Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO

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031
UXUS97 KGJT 251305
SRGGJT

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
705 AM MDT Friday, July 25, 2025

This forecast is for Friday, July 25, 2025:

If the trigger temperature of 81.2 F/27.3 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 1751 ft/min (8.9 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 23500 ft MSL (17892 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 94.0 F/34.9 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0945 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................. 20087 ft MSL (14478 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Saturday 07/26..... Excellent

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

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:09:06 / 20:32:17 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 23 min 11 sec (863 min 11 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:20:42 MDT... 69.85 degrees

Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 07/25/2025 at 0600 MDT

Freezing level.................. 15424 ft MSL (9816 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 20768 ft MSL (15160 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 22037 ft MSL (16429 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -1.4
K index......................... +9.9

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  -58.6 -73.5   200   31   16   2.8   1.5      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -54.2 -65.6   205   46   23   2.9   1.6      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -49.8 -57.6   210   60   31   2.9   1.6      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -48.1 -54.6   210   56   29   2.9   1.6      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -46.4 -51.5   210   51   26   2.9   1.6      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -43.2 -45.8   210   48   25   6.3   3.5      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -38.9 -38.0   205   44   23   6.3   3.4      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -34.6 -30.3   205   39   20   7.5   4.1   39.5 103.1     3.8      M    M
 29000  -32.3 -26.1   200   36   18   7.6   4.2   38.7 101.7     3.2      M    M
 28000  -30.1 -22.2   200   33   17   8.0   4.4   38.0 100.4     2.7      M    M
 27000  -27.6 -17.7   200   33   17   8.4   4.6   37.4  99.3     2.2      M    M
 26000  -25.1 -13.2   205   33   17   8.5   4.6   36.9  98.4     1.8      M    M
 25000  -22.6  -8.7   205   33   17   8.7   4.8   36.5  97.7     1.4      M    M
 24000  -20.5  -4.9   205   32   17   6.5   3.6   35.4  95.8     0.6      M    M
 23000  -18.6  -1.5   205   31   16   6.5   3.6   34.2  93.6    -0.5   1711  8.7
 22000  -16.7   1.9   205   30   16   6.6   3.6   33.2  91.7    -1.4   1624  8.2
 21000  -14.6   5.7   205   29   15   7.5   4.1   32.2  90.0    -2.2   1530  7.8
 20000  -12.4   9.7   205   27   14   7.5   4.1   31.4  88.6    -3.0   1435  7.3
 19500  -11.3  11.7   210   26   13   7.4   4.1   31.1  88.0    -3.3   1387  7.0
 19000  -10.1  13.8   210   25   13   8.2   4.5   30.8  87.4    -3.6   1338  6.8
 18500   -8.9  16.0   210   24   12   8.3   4.6   30.5  86.9    -3.9   1286  6.5
 18000   -7.0  19.4   210   22   12   8.7   4.8   30.2  86.3    -4.2   1207  6.1
 17500   -5.7  21.7   210   22   11   8.8   4.8   30.0  86.0    -4.3   1152  5.9
 17000   -4.3  24.3   210   21   11   9.0   5.0   29.9  85.8    -4.5   1097  5.6
 16500   -2.9  26.8   210   20   10   9.6   5.3   29.8  85.7    -4.5   1040  5.3
 16000   -1.4  29.5   210   19   10   9.7   5.3   29.8  85.6    -4.6    981  5.0
 15500   -0.0  32.0   215   18    9   9.3   5.1   29.8  85.6    -4.6    924  4.7
 15000    1.4  34.5   215   17    9   9.3   5.1   29.7  85.4    -4.7    868  4.4
 14500    2.8  37.0   215   16    8   9.3   5.1   29.6  85.3    -4.8    811  4.1
 14000    4.1  39.4   220   16    8   9.2   5.1   29.5  85.1    -4.9    755  3.8
 13500    5.5  41.9   220   15    8   9.2   5.1   29.4  85.0    -5.0    699  3.6
 13000    6.9  44.4   225   14    7   9.2   5.0   29.3  84.8    -5.1    643  3.3
 12500    8.3  46.9   225   13    7   9.0   4.9   29.3  84.7    -5.2    588  3.0
 12000    9.5  49.1   230   12    6   8.3   4.5   29.1  84.3    -5.5    535  2.7
 11500   10.8  51.4   235   12    6   8.2   4.5   28.8  83.9    -5.7    483  2.5
 11000   11.9  53.4   235   11    6   7.3   4.0   28.5  83.3    -6.0    433  2.2
 10500   13.1  55.6   240   11    6  10.3   5.6   28.2  82.8    -6.3    383  1.9
 10250   13.9  57.0   235   11    6   9.1   5.0   28.3  83.0    -6.3    352  1.8
 10000   14.4  57.9   235   10    5   6.8   3.7   28.1  82.6    -6.5    328  1.7
  9750   15.0  59.0   235   10    5   7.0   3.8   27.9  82.2    -6.7    305  1.5
  9500   15.5  59.9   230    9    5   8.5   4.7   27.7  81.9    -6.9    281  1.4
  9250   16.2  61.2   225    9    5   8.3   4.6   27.7  81.8    -7.0    254  1.3
  9000   16.7  62.1   220    8    4   6.4   3.5   27.4  81.4    -7.2    231  1.2
  8750   17.2  63.0   215    8    4   7.0   3.9   27.2  81.0    -7.5    209  1.1
  8500   17.7  63.9   210    7    4   6.3   3.4   27.0  80.6    -7.7    186  0.9
  8250   18.1  64.6   200    7    4   5.6   3.1   26.7  80.0    -8.0    166  0.8
  8000   18.5  65.3   195    7    4   5.7   3.1   26.4  79.5    -8.4    146  0.7
  7750   19.0  66.2   185    7    4   5.8   3.2   26.1  78.9    -8.7    127  0.6
  7500   19.4  66.9   180    7    4   5.4   3.0   25.8  78.4    -9.0    107  0.5
  7250   19.7  67.5   170    8    4   4.7   2.6   25.4  77.7    -9.4     89  0.5
  7000   20.0  68.0   165    9    5   3.9   2.1   25.0  77.0    -9.9     72  0.4
  6750   20.3  68.5   160    9    5   3.7   2.0   24.5  76.1   -10.4     57  0.3
  6500   20.5  68.9   155    9    4  -0.5  -0.3   24.0  75.2   -11.0     45  0.2
  6250   20.2  68.4   150    8    4  -5.3  -2.9   23.0  73.3   -12.0     46  0.2
  6000   19.9  67.8   140    7    4   1.3   0.7   22.0  71.6   -13.0     47  0.2
  5750   20.0  68.0   130    7    3  -4.6  -2.5   21.4  70.5   -13.7     37  0.2
  5500      M     M     M    M    M     M     M      M     M       M      M    M
  5250      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

