Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
580
UXUS97 KGJT 091306
SRGGJT
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
706 AM MDT Wednesday, July 9, 2025
This forecast is for Wednesday, July 9, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 83.9 F/28.8 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1859 ft/min (9.4 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 25008 ft MSL (19399 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 102.0 F/39.3 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0930 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 2000 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 21574 ft MSL (15965 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 07/10..... Excellent
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:56:48 / 20:42:09 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 45 min 21 sec (885 min 21 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:19:29 MDT... 72.63 degrees
Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 07/09/2025 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 16185 ft MSL (10576 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 17129 ft MSL (11520 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 20014 ft MSL (14405 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -6.0
K index......................... +24.7
Height Temperature Wind Wind Spd Lapse Rate ConvectionT Thermal Lift Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft deg C deg F Index fpm m/s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -63.8 -82.8 275 30 16 2.5 1.4 M M M M M
45000 -58.7 -73.7 280 50 26 4.8 2.6 M M M M M
40000 -51.1 -60.0 280 66 34 6.7 3.7 M M M M M
38000 -47.0 -52.6 275 66 34 6.8 3.7 M M M M M
36000 -43.0 -45.4 275 66 34 6.8 3.7 M M M M M
34000 -38.9 -38.0 275 61 32 6.8 3.7 M M M M M
32000 -34.4 -29.9 275 55 29 6.8 3.7 M M M M M
30000 -30.3 -22.5 270 52 27 6.7 3.7 44.1 111.4 4.0 M M
29000 -28.3 -18.9 270 50 26 6.7 3.7 43.0 109.4 3.2 M M
28000 -26.3 -15.3 270 48 25 7.0 3.8 42.0 107.6 2.4 M M
27000 -24.2 -11.6 265 46 24 7.0 3.9 40.8 105.5 1.5 M M
26000 -22.1 -7.8 265 45 23 7.1 3.9 39.8 103.7 0.7 M M
25000 -20.0 -4.0 260 44 23 7.1 3.9 39.0 102.1 0.0 M M
24000 -17.9 -0.2 260 44 23 7.2 4.0 37.9 100.3 -0.9 1767 9.0
23000 -15.9 3.4 255 44 23 7.4 4.1 37.0 98.6 -1.8 1675 8.5
22000 -13.8 7.2 255 45 23 7.6 4.2 36.3 97.4 -2.6 1583 8.0
21000 -11.6 11.1 250 42 22 7.4 4.1 35.4 95.7 -3.4 1488 7.6
20000 -9.4 15.1 250 39 20 7.5 4.1 34.6 94.3 -4.2 1394 7.1
