Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO

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991
UXUS97 KPUB 231315
SRGPUB

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado
0615 MST Saturday, November 23, 2024

This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Saturday, November 23, 2024:

If the trigger temperature of 56.5 F/13.6 C is reached...then
   Thermal Soaring Index....................... Poor
   Maximum rate of lift........................ 104 ft/min (0.5 m/s)
   Maximum height of thermals.................. 10539 ft MSL (1550 ft AGL)

Forecast maximum temperature................... 50.0 F/10.5 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... None
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Overcast thin high
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 9914 ft MSL (925 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 11/24....... Poor

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

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:54:17 / 16:46:05 MST
Total possible sunshine........... 9 hr 51 min 48 sec (591 min 48 sec)
Altitude of sun at 11:50:11 MST... 31.13 degrees

Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 11/23/2024 at 0500 MST

Freezing level.................. 9174 ft MSL (185 ft AGL)
Additional freezing level....... 13867 ft MSL (4878 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 29372 ft MSL (20383 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 23809 ft MSL (14819 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +11.5
K index......................... -31.4

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  -66.7 -88.1   285   58   30   0.4   0.2      M     M       M      M    M
 45000  -65.9 -86.6   280   65   34   2.2   1.2      M     M       M      M    M
 40000  -62.8 -81.0   295   78   40   2.1   1.1      M     M       M      M    M
 38000  -58.9 -74.0   295   68   35   7.5   4.1      M     M       M      M    M
 36000  -54.4 -65.9   295   55   28   7.5   4.1      M     M       M      M    M
 34000  -48.7 -55.7   295   46   24   9.2   5.0      M     M       M      M    M
 32000  -43.2 -45.8   295   44   23   9.2   5.0      M     M       M      M    M
 30000  -37.8 -36.0   290   41   21   8.8   4.8   26.0  78.7    12.5      M    M
 29000  -35.2 -31.4   290   40   21   8.8   4.8   25.6  78.1    12.4      M    M
 28000  -32.5 -26.5   285   38   20   8.8   4.8   25.4  77.7    12.4      M    M
 27000  -30.1 -22.2   280   38   19   7.8   4.3   24.8  76.6    12.0      M    M
 26000  -27.7 -17.9   275   37   19   7.8   4.3   24.0  75.2    11.5      M    M
 25000  -25.4 -13.7   275   37   19   7.7   4.3   23.3  74.0    11.1      M    M
 24000  -23.2  -9.8   270   36   19   6.9   3.8   22.6  72.6    10.6      M    M
 23000  -21.1  -6.0   270   35   18   7.0   3.8   21.5  70.7     9.8      M    M
 22000  -19.0  -2.2   265   33   17   7.0   3.9   20.6  69.1     9.1      M    M
 21000  -16.7   1.9   265   32   17   8.2   4.5   19.9  67.7     8.5      M    M
 20000  -14.2   6.4   260   31   16   8.3   4.5   19.3  66.8     8.2      M    M
 19500  -13.0   8.6   260   30   16   8.3   4.5   19.1  66.4     8.0      M    M
 19000  -11.7  10.9   260   30   15   8.3   4.5   18.9  66.0     7.9      M    M
 18500  -10.5  13.1   260   29   15   8.0   4.4   18.6  65.5     7.7      M    M
 18000   -9.3  15.3   260   28   15   8.0   4.4   18.3  65.0     7.5      M    M
 17500   -8.1  17.4   260   28   14   7.8   4.3   18.1  64.5     7.3      M    M
 17000   -6.4  20.5   255   27   14   7.7   4.2   17.5  63.6     6.9      M    M
 16500   -5.2  22.6   255   27   14   7.2   4.0   17.2  62.9     6.6      M    M
 16000   -4.1  24.6   255   27   14   7.1   3.9   16.7  62.1     6.2      M    M
 15500   -3.1  26.4   255   27   14   7.1   3.9   16.3  61.4     5.9      M    M
 15000   -2.0  28.4   260   28   14   7.0   3.8   15.9  60.6     5.5      M    M
 14500   -1.0  30.2   260   29   15   6.0   3.3   15.5  59.8     5.1      M    M
 14000   -0.1  31.8   260   29   15   6.4   3.5   14.8  58.6     4.5      M    M
 13500    0.8  33.4   260   30   16   6.5   3.5   14.2  57.6     4.0      M    M
 13000    1.7  35.1   260   31   16   5.4   3.0   13.6  56.5     3.4      M    M
 12500    2.6  36.7   265   30   16   6.1   3.4   13.0  55.5     2.9      M    M
 12000    3.5  38.3   265   29   15   6.6   3.6   12.5  54.5     2.4      M    M
 11750    4.1  39.4   260   28   14   6.9   3.8   12.3  54.1     2.2      M    M
 11500    4.6  40.3   260   26   13   7.6   4.1   12.1  53.7     2.0      M    M
 11250    5.1  41.2   260   25   13   5.3   2.9   11.9  53.3     1.8      M    M
 11000    5.3  41.5   260   23   12   1.8   1.0   11.3  52.4     1.2      M    M
 10750    5.4  41.7   260   22   11  -0.1  -0.1   10.7  51.2     0.6      M    M
 10500    5.3  41.5   255   20   10   0.5   0.3    9.9  49.8    -0.2    202  1.0
 10250    5.2  41.4   255   19   10  -4.7  -2.6    9.1  48.4    -1.0    197  1.0
 10000    4.5  40.1   250   18    9 -12.8  -7.0    7.6  45.7    -2.5    213  1.1
  9750    3.4  38.1   245   17    9 -14.4  -7.9    5.8  42.5    -4.4    238  1.2
  9500    2.3  36.1   245   17    8 -12.3  -6.8    4.1  39.3    -6.2    264  1.3
  9250    1.1  34.0   240   16    8 -23.7 -13.0    2.2  35.9    -8.2    292  1.5
  9000   -3.3  26.1   230    8    4 -99.0 -54.3   -2.9  26.8   -13.3    416  2.1
  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 * * * * * *

