.8 360 30 16 5.8 3.2 | -26.3 -15.3 005 35 18 5.7 3.1
20000 -25.2 -13.4 360 30 15 6.4 3.5 | -24.8 -12.6 360 33 17 5.2 2.9
19500 -24.2 -11.6 360 29 15 6.4 3.5 | -24.0 -11.2 360 33 17 5.2 2.9
19000 -23.3 -9.9 360 29 15 6.4 3.5 | -23.3 -9.9 360 32 16 5.3 2.9
18500 -22.3 -8.1 360 28 15 6.9 3.8 | -22.5 -8.5 355 31 16 6.1 3.4
18000 -21.2 -6.2 360 28 15 7.6 4.2 | -21.4 -6.5 355 30 16 7.1 3.9
17500 -20.1 -4.2 360 28 14 7.6 4.2 | -20.4 -4.7 355 29 15 7.2 3.9
17000 -19.0 -2.2 360 28 14 7.4 4.1 | -19.3 -2.7 355 29 15 7.9 4.3
16500 -17.9 -0.2 355 28 14 7.4 4.1 | -18.1 -0.6 355 28 15 7.8 4.3
16000 -16.8 1.8 355 28 15 7.0 3.8 | -17.0 1.4 355 28 14 7.4 4.1
15500 -15.8 3.6 350 28 15 6.8 3.8 | -15.9 3.4 355 27 14 7.4 4.0
15000 -14.8 5.4 350 29 15 7.0 3.8 | -14.8 5.4 355 27 14 7.2 4.0
14500 -13.7 7.3 345 28 15 7.1 3.9 | -13.7 7.3 355 26 13 7.1 3.9
14000 -12.6 9.3 345 28 14 7.1 3.9 | -12.7 9.1 355 25 13 7.2 4.0
13500 -11.6 11.1 340 27 14 7.2 4.0 | -11.6 11.1 355 24 12 7.4 4.1
13000 -10.0 14.0 340 26 13 7.2 4.0 | -9.9 14.2 355 21 11 8.0 4.4
12500 -8.9 16.0 340 24 12 7.2 3.9 | -8.7 16.3 355 19 10 8.0 4.4
12000 -7.8 18.0 340 22 11 7.8 4.3 | -7.5 18.5 355 17 9 9.1 5.0
11500 -6.7 19.9 340 19 10 8.0 4.4 | -6.1 21.0 355 16 8 9.4 5.1
11000 -5.5 22.1 345 17 9 8.3 4.6 | -4.7 23.5 350 15 8 9.5 5.2
10500 -4.2 24.4 345 15 7 9.7 5.3 | -3.3 26.1 350 14 7 10.8 6.0
10250 -3.6 25.5 345 13 7 3.1 1.7 | -2.6 27.3 345 13 7 3.7 2.1
10000 -3.6 25.5 345 13 7 5.1 2.8 | -2.6 27.3 345 13 7 5.5 3.0
9750 -2.7 27.1 345 12 6 12.9 7.1 | -1.7 28.9 340 13 7 13.4 7.4
9500 -1.9 28.6 345 12 6 12.0 6.6 | -0.8 30.6 335 12 6 12.5 6.9
9250 -1.0 30.2 345 11 6 8.3 4.6 | 0.1 32.2 335 12 6 8.2 4.5
9000 -0.6 30.9 345 11 6 6.1 3.4 | 0.5 32.9 330 12 6 5.9 3.2
8750 0.1 32.2 345 11 5 11.5 6.3 | 1.2 34.2 330 12 6 11.5 6.3
8500 1.0 33.8 345 10 5 12.0 6.6 | 2.1 35.8 325 12 6 11.7 6.4
8250 1.8 35.2 345 10 5 8.5 4.7 | 2.8 37.0 320 11 6 8.3 4.6
8000 2.3 36.1 345 10 5 6.8 3.7 | 3.3 37.9 320 11 6 6.9 3.8
7750 3.0 37.4 345 10 5 12.3 6.7 | 4.0 39.2 315 11 6 12.0 6.6
7500 4.0 39.2 345 10 5 12.2 6.7 | 5.0 41.0 315 12 6 12.0 6.6
7250 4.7 40.5 345 9 5 7.9 4.4 | 5.7 42.3 315 12 6 8.2 4.5
7000 5.3 41.5 345 9 5 7.4 4.0 | 6.3 43.3 310 12 6 7.8 4.3
6750 5.9 42.6 345 9 5 12.4 6.8 | 7.0 44.6 310 12 6 11.5 6.3
6500 7.0 44.6 350 9 4 12.5 6.9 | 7.9 46.2 310 12 6 11.4 6.3
6250 7.7 45.9 350 8 4 8.6 4.7 | 8.6 47.5 305 11 6 8.4 4.6
6000 8.4 47.1 350 8 4 8.2 4.5 | 9.3 48.7 305 11 6 8.7 4.8
5750 9.1 48.4 350 8 4 14.2 7.8 | 10.0 50.0 305 11 6 11.5 6.3
5500 10.7 51.3 350 7 4 28.2 15.4 | 11.0 51.8 305 10 5 17.2 9.5
________________________________________________________________________________
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.
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