Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
649
UXUS97 KPUB 261214
SRGPUB
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado
0613 MDT Saturday, July 26, 2025
This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Saturday, July 26, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 68.6 F/20.3 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1766 ft/min (9.0 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 26340 ft MSL (17352 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 83.0 F/28.8 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1000 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................. 21513 ft MSL (12525 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 07/27....... Excellent
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:01:30 / 20:18:46 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 17 min 16 sec (857 min 16 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:10:08 MDT... 70.85 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 07/26/2025 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 15794 ft MSL (6806 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 18654 ft MSL (9666 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 21352 ft MSL (12364 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -4.8
K index......................... +15.5
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 -61.4 -78.5 205 28 14 2.6 1.4 M M M M M
45000 -57.1 -70.8 210 44 22 3.0 1.6 M M M M M
40000 -52.1 -61.8 215 65 33 6.1 3.3 M M M M M
38000 -48.4 -55.1 215 62 32 6.2 3.4 M M M M M
36000 -44.7 -48.5 220 59 30 6.1 3.3 M M M M M
34000 -40.4 -40.7 215 52 27 7.2 4.0 M M M M M
32000 -35.5 -31.9 215 44 23 7.3 4.0 M M M M M
30000 -31.4 -24.5 215 39 20 6.9 3.8 32.5 90.6 3.3 M M
29000 -29.3 -20.7 215 37 19 7.0 3.8 31.5 88.7 2.5 M M
28000 -27.3 -17.1 215 34 18 6.5 3.6 30.6 87.0 1.8 M M
27000 -25.4 -13.7 220 29 15 6.4 3.5 29.2 84.6 0.7 M M
26000 -23.5 -10.3 225 23 12 6.5 3.5 28.0 82.4 -0.4 1734 8.8
25000 -21.6 -6.9 230 18 9 6.9 3.8 26.9 80.5 -1.3 1647 8.4
24000 -19.1 -2.4 230 17 9 8.6 4.7 26.4 79.5 -1.8 1543 7.8
23000 -16.5 2.3 225 17 9 8.6 4.7 26.0 78.8 -2.2 1435 7.3
22000 -13.9 7.0 225 18 9 7.9 4.3 25.7 78.2 -2.5 1328 6.7
21000 -11.9 10.6 225 19 10 6.6 3.6 24.6 76.2 -3.5 1240 6.3
20000 -10.0 14.0 230 20 10 6.6 3.6 23.5 74.3 -4.5 1152 5.9
19500 -9.0 15.8 230 21 11 6.6 3.6 23.0 73.4 -5.0 1108 5.6
19000 -8.0 17.6 235 21 11 6.8 3.7 22.5 72.6 -5.5 1064 5.4
18500 -7.1 19.2 235 21 11 6.9 3.8 22.0 71.7 -6.0 1020 5.2
18000 -6.1 21.0 235 21 11 7.6 4.2 21.6 70.8 -6.5 976 5.0
17500 -4.9 23.2 240 21 11 8.5 4.7 21.3 70.4 -6.8 924 4.7
17000 -3.6 25.5 240 22 11 8.5 4.6 21.1 70.1 -7.1 873 4.4
16500 -2.3 27.9 245 22 11 9.5 5.2 21.0 69.8 -7.3 819 4.2