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

           07/25/2025 at 0900 MDT          |       07/25/2025 at 1200 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...    +2.0    LI...       +2.8        | CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +3.0
CINH...   -20.8    K Index... +10.2        | CINH...     0.0    K Index... +10.3
                                           |
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 -59.1 -74.4  215  27 14   2.9   1.6 | -59.3 -74.7  210  30 15   2.6   1.4
 45000 -54.6 -66.3  215  42 21   3.3   1.8 | -54.7 -66.5  210  45 23   3.7   2.0
 40000 -49.8 -57.6  210  50 26   2.1   1.2 | -49.3 -56.7  215  49 25   1.6   0.9
 38000 -48.4 -55.1  210  43 22   2.2   1.2 | -48.3 -54.9  210  42 22   1.7   0.9
 36000 -47.0 -52.6  205  35 18   1.5   0.8 | -47.3 -53.1  210  35 18   1.9   1.0
 34000 -42.7 -44.9  210  29 15   7.9   4.3 | -42.9 -45.2  210  30 15   7.9   4.3
 32000 -38.0 -36.4  225  24 12   7.8   4.3 | -38.2 -36.8  215  25 13   7.7   4.2
 30000 -33.4 -28.1  225  19 10   7.6   4.2 | -33.7 -28.7  210  21 11   7.5   4.1
 29000 -31.1 -24.0  230  17  9   7.6   4.2 | -31.5 -24.7  205  20 10   7.5   4.1
 28000 -28.8 -19.8  230  14  7   7.5   4.1 | -29.2 -20.6  205  18  9   7.7   4.3
 27000 -26.6 -15.9  225  13  7   7.3   4.0 | -26.8 -16.2  205  16  8   7.9   4.3
 26000 -24.4 -11.9  225  12  6   7.3   4.0 | -24.5 -12.1  205  15  8   7.9   4.4
 25000 -22.3  -8.1  220  11  6   7.2   4.0 | -22.1  -7.8  200  14  7   7.9   4.4
 24000 -19.9  -3.8  220  10  5   8.2   4.5 | -19.6  -3.3  200  13  7   8.1   4.5
 23000 -17.4   0.7  220   9  5   8.2   4.5 | -17.2   1.0  195  13  6   8.1   4.5
 22000 -14.4   6.1  220   8  4   7.1   3.9 | -14.8   5.4  190  12  6   7.9   4.3
 21000 -12.5   9.5  225   9  5   6.6   3.6 | -12.7   9.1  195  12  6   7.0   3.8
 20000 -10.5  13.1  230  11  5   6.7   3.7 | -10.6  12.9  200  13  7   7.1   3.9
 19500  -9.5  14.9  230  11  6   6.6   3.6 |  -9.1  15.6  205  13  7   6.5   3.6
 19000  -8.6  16.5  230  13  7   6.5   3.6 |  -8.2  17.2  210  14  7   5.7   3.2
 18500  -7.7  18.1  230  15  8   6.6   3.6 |  -7.5  18.5  215  16  8   5.8   3.2
 18000  -6.7  19.9  230  17  9   7.3   4.0 |  -6.6  20.1  215  18  9   7.7   4.2
 17500  -5.7  21.7  230  18  9   7.5   4.1 |  -5.5  22.1  220  18 10   7.8   4.3
 17000  -4.6  23.7  230  19 10   7.9   4.3 |  -4.4  24.1  220  19 10   8.1   4.4
 16500  -3.3  26.1  230  19 10   8.8   4.8 |  -3.1  26.4  220  19 10   8.5   4.7
 16000  -2.0  28.4  230  19 10   8.7   4.8 |  -1.8  28.8  225  19 10   8.5   4.7