19500 -8.3 17.1 250 38 19 7.5 4.1 34.3 93.7 -4.6 1346 6.8
19000 -7.3 18.9 250 36 18 7.4 4.1 33.9 93.0 -4.9 1299 6.6
18500 -5.6 21.9 250 33 17 7.4 4.0 33.3 91.9 -5.5 1228 6.2
18000 -4.5 23.9 250 31 16 8.2 4.5 33.0 91.3 -5.9 1179 6.0
17500 -3.3 26.1 255 29 15 8.2 4.5 32.7 90.8 -6.1 1128 5.7
17000 -2.0 28.4 255 27 14 8.7 4.8 32.4 90.3 -6.4 1077 5.5
16500 -0.7 30.7 255 25 13 9.3 5.1 32.3 90.2 -6.5 1020 5.2
16000 0.7 33.3 260 24 12 9.4 5.1 32.3 90.1 -6.6 963 4.9
15500 2.1 35.8 260 22 11 9.1 5.0 32.2 89.9 -6.7 907 4.6
15000 3.5 38.3 265 20 11 9.1 5.0 32.1 89.8 -6.9 852 4.3
14500 4.8 40.6 265 19 10 8.9 4.9 32.0 89.6 -7.0 797 4.0
14000 6.1 43.0 270 18 9 8.9 4.9 31.8 89.3 -7.2 742 3.8
13500 7.5 45.5 270 17 9 8.9 4.9 31.7 89.1 -7.3 688 3.5
13000 8.8 47.8 270 17 9 9.0 4.9 31.6 88.8 -7.5 634 3.2
12500 10.1 50.2 270 17 9 8.8 4.8 31.5 88.6 -7.7 579 2.9
12000 11.3 52.3 265 17 9 8.5 4.7 31.3 88.3 -8.0 528 2.7
11500 12.6 54.7 265 17 9 8.3 4.5 31.1 87.9 -8.2 476 2.4
11000 13.7 56.7 260 16 8 7.1 3.9 30.7 87.3 -8.6 428 2.2
10500 14.8 58.6 260 15 8 9.3 5.1 30.5 86.9 -9.0 379 1.9
10250 15.5 59.9 255 15 8 8.1 4.5 30.4 86.7 -9.1 352 1.8
10000 16.0 60.8 255 14 7 7.1 3.9 30.2 86.4 -9.3 328 1.7
9750 16.5 61.7 250 13 7 7.1 3.9 30.0 86.1 -9.5 305 1.5
9500 17.1 62.8 250 12 6 8.4 4.6 29.8 85.7 -9.7 282 1.4
9250 17.7 63.9 245 11 6 8.3 4.5 29.8 85.6 -9.8 254 1.3
9000 18.3 64.9 240 10 5 6.7 3.7 29.6 85.2 -10.0 231 1.2
8750 18.8 65.8 230 10 5 7.2 3.9 29.4 84.8 -10.3 209 1.1
8500 19.3 66.7 220 9 5 6.8 3.7 29.2 84.5 -10.5 186 0.9
8250 19.8 67.6 215 9 5 5.9 3.2 28.9 84.0 -10.8 164 0.8
8000 20.2 68.4 205 9 5 5.4 3.0 28.6 83.4 -11.1 145 0.7
7750 20.6 69.1 195 9 5 5.5 3.0 28.2 82.8 -11.5 125 0.6
7500 21.0 69.8 185 9 5 5.6 3.1 27.9 82.3 -11.8 106 0.5
7250 21.4 70.5 180 10 5 5.4 3.0 27.6 81.7 -12.2 86 0.4
7000 21.7 71.1 175 11 5 4.3 2.4 27.2 81.0 -12.6 68 0.3
6750 22.0 71.6 170 10 5 3.9 2.1 26.8 80.3 -13.1 52 0.3
6500 22.2 72.0 165 9 5 0.2 0.1 26.3 79.3 -13.6 40 0.2
6250 22.0 71.6 160 8 4 -3.9 -2.1 25.4 77.6 -14.6 39 0.2
6000 21.8 71.2 150 8 4 2.4 1.3 24.5 76.1 -15.5 36 0.2
5750 22.1 71.8 140 7 3 -1.6 -0.9 24.0 75.2 -16.1 22 0.1
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 * * * * * *
07/09/2025 at 0900 MDT | 07/09/2025 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +1.8 | CAPE... +0.1 LI... +1.7
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +9.1 | 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 -65.3 -85.5 275 26 14 1.7 0.9 | -65.3 -85.5 265 24 12 1.3 0.7