16000 -0.2 31.6 245 23 12 9.4 5.2 20.9 69.7 -7.5 734 3.7
15500 1.2 34.2 245 23 12 9.8 5.4 20.9 69.6 -7.5 676 3.4
15000 2.7 36.9 245 22 11 9.8 5.4 20.9 69.6 -7.6 618 3.1
14500 4.1 39.4 250 21 11 9.5 5.2 20.9 69.6 -7.6 559 2.8
14000 5.6 42.1 250 20 10 9.5 5.2 20.9 69.5 -7.7 501 2.5
13500 7.0 44.6 250 19 10 10.9 6.0 20.9 69.6 -7.7 442 2.2
13000 8.5 47.3 245 18 10 8.1 4.4 20.9 69.5 -7.7 383 1.9
12500 9.8 49.6 245 18 9 8.1 4.5 20.7 69.2 -7.9 330 1.7
12000 10.9 51.6 240 18 9 6.9 3.8 20.4 68.7 -8.3 281 1.4
11750 11.3 52.3 240 17 9 5.7 3.1 20.1 68.2 -8.6 261 1.3
11500 11.7 53.1 240 17 9 5.1 2.8 19.8 67.6 -9.0 242 1.2
11250 12.0 53.6 240 16 8 3.8 2.1 19.4 66.8 -9.5 227 1.2
11000 12.2 54.0 235 15 8 3.8 2.1 18.9 66.0 -10.0 213 1.1
10750 12.4 54.3 235 14 7 4.3 2.4 18.5 65.2 -10.6 199 1.0
10500 12.6 54.7 235 14 7 1.8 1.0 18.0 64.4 -11.1 186 0.9
10250 12.5 54.5 230 14 7 -1.5 -0.8 17.2 63.0 -12.0 181 0.9
10000 12.3 54.1 230 13 7 -2.4 -1.3 16.3 61.4 -13.0 179 0.9
9750 12.1 53.8 225 13 7 0.4 0.2 15.5 59.9 -13.9 178 0.9
9500 12.0 53.6 225 13 7 -7.5 -4.1 14.7 58.4 -14.8 175 0.9
9250 10.6 51.1 225 10 5 -30.1 -16.5 12.5 54.5 -17.0 211 1.1
9000 8.8 47.8 230 6 3 1.0 0.6 10.0 50.0 -19.5 256 1.3
8750 M M M M M M M M M M M M
8500 M M M M M M M M M M M M
8250 M M M M M M M M M M M M
8000 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
07/26/2025 at 0900 MDT | 07/26/2025 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +289.6 LI... +0.1 | CAPE... +105.7 LI... -0.2
CINH... -88.5 K Index... +15.9 | CINH... -8.8 K Index... +19.7
|
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 -61.6 -78.9 195 28 14 2.9 1.6 | -61.3 -78.3 195 31 16 2.5 1.4
45000 -57.2 -71.0 200 45 23 2.7 1.5 | -57.3 -71.1 205 50 26 2.6 1.4
40000 -52.6 -62.7 215 64 33 5.8 3.2 | -52.9 -63.2 215 63 33 5.6 3.1
38000 -49.1 -56.4 215 62 32 5.9 3.3 | -49.5 -57.1 215 63 32 5.7 3.1
36000 -45.5 -49.9 215 60 31 5.7 3.1 | -46.1 -51.0 215 62 32 5.5 3.0
34000 -40.9 -41.6 215 56 29 8.1 4.4 | -41.3 -42.3 215 58 30 8.4 4.6
32000 -36.0 -32.8 220 52 27 8.0 4.4 | -35.6 -32.1 220 53 27 8.5 4.7
30000 -31.2 -24.2 215 46 23 7.0 3.8 | -31.4 -24.5 220 45 23 6.9 3.8
29000 -29.1 -20.4 215 42 22 7.0 3.8 | -29.3 -20.7 220 42 21 6.9 3.8
28000 -27.1 -16.8 210 39 20 5.5 3.0 | -27.2 -17.0 220 38 19 7.4 4.1
27000 -25.5 -13.9 215 32 16 5.3 2.9 | -25.0 -13.0 220 34 18 7.5 4.1
26000 -24.0 -11.2 215 25 13 5.3 2.9 | -22.7 -8.9 225 31 16 7.5 4.1
25000 -22.4 -8.3 220 18 9 6.5 3.6 | -20.5 -4.9 225 27 14 7.1 3.9
24000 -19.8 -3.6 220 17 9 9.2 5.1 | -18.6 -1.5 220 24 12 6.3 3.4
23000 -17.0 1.4 225 16 8 9.2 5.1 | -16.8 1.8 215 21 11 6.3 3.5
22000 -14.2 6.4 225 16 8 8.5 4.7 | -14.9 5.2 205 18 9 7.0 3.9
21000 -12.0 10.4 230 19 10 7.7 4.2 | -12.6 9.3 215 19 10 7.8 4.3