 15500  -0.7  30.7  230  19 10   9.3   5.1 |  -0.5  31.1  225  18  9   9.1   5.0
 15000   0.7  33.3  225  18  9   9.2   5.1 |   0.9  33.6  225  17  9   9.0   5.0
 14500   2.1  35.8  225  18  9   9.0   4.9 |   2.2  36.0  225  17  9   9.2   5.1
 14000   3.4  38.1  225  17  9   8.9   4.9 |   3.6  38.5  225  16  8   9.3   5.1
 13500   4.7  40.5  225  16  8   9.0   4.9 |   5.0  41.0  225  15  8   9.3   5.1
 13000   6.1  43.0  225  15  8   9.1   5.0 |   6.4  43.5  225  14  7   9.3   5.1
 12500   7.5  45.5  220  14  7   9.0   4.9 |   7.8  46.0  225  13  7   9.2   5.1
 12000   8.8  47.8  220  13  7   8.6   4.7 |   9.1  48.4  225  12  6   9.1   5.0
 11500  10.1  50.2  220  12  6   8.6   4.7 |  10.5  50.9  225  11  6   9.4   5.1
 11000  11.4  52.5  220  11  6   8.0   4.4 |  11.9  53.4  225  10  5  10.0   5.5
 10500  12.6  54.7  220  10  5   4.7   2.6 |  13.2  55.8  225   9  5   7.4   4.0
 10250  12.8  55.0  220   9  5   5.5   3.0 |  13.8  56.8  225   9  5   8.1   4.5
 10000  13.5  56.3  220   9  5  10.6   5.8 |  14.5  58.1  230   8  4   9.4   5.1
  9750  14.2  57.6  220   8  4   9.4   5.2 |  15.1  59.2  230   8  4   8.1   4.5
  9500  14.9  58.8  215   8  4   9.0   4.9 |  15.8  60.4  230   7  4  11.9   6.5
  9250  15.5  59.9  215   7  4   7.1   3.9 |  16.7  62.1  235   6  3  10.9   6.0
  9000  16.0  60.8  215   7  4   7.3   4.0 |  17.3  63.1  240   6  3   6.9   3.8
  8750  16.6  61.9  210   7  4   8.0   4.4 |  17.9  64.2  240   6  3   7.1   3.9
  8500  17.2  63.0  205   7  4   7.3   4.0 |  18.4  65.1  240   6  3  10.5   5.8
  8250  17.6  63.7  195   7  3   6.4   3.5 |  19.3  66.7  250   4  2  11.4   6.2
  8000  18.5  65.3  185   6  3   6.6   3.6 |  20.0  68.0  250   5  2   8.0   4.4
  7750  19.0  66.2  180   7  3   5.6   3.1 |  20.6  69.1  245   5  2   8.7   4.7
  7500  19.3  66.7  175   7  4   4.5   2.4 |  21.3  70.3  245   5  2   9.7   5.3
  7250  19.6  67.3  170   7  4   5.1   2.8 |  22.0  71.6  260   4  2  10.5   5.8
  7000  20.0  68.0  165   7  4   6.7   3.7 |  22.8  73.0  265   4  2   9.3   5.1
  6750  20.5  68.9  165   6  3   6.4   3.5 |  23.4  74.1  255   4  2   9.8   5.4
  6500  20.8  69.4  160   6  3   5.5   3.0 |  24.3  75.7  255   4  2  11.8   6.5
  6250  21.2  70.2  155   6  3   5.1   2.8 |  25.2  77.4  270   4  2  13.6   7.5
  6000  21.6  70.9  150   5  3   9.0   5.0 |  26.1  79.0  280   3  2   6.9   3.8
  5750  22.6  72.7  145   4  2  18.0   9.9 |  26.4  79.5  260   4  2   8.7   4.8
  5500  23.7  74.7  130   4  2   3.6   2.0 |     M     M    M   M  M     M     M
  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

