Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Elko, NV
Issued by NWS Elko, NV
Versions:
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652
UXUS97 KLKN 180645
SRGLKN
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Elko, Nevada
2344 PDT Sunday, August 17, 2025
DISCLAIMER: A soaring forecast attempts to gauge the potential for the
atmosphere to provide a thermal lifting mechanism for gliders or hot
air balloonists to use as a source of lift. A more unstable air mass
both in the low levels and aloft is preferred to produce desired
thermal activity. The forecast product issued by many (but not all)
NWS offices uses indices calculated from an upper air balloon sounding.
The data collected at 12 UTC usually serves as the input to the forecast.
Please note that this is not an official forecast but can be used as a
resource to assist pilots in their pre-flight planning. Pilots can
complete their regulatory-compliant preflight briefing by using other
automated resources or from Flight Service at www.1800wxbrief.com or
by calling 1-800-WX-BRIEF.
This forecast is for Monday, August 18, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 77.9 F/25.5 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1506 ft/min (7.7 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 21888 ft MSL (16202 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 94.0 F/34.9 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0945 PDT
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................. 18351 ft MSL (12666 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Tuesday 08/19...... Good
Wave Soaring Index............................. Poor
Wave Soaring Index trend (to 1800 PDT)......... Good
Height of stable layer (12-18K ft MSL)......... None
Weak PVA/NVA (through 1800 PDT)................ Weak PVA
Potential height of wave....................... 16500 ft MSL (10814 ft AGL)
Wave soaring outlook for Tuesday 08/19......... Good
Remarks... Test
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:56:49 / 19:36:44 PDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 39 min 55 sec (819 min 55 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:46:46 PDT... 61.82 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 08/18/2025 at 0600 PDT
Freezing level.................. 14868 ft MSL (9182 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 17465 ft MSL (11779 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 19373 ft MSL (13687 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -3.6
K index......................... +17.7
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 -61.3 -78.3 225 37 19 1.1 0.6 M M M M M
45000 -57.8 -72.0 230 47 24 5.4 3.0 M M M M M
40000 -50.0 -58.0 230 47 24 2.6 1.4 M M M M M
38000 -48.0 -54.4 230 37 19 2.9 1.6 M M M M M
36000 -46.3 -51.3 235 29 15 2.6 1.4 M M M M M
34000 -42.3 -44.1 235 25 13 7.5 4.1 M M M M M
32000 -37.8 -36.0 235 23 12 7.5 4.1 M M M M M
30000 -33.0 -27.4 240 22 12 8.2 4.5 41.6 106.9 5.5 M M
29000 -30.6 -23.1 245 23 12 8.2 4.5 41.0 105.8 5.1 M M
28000 -28.1 -18.6 250 23 12 7.9 4.3 40.5 105.0 4.8 M M
27000 -26.0 -14.8 250 21 11 6.9 3.8 39.4 103.0 3.9 M M
26000 -23.9 -11.0 250 19 10 6.9 3.8 38.3 101.0 3.1 M M
25000 -21.9 -7.4 250 17 9 6.9 3.8 37.4 99.3 2.3 M M
24000 -19.7 -3.5 250 15 8 7.4 4.0 36.4 97.5 1.6 M M
23000 -17.0 1.4 245 14 7 7.4 4.0 35.3 95.5 0.7 M M
22000 -14.8 5.4 245 13 7 7.3 4.0 34.5 94.2 0.0 M M
21000 -12.6 9.3 235 12 6 7.2 3.9 33.6 92.4 -0.8 1415 7.2
20000 -10.5 13.1 230 12 6 7.2 3.9 32.7 90.8 -1.6 1321 6.7
19000 -8.4 16.9 220 12 6 6.8 3.7 31.8 89.2 -2.4 1228 6.2
18000 -6.4 20.5 205 13 7 6.7 3.7 30.8 87.5 -3.3 1138 5.8
17000 -4.5 23.9 185 15 8 6.6 3.6 29.7 85.5 -4.4 1052 5.3
16000 -2.5 27.5 180 16 8 7.0 3.8 28.7 83.7 -5.5 964 4.9
15000 -0.4 31.3 180 15 8 7.8 4.3 28.0 82.4 -6.3 869 4.4
14000 2.0 35.6 190 14 7 8.2 4.5 27.4 81.3 -6.9 769 3.9
13000 4.4 39.9 205 13 7 9.0 4.9 27.0 80.6 -7.4 666 3.4
12000 7.0 44.6 210 13 7 9.3 5.1 26.8 80.2 -7.9 559 2.8
11000 9.6 49.3 210 13 7 8.2 4.5 26.5 79.7 -8.3 452 2.3
10000 12.4 54.3 210 12 6 8.6 4.7 26.5 79.6 -8.5 338 1.7
9500 13.8 56.8 210 11 6 9.4 5.2 26.4 79.4 -8.6 283 1.4
9000 15.8 60.4 210 10 5 8.7 4.8 26.2 79.1 -8.9 201 1.0
8500 17.1 62.8 210 10 5 8.1 4.4 26.1 78.9 -9.0 147 0.7
8000 18.1 64.6 210 9 5 7.1 3.9 25.6 78.1 -9.5 102 0.5
7500 18.9 66.0 210 9 5 2.6 1.4 25.0 77.0 -10.2 63 0.3
7000 19.1 66.4 205 7 4 2.5 1.4 23.7 74.7 -11.5 42 0.2
6900 19.1 66.4 205 7 4 2.5 1.4 23.7 74.7 -11.5 42 0.2
6800 19.1 66.4 205 7 4 2.5 1.4 23.7 74.7 -11.5 42 0.2
6700 19.2 66.6 200 6 3 -1.6 -0.9 23.1 73.6 -12.2 31 0.2
6600 19.2 66.6 200 6 3 -1.6 -0.9 23.1 73.6 -12.2 31 0.2
6400 18.8 65.8 200 5 3 -7.8 -4.3 22.0 71.6 -13.3 35 0.2
6200 18.4 65.1 200 5 3 -1.8 -1.0 20.8 69.4 -14.5 41 0.2
6000 18.2 64.8 190 4 2 -13.0 -7.1 19.8 67.7 -15.5 41 0.2
5800 13.6 56.5 155 1 1 -99.0 -54.3 14.4 58.0 -20.9 171 0.9
5700 13.6 56.5 155 1 1 -99.0 -54.3 14.4 58.0 -20.9 171 0.9
________________________________________________________________________________
This product is issued twice per day, once by approximately 0630 PST/0730 PDT
(1330 UTC) and again by approximately 1830 PST/1930 PDT (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 the National Weather Service
office in Elko, Nevada at
North Latitude: 40.84 degrees
West Longitude: 115.60 degrees
Elevation: 5235 feet (1595 meters)
and may not be representative of other areas across northern and central
Nevada. 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.
CIN (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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