20000 -9.7 14.5 230 23 12 7.7 4.2 | -10.3 13.5 220 21 11 7.9 4.3
19500 -8.6 16.5 230 25 13 7.8 4.3 | -9.2 15.4 225 23 12 7.9 4.3
19000 -7.6 18.3 230 25 13 6.4 3.5 | -8.0 17.6 225 23 12 9.0 4.9
18500 -6.6 20.1 230 25 13 6.6 3.6 | -6.7 19.9 230 24 12 9.0 4.9
18000 -5.7 21.7 225 25 13 7.4 4.0 | -5.4 22.3 230 25 13 8.1 4.4
17500 -4.6 23.7 225 24 12 7.9 4.3 | -4.3 24.3 230 24 12 7.6 4.1
17000 -3.4 25.9 225 23 12 8.0 4.4 | -3.3 26.1 235 23 12 7.6 4.2
16500 -2.2 28.0 230 22 11 8.7 4.8 | -2.0 28.4 235 22 11 8.7 4.8
16000 -0.9 30.4 230 21 11 8.6 4.7 | -0.8 30.6 235 19 10 8.6 4.7
15500 1.1 34.0 235 20 10 9.3 5.1 | 1.3 34.3 240 16 8 9.4 5.2
15000 2.5 36.5 235 19 10 9.3 5.1 | 2.7 36.9 240 15 8 9.5 5.2
14500 3.9 39.0 240 18 9 9.3 5.1 | 4.0 39.2 245 13 7 9.4 5.2
14000 5.4 41.7 240 17 9 9.4 5.2 | 5.5 41.9 245 13 7 9.9 5.4
13500 6.9 44.4 245 16 8 10.8 5.9 | 7.0 44.6 245 12 6 10.8 6.0
13000 8.3 46.9 245 15 8 8.3 4.6 | 8.5 47.3 240 12 6 9.0 4.9
12500 9.6 49.3 245 15 8 8.6 4.7 | 9.9 49.8 240 12 6 10.0 5.5
12000 10.9 51.6 245 15 8 8.0 4.4 | 11.5 52.7 240 11 6 10.0 5.5
11750 11.5 52.7 245 15 8 7.8 4.3 | 12.2 54.0 240 11 6 9.7 5.3
11500 12.0 53.6 245 16 8 6.1 3.3 | 12.9 55.2 240 11 6 9.6 5.2
11250 12.3 54.1 245 16 8 4.2 2.3 | 13.6 56.5 240 11 6 9.3 5.1
11000 12.6 54.7 245 16 8 4.4 2.4 | 14.3 57.7 240 11 5 9.4 5.1
10750 12.9 55.2 245 16 8 5.6 3.1 | 15.0 59.0 240 10 5 10.2 5.6
10500 13.3 55.9 240 16 8 4.4 2.4 | 15.9 60.6 240 10 5 11.0 6.1
10250 13.4 56.1 240 15 8 2.1 1.2 | 16.7 62.1 240 10 5 10.8 5.9
10000 13.5 56.3 240 14 7 2.8 1.6 | 17.5 63.5 240 10 5 11.5 6.3
9750 13.6 56.5 235 13 7 2.3 1.3 | 18.3 64.9 240 9 5 8.8 4.8
9500 13.8 56.8 235 12 6 9.6 5.3 | 19.0 66.2 240 9 5 15.6 8.6
9250 15.0 59.0 235 10 5 23.1 12.7 | 20.9 69.6 240 9 4 34.9 19.2
9000 16.2 61.2 235 7 4 -0.5 -0.3 | 22.8 73.0 240 8 4 0.7 0.4
8750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
07/26/2025 at 1500 MDT | 07/26/2025 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +143.3 LI... -0.3 | CAPE... +31.9 LI... +0.1
CINH... -1.9 K Index... +19.6 | CINH... -7.5 K Index... +17.6
|
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 -60.9 -77.6 205 33 17 2.7 1.5 | -61.3 -78.3 210 33 17 2.6 1.4
45000 -57.0 -70.6 215 54 28 2.1 1.2 | -57.3 -71.1 220 53 27 2.5 1.4
40000 -53.3 -63.9 220 64 33 5.5 3.0 | -53.0 -63.4 225 60 31 5.7 3.1
38000 -49.9 -57.8 220 61 31 5.6 3.1 | -49.6 -57.3 225 55 28 5.7 3.1
36000 -46.5 -51.7 225 57 30 5.3 2.9 | -46.1 -51.0 230 49 25 5.3 2.9
34000 -41.5 -42.7 230 56 29 8.8 4.8 | -41.1 -42.0 230 46 24 8.7 4.8
32000 -35.5 -31.9 230 55 28 8.9 4.9 | -35.2 -31.4 235 43 22 8.7 4.8
30000 -31.1 -24.0 235 47 24 7.1 3.9 | -30.6 -23.1 240 37 19 7.6 4.2
29000 -29.0 -20.2 235 43 22 7.1 3.9 | -28.4 -19.1 240 35 18 7.6 4.2