45000 -59.9 -75.8 280 45 23 6.7 3.7 | -60.3 -76.5 280 44 22 6.8 3.7
40000 -50.0 -58.0 285 55 28 6.2 3.4 | -50.2 -58.4 280 57 29 6.4 3.5
38000 -45.8 -50.4 285 52 27 6.2 3.4 | -45.8 -50.4 280 53 27 6.4 3.5
36000 -42.0 -43.6 285 49 25 7.4 4.1 | -41.9 -43.4 280 49 25 7.2 3.9
34000 -37.4 -35.3 285 44 23 7.6 4.2 | -37.5 -35.5 280 44 23 7.3 4.0
32000 -32.9 -27.2 280 39 20 7.6 4.2 | -33.2 -27.8 280 39 20 7.6 4.2
30000 -29.0 -20.2 280 37 19 6.5 3.6 | -29.1 -20.4 275 35 18 6.7 3.7
29000 -27.0 -16.6 280 36 18 6.5 3.6 | -27.1 -16.8 275 33 17 6.8 3.7
28000 -25.0 -13.0 280 34 17 6.6 3.6 | -25.1 -13.2 275 30 16 6.3 3.4
27000 -23.1 -9.6 285 31 16 6.6 3.6 | -23.2 -9.8 275 27 14 6.4 3.5
26000 -21.1 -6.0 285 28 14 6.6 3.6 | -21.3 -6.3 275 23 12 6.4 3.5
25000 -19.1 -2.4 290 25 13 6.9 3.8 | -19.3 -2.7 275 19 10 6.9 3.8
24000 -16.9 1.6 290 24 12 7.1 3.9 | -16.6 2.1 275 18 9 7.3 4.0
23000 -14.3 6.3 285 22 11 7.1 3.9 | -14.4 6.1 270 17 9 7.3 4.0
22000 -12.2 10.0 285 20 10 6.1 3.4 | -12.3 9.9 265 17 9 6.7 3.7
21000 -10.4 13.3 275 19 10 6.3 3.5 | -10.3 13.5 260 18 9 6.8 3.8
20000 -8.5 16.7 270 17 9 6.4 3.5 | -8.3 17.1 260 19 10 7.0 3.8
19500 -7.6 18.3 265 17 9 7.1 3.9 | -7.3 18.9 255 20 10 7.4 4.1
19000 -6.6 20.1 265 16 8 7.4 4.1 | -6.2 20.8 255 20 10 7.6 4.1
18500 -5.5 22.1 260 15 8 7.6 4.2 | -5.1 22.8 255 20 10 7.7 4.2
18000 -4.3 24.3 260 14 7 9.1 5.0 | -3.9 25.0 255 20 10 8.8 4.8
17500 -3.0 26.6 260 14 7 9.0 4.9 | -2.6 27.3 255 20 10 8.8 4.8
17000 -1.6 29.1 260 13 7 9.3 5.1 | -1.3 29.7 250 19 10 9.2 5.0
16500 -0.2 31.6 260 12 6 9.4 5.2 | 0.0 32.0 250 18 10 9.3 5.1
16000 1.2 34.2 260 11 6 9.4 5.2 | 1.4 34.5 250 18 9 9.3 5.1
15500 2.6 36.7 260 10 5 9.3 5.1 | 2.8 37.0 250 17 9 9.5 5.2
15000 4.0 39.2 260 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 4.2 39.6 250 15 8 9.5 5.2
14500 5.3 41.5 265 7 4 9.2 5.0 | 5.6 42.1 250 14 7 9.4 5.2
14000 6.7 44.1 270 7 3 9.2 5.1 | 7.1 44.8 245 13 7 9.5 5.2
13500 8.1 46.6 275 6 3 9.0 5.0 | 8.5 47.3 245 12 6 9.1 5.0
13000 9.4 48.9 280 6 3 9.0 5.0 | 9.8 49.6 245 11 6 9.1 5.0
12500 10.8 51.4 290 6 3 9.1 5.0 | 11.2 52.2 245 10 5 9.2 5.0
12000 12.2 54.0 290 6 3 9.1 5.0 | 12.6 54.7 245 8 4 9.2 5.0
11500 13.5 56.3 295 6 3 9.0 4.9 | 14.0 57.2 245 7 4 9.0 4.9
11000 14.9 58.8 295 5 3 8.8 4.8 | 15.3 59.5 240 6 3 8.7 4.8
10500 16.2 61.2 295 5 3 8.5 4.7 | 16.6 61.9 240 5 3 6.8 3.7
10250 16.8 62.2 295 5 3 8.4 4.6 | 17.1 62.8 240 4 2 7.8 4.3
10000 17.4 63.3 295 5 2 8.8 4.8 | 17.8 64.0 240 4 2 11.0 6.0
9750 18.1 64.6 290 4 2 8.7 4.8 | 18.6 65.5 245 4 2 10.5 5.8