           07/25/2025 at 1500 MDT          |       07/25/2025 at 1800 MDT
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +1.7        | CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +1.1
CINH...    -0.0    K Index...  +9.2        | CINH...    -0.2    K Index...  +8.5
                                           |
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 -59.3 -74.7  205  30 15   2.6   1.4 | -59.9 -75.8  200  31 16   2.8   1.6
 45000 -54.7 -66.5  210  45 23   4.1   2.3 | -54.9 -66.8  210  45 23   4.3   2.4
 40000 -48.8 -55.8  220  51 26   1.3   0.7 | -48.8 -55.8  225  52 27   1.3   0.7
 38000 -48.0 -54.4  220  42 22   1.4   0.8 | -47.9 -54.2  225  46 23   1.4   0.8
 36000 -47.0 -52.6  220  33 17   0.6   0.4 | -47.0 -52.6  230  38 20   0.6   0.3
 34000 -43.0 -45.4  220  29 15   7.5   4.1 | -43.1 -45.6  230  33 17   7.3   4.0
 32000 -38.5 -37.3  220  26 13   7.4   4.1 | -38.7 -37.7  230  27 14   7.2   4.0
 30000 -33.9 -29.0  215  24 12   7.8   4.3 | -33.8 -28.8  230  24 12   8.5   4.7
 29000 -31.6 -24.9  215  23 12   7.8   4.3 | -31.2 -24.2  225  23 12   8.5   4.7
 28000 -29.3 -20.7  215  22 11   8.0   4.4 | -28.7 -19.7  225  22 11   8.2   4.5
 27000 -26.8 -16.2  215  21 11   8.2   4.5 | -26.3 -15.3  220  21 11   7.9   4.4
 26000 -24.3 -11.7  215  20 10   8.2   4.5 | -23.9 -11.0  220  20 10   7.9   4.4
 25000 -21.9  -7.4  210  19 10   8.2   4.5 | -21.6  -6.9  220  20 10   8.0   4.4
 24000 -19.4  -2.9  210  18  9   8.2   4.5 | -19.2  -2.6  220  20 10   7.8   4.3
 23000 -17.0   1.4  210  17  9   8.2   4.5 | -16.9   1.6  215  20 10   7.8   4.3
 22000 -14.0   6.8  205  16  8   6.8   3.8 | -14.0   6.8  210  20 10   7.1   3.9
 21000 -12.1  10.2  200  16  8   6.5   3.5 | -12.0  10.4  210  18 10   6.9   3.8
 20000 -10.2  13.6  200  16  8   6.6   3.6 | -10.0  14.0  210  17  9   7.0   3.9
 19500  -9.3  15.3  200  16  8   6.9   3.8 |  -9.0  15.8  210  17  9   7.4   4.1
 19000  -8.2  17.2  200  16  8   7.6   4.2 |  -7.8  18.0  205  16  8   8.3   4.6
 18500  -7.1  19.2  200  16  8   7.5   4.1 |  -6.6  20.1  205  16  8   8.3   4.5
 18000  -6.0  21.2  200  16  8   8.3   4.6 |  -5.4  22.3  205  15  8   9.0   5.0
 17500  -4.7  23.5  200  15  8   8.5   4.6 |  -4.0  24.8  205  14  7   9.2   5.0
 17000  -3.5  25.7  200  15  8   8.6   4.7 |  -2.6  27.3  210  14  7   9.2   5.0
 16500  -2.2  28.0  205  14  7   9.1   5.0 |  -1.2  29.8  210  13  6   9.3   5.1
 16000  -0.8  30.6  205  13  7   9.0   5.0 |   0.1  32.2  210  12  6   9.3   5.1
 15500   0.5  32.9  205  13  7   9.1   5.0 |   1.5  34.7  215  11  6   9.2   5.0