28000 -26.9 -16.4 235 39 20 7.2 3.9 | -26.1 -15.0 245 32 16 6.6 3.6
27000 -24.7 -12.5 235 34 18 7.2 3.9 | -24.1 -11.4 240 29 15 6.6 3.6
26000 -22.6 -8.7 235 30 15 7.2 3.9 | -22.2 -8.0 240 27 14 6.6 3.6
25000 -20.4 -4.7 230 25 13 6.9 3.8 | -20.2 -4.4 240 24 12 6.8 3.7
24000 -18.5 -1.3 230 23 12 6.5 3.5 | -18.1 -0.6 240 22 11 7.1 3.9
23000 -16.6 2.1 235 22 11 6.5 3.6 | -16.0 3.2 240 20 10 7.1 3.9
22000 -14.7 5.5 240 21 11 7.4 4.0 | -13.8 7.2 240 18 9 7.5 4.1
21000 -12.3 9.9 240 19 10 8.2 4.5 | -11.5 11.3 240 15 8 8.0 4.4
20000 -9.9 14.2 240 18 9 8.3 4.6 | -9.2 15.4 240 12 6 8.1 4.5
19500 -8.7 16.3 235 17 9 8.4 4.6 | -8.1 17.4 240 11 6 8.3 4.5
19000 -7.5 18.5 240 16 8 8.7 4.8 | -6.8 19.8 240 10 5 8.9 4.9
18500 -6.2 20.8 240 15 8 8.7 4.8 | -5.5 22.1 240 10 5 8.9 4.9
18000 -4.9 23.2 240 15 8 8.9 4.9 | -4.2 24.4 240 10 5 8.9 4.9
17500 -3.6 25.5 235 14 7 9.1 5.0 | -2.9 26.8 240 10 5 8.9 4.9
17000 -2.3 27.9 235 14 7 9.1 5.0 | -1.6 29.1 235 10 5 8.9 4.9
16500 -0.9 30.4 235 14 7 9.3 5.1 | -0.2 31.6 235 11 6 9.5 5.2
16000 1.1 34.0 230 13 7 9.4 5.2 | 1.2 34.2 235 11 6 9.5 5.2
15500 2.6 36.7 230 13 7 10.0 5.5 | 3.3 37.9 230 11 6 9.1 5.0
15000 4.1 39.4 225 14 7 10.2 5.6 | 4.6 40.3 225 12 6 9.1 5.0
14500 5.4 41.7 225 14 7 9.1 5.0 | 6.0 42.8 225 12 6 9.2 5.1
14000 6.9 44.4 225 14 7 9.8 5.4 | 7.4 45.3 220 13 7 9.2 5.0
13500 8.4 47.1 225 14 7 10.1 5.5 | 8.7 47.7 215 13 7 8.8 4.8
13000 9.9 49.8 220 14 7 10.0 5.5 | 10.1 50.2 215 13 7 9.9 5.5
12500 11.4 52.5 220 14 7 9.7 5.3 | 11.5 52.7 210 14 7 9.5 5.2
12000 12.8 55.0 220 14 7 9.9 5.4 | 12.9 55.2 210 14 7 9.8 5.4
11750 13.6 56.5 220 14 7 10.4 5.7 | 13.7 56.7 210 14 7 10.3 5.6
11500 14.3 57.7 220 14 7 9.9 5.4 | 14.4 57.9 210 14 7 9.8 5.4
11250 15.1 59.2 220 14 7 9.6 5.2 | 15.2 59.4 210 14 7 9.4 5.1
11000 15.8 60.4 220 14 7 9.6 5.3 | 15.9 60.6 210 14 7 9.4 5.2
10750 16.5 61.7 215 14 7 10.9 6.0 | 16.6 61.9 210 14 7 10.0 5.5
10500 17.4 63.3 215 13 7 11.3 6.2 | 17.4 63.3 210 14 7 10.6 5.8
10250 18.2 64.8 215 13 7 10.3 5.7 | 18.1 64.6 210 14 7 10.5 5.8
10000 19.0 66.2 215 13 7 11.0 6.0 | 18.9 66.0 210 13 7 10.8 5.9
9750 19.8 67.6 215 13 7 8.9 4.9 | 19.7 67.5 205 13 7 9.7 5.3
9500 20.5 68.9 215 13 7 15.4 8.4 | 20.5 68.9 205 13 7 12.4 6.8
9250 22.3 72.1 215 12 6 33.1 18.1 | 21.7 71.1 205 12 6 20.8 11.4
9000 24.3 75.7 215 11 5 8.7 4.8 | 23.0 73.4 205 10 5 10.0 5.5
8750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
8000 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). 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 Villa Grove, Colorado at:
North Latitude: 38 deg 16 min 03 sec
West Longitude: 105 deg 53 min 37 sec
Elevation: 7986 feet (2434 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.
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.
042613