9500 18.7 65.7 290 4 2 8.7 4.8 | 19.4 66.9 245 3 2 9.2 5.0
9250 19.4 66.9 280 3 2 8.3 4.5 | 20.0 68.0 245 3 1 8.4 4.6
9000 19.9 67.8 270 3 2 7.2 3.9 | 20.7 69.3 245 2 1 9.9 5.4
8750 20.9 69.6 255 2 1 5.5 3.0 | 22.2 72.0 250 2 1 8.7 4.7
8500 21.3 70.3 225 2 1 4.0 2.2 | 22.7 72.9 245 2 1 6.4 3.5
8250 21.6 70.9 200 2 1 4.8 2.7 | 23.3 73.9 240 2 1 9.5 5.2
8000 21.9 71.4 180 3 1 5.0 2.7 | 24.1 75.4 245 2 1 11.8 6.5
7750 22.3 72.1 165 3 2 3.5 1.9 | 24.9 76.8 250 2 1 9.0 4.9
7500 22.4 72.3 160 4 2 2.2 1.2 | 25.5 77.9 240 2 1 7.1 3.9
7250 22.6 72.7 160 5 3 3.9 2.2 | 26.1 79.0 235 1 1 9.3 5.1
7000 23.0 73.4 155 5 3 6.7 3.6 | 26.9 80.4 240 2 1 12.2 6.7
6750 23.5 74.3 150 5 2 6.3 3.5 | 27.8 82.0 245 2 1 11.0 6.0
6500 23.9 75.0 145 5 3 5.2 2.9 | 28.5 83.3 240 1 1 10.5 5.8
6250 24.3 75.7 145 5 3 6.1 3.3 | 29.3 84.7 235 1 1 8.7 4.8
6000 24.9 76.8 140 4 2 11.3 6.2 | 30.0 86.0 240 1 1 15.0 8.2
5750 26.0 78.8 135 4 2 18.3 10.0 | 31.8 89.2 245 1 1 32.1 17.6
5500 27.1 80.8 130 4 2 6.4 3.5 | 33.6 92.5 240 1 1 3.1 1.7
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
07/09/2025 at 1500 MDT | 07/09/2025 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +7.6 LI... +0.4 | CAPE... +5.1 LI... +0.3
CINH... -0.5 K Index... +16.2 | CINH... -1.4 K Index... +19.5
|
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 -65.7 -86.3 265 29 15 1.8 1.0 | -65.2 -85.4 270 33 17 1.8 1.0
45000 -60.3 -76.5 275 46 24 6.6 3.6 | -60.2 -76.4 275 51 26 6.0 3.3
40000 -50.4 -58.7 280 57 29 6.6 3.6 | -51.1 -60.0 280 61 31 6.7 3.7
38000 -46.0 -50.8 280 54 28 6.6 3.6 | -46.6 -51.9 280 56 29 6.7 3.7
36000 -42.0 -43.6 275 51 26 7.1 3.9 | -42.5 -44.5 280 52 27 7.5 4.1
34000 -37.7 -35.9 275 47 24 7.2 3.9 | -38.0 -36.4 275 48 25 7.6 4.2
32000 -33.4 -28.1 275 43 22 7.9 4.3 | -33.4 -28.1 275 44 22 8.2 4.5
30000 -29.1 -20.4 275 37 19 7.2 4.0 | -29.1 -20.4 270 37 19 7.2 4.0
29000 -26.9 -16.4 275 34 17 7.2 4.0 | -27.0 -16.6 270 34 18 7.2 4.0
28000 -24.9 -12.8 270 31 16 6.1 3.3 | -24.9 -12.8 265 31 16 6.8 3.7
27000 -23.0 -9.4 270 28 14 6.2 3.4 | -22.9 -9.2 260 29 15 6.9 3.8
26000 -21.1 -6.0 265 25 13 6.2 3.4 | -20.8 -5.4 260 26 14 6.9 3.8
25000 -19.3 -2.7 265 22 11 6.7 3.7 | -18.8 -1.8 255 24 12 6.9 3.8
24000 -16.7 1.9 260 21 11 7.1 3.9 | -16.8 1.8 250 23 12 7.0 3.8
23000 -14.6 5.7 255 20 10 7.1 3.9 | -14.2 6.4 240 21 11 7.0 3.8
22000 -12.4 9.7 250 19 10 8.0 4.4 | -12.1 10.2 235 20 10 7.6 4.2
21000 -10.1 13.8 250 19 10 7.9 4.4 | -9.9 14.2 235 20 10 7.6 4.2
20000 -7.8 18.0 250 18 9 8.0 4.4 | -7.7 18.1 235 19 10 7.6 4.2