 15000   1.9  35.4  210  12  6   9.1   5.0 |   2.9  37.2  215  10  5   9.2   5.0
 14500   3.3  37.9  210  11  6   9.3   5.1 |   4.3  39.7  220   9  5   9.3   5.1
 14000   4.7  40.5  215  10  5   9.3   5.1 |   5.7  42.3  225   8  4   9.3   5.1
 13500   6.1  43.0  215  10  5   9.2   5.0 |   7.1  44.8  230   8  4   9.2   5.1
 13000   7.4  45.3  220   9  5   9.1   5.0 |   8.4  47.1  235   7  4   9.0   5.0
 12500   8.8  47.8  225   9  4   9.1   5.0 |   9.8  49.6  240   7  3   9.1   5.0
 12000  10.1  50.2  235   8  4   9.2   5.0 |  11.2  52.2  245   6  3   9.4   5.1
 11500  11.5  52.7  240   8  4   9.1   5.0 |  12.6  54.7  255   6  3   9.3   5.1
 11000  12.8  55.0  250   7  4   8.4   4.6 |  13.8  56.8  265   6  3   7.5   4.1
 10500  14.0  57.2  265   7  3  11.0   6.1 |  14.9  58.8  280   6  3  12.0   6.6
 10250  15.0  59.0  260   7  4  11.7   6.4 |  16.0  60.8  270   6  3  13.3   7.3
 10000  15.7  60.3  260   7  4   8.6   4.7 |  16.7  62.1  275   6  3   8.1   4.5
  9750  16.4  61.5  265   8  4   9.5   5.2 |  17.4  63.3  275   6  3   9.7   5.3
  9500  17.1  62.8  265   8  4   9.1   5.0 |  18.1  64.6  280   7  3   8.5   4.6
  9250  17.8  64.0  275   7  4   9.5   5.2 |  18.7  65.7  285   7  4   7.1   3.9
  9000  18.5  65.3  280   7  4  10.0   5.5 |  19.2  66.6  295   7  4   9.1   5.0
  8750  19.3  66.7  280   8  4  10.3   5.6 |  20.0  68.0  290   7  4  10.7   5.9
  8500  20.0  68.0  280   8  4   9.9   5.4 |  20.8  69.4  290   7  4  10.1   5.6
  8250  20.7  69.3  280   8  4   8.0   4.4 |  21.5  70.7  290   7  4   7.7   4.2
  8000  22.1  71.8  290   8  4  11.8   6.5 |  22.8  73.0  295   8  4  11.4   6.2
  7750  23.0  73.4  285   8  4  10.0   5.5 |  23.6  74.5  295   7  4  10.0   5.5
  7500  23.6  74.5  285   8  4   7.9   4.3 |  24.3  75.7  295   8  4   7.9   4.3
  7250  24.2  75.6  295   9  4   8.8   4.8 |  24.9  76.8  300   8  4   8.3   4.6
  7000  25.0  77.0  295   9  4  12.8   7.0 |  25.6  78.1  300   8  4  11.6   6.4
  6750  26.0  78.8  285   9  4  11.9   6.5 |  26.5  79.7  295   7  4  11.4   6.3
  6500  26.8  80.2  290   9  4   9.9   5.4 |  27.3  81.1  300   8  4   9.9   5.5
  6250  27.5  81.5  295   9  5   9.5   5.2 |  28.0  82.4  300   8  4   9.9   5.4
  6000  28.3  82.9  300   9  5  12.3   6.8 |  28.8  83.8  305   8  4   9.5   5.2
  5750  29.6  85.3  290   8  4  25.5  14.0 |  29.6  85.3  295   7  4  14.8   8.1
  5500  32.0  89.6  300   9  4  36.7  20.1 |  31.5  88.7  310   7  4  41.0  22.5
  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