19500 -6.6 20.1 250 18 9 8.7 4.8 | -6.6 20.1 235 19 10 8.3 4.5
19000 -5.3 22.5 250 18 9 8.8 4.8 | -5.3 22.5 235 19 10 8.5 4.7
18500 -4.0 24.8 250 18 9 8.9 4.9 | -4.0 24.8 235 18 9 8.6 4.7
18000 -2.7 27.1 250 17 9 9.0 4.9 | -2.7 27.1 235 18 9 9.3 5.1
17500 -1.3 29.7 245 17 9 9.0 4.9 | -1.3 29.7 235 18 9 9.2 5.1
17000 0.0 32.0 245 17 9 9.3 5.1 | 0.1 32.2 235 18 9 9.5 5.2
16500 1.4 34.5 245 16 8 9.4 5.1 | 1.5 34.7 240 17 9 9.6 5.2
16000 2.8 37.0 245 16 8 9.4 5.1 | 2.9 37.2 240 17 9 9.5 5.2
15500 4.2 39.6 245 16 8 9.3 5.1 | 4.3 39.7 245 17 9 9.3 5.1
15000 5.6 42.1 245 15 8 9.3 5.1 | 5.7 42.3 245 17 9 9.3 5.1
14500 7.0 44.6 245 15 8 9.4 5.1 | 7.1 44.8 245 17 9 9.5 5.2
14000 8.4 47.1 250 15 8 9.4 5.1 | 8.6 47.5 250 17 9 9.5 5.2
13500 9.8 49.6 250 14 7 9.3 5.1 | 10.0 50.0 250 16 8 9.4 5.2
13000 11.2 52.2 250 14 7 9.3 5.1 | 11.4 52.5 255 16 8 9.4 5.2
12500 12.6 54.7 250 14 7 9.4 5.2 | 12.8 55.0 255 16 8 9.4 5.2
12000 14.0 57.2 255 13 7 9.4 5.2 | 14.2 57.6 260 16 8 9.4 5.2
11500 15.4 59.7 255 13 7 9.4 5.1 | 15.6 60.1 265 16 8 9.3 5.1
11000 16.8 62.2 255 13 7 9.1 5.0 | 17.0 62.6 265 16 8 9.0 4.9
10500 18.2 64.8 260 12 6 6.9 3.8 | 18.3 64.9 270 16 8 7.4 4.1
10250 18.6 65.5 265 12 6 7.7 4.2 | 18.8 65.8 270 16 8 8.1 4.5
10000 19.4 66.9 265 12 6 11.2 6.1 | 19.6 67.3 270 16 8 10.8 5.9
9750 20.2 68.4 265 12 6 10.5 5.7 | 20.3 68.5 275 16 8 10.1 5.6
9500 21.0 69.8 265 11 6 9.8 5.4 | 21.1 70.0 275 16 8 10.1 5.6
9250 21.7 71.1 270 11 6 9.1 5.0 | 21.8 71.2 280 17 9 9.5 5.2
9000 22.4 72.3 270 11 6 9.5 5.2 | 22.5 72.5 280 16 8 9.1 5.0
8750 23.1 73.6 270 11 6 9.6 5.3 | 23.2 73.8 280 16 8 9.3 5.1
8500 23.8 74.8 270 11 6 9.3 5.1 | 24.5 76.1 285 16 8 7.9 4.4
8250 25.1 77.2 275 11 6 10.3 5.6 | 25.1 77.2 285 17 9 9.2 5.0
8000 26.0 78.8 275 11 6 11.8 6.4 | 25.9 78.6 285 16 8 10.6 5.8
7750 26.8 80.2 275 11 6 9.6 5.3 | 26.7 80.1 285 15 8 9.3 5.1
7500 27.4 81.3 275 11 6 7.6 4.2 | 27.3 81.1 285 15 8 7.7 4.3
7250 28.1 82.6 280 11 6 9.7 5.3 | 27.9 82.2 290 16 8 8.9 4.9
7000 28.9 84.0 275 11 6 12.6 6.9 | 28.6 83.5 290 15 8 11.2 6.1
6750 29.8 85.6 275 11 5 11.6 6.3 | 29.5 85.1 290 14 7 10.8 5.9
6500 30.6 87.1 280 11 5 10.9 6.0 | 30.2 86.4 290 15 8 10.1 5.5
6250 31.4 88.5 280 11 5 9.2 5.0 | 31.0 87.8 290 15 8 9.6 5.3
6000 32.2 90.0 280 10 5 14.4 7.9 | 31.7 89.1 290 15 8 10.7 5.8
5750 33.9 93.0 280 10 5 31.8 17.5 | 32.7 90.9 290 12 6 17.6 9.6
5500 36.1 97.0 285 9 5 16.4 9.0 | 34.3 93.7 295 12 6 24.7 13.6
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.
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