           11/23/2024 at 0800 MST          |       11/23/2024 at 1100 MST
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +0.8        | CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +1.8
CINH...     0.0    K Index... -24.2        | CINH...     0.0    K Index... -24.6
                                           |
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 -67.8 -90.0  285  58 30  -0.2  -0.1 | -67.5 -89.5  280  63 33   0.2   0.1
 45000 -67.7 -89.9  290  69 35   3.0   1.7 | -66.9 -88.4  290  74 38   2.6   1.4
 40000 -63.3 -81.9  285  65 34   2.7   1.5 | -63.0 -81.4  285  65 33   2.3   1.2
 38000 -58.9 -74.0  285  64 33   8.4   4.6 | -58.3 -72.9  285  64 33   8.9   4.9
 36000 -53.8 -64.8  290  62 32   8.4   4.6 | -53.0 -63.4  285  62 32   8.9   4.9
 34000 -47.8 -54.0  290  58 30   9.1   5.0 | -47.0 -52.6  285  59 30   8.7   4.8
 32000 -42.4 -44.3  285  53 27   9.1   5.0 | -41.7 -43.1  285  53 27   8.7   4.8
 30000 -37.0 -34.6  280  44 23   8.8   4.8 | -36.4 -33.5  280  47 24   9.0   4.9
 29000 -34.3 -29.7  275  40 20   8.8   4.8 | -33.7 -28.7  280  44 23   9.0   4.9
 28000 -31.7 -25.1  270  35 18   8.8   4.8 | -31.0 -23.8  280  40 21   9.0   4.9
 27000 -29.2 -20.6  265  35 18   7.9   4.3 | -28.5 -19.3  275  39 20   8.0   4.4
 26000 -26.8 -16.2  265  38 19   7.9   4.3 | -26.1 -15.0  270  40 21   8.0   4.4
 25000 -24.5 -12.1  265  40 21   7.9   4.3 | -23.7 -10.7  270  41 21   8.0   4.4
 24000 -22.3  -8.1  265  41 21   5.6   3.0 | -21.5  -6.7  265  43 22   6.6   3.6
 23000 -20.7  -5.3  270  40 21   5.7   3.1 | -19.5  -3.1  265  46 23   6.7   3.7
 22000 -19.0  -2.2  270  39 20   5.8   3.2 | -17.5   0.5  265  48 25   6.7   3.7
 21000 -16.9   1.6  270  37 19   8.3   4.6 | -15.4   4.3  265  49 25   7.3   4.0
 20000 -14.4   6.1  270  36 18   8.4   4.6 | -13.2   8.2  265  48 25   7.3   4.0
 19500 -13.1   8.4  265  35 18   8.4   4.6 | -12.1  10.2  265  47 24   7.3   4.0
 19000 -11.9  10.6  265  34 18   8.4   4.6 | -11.0  12.2  265  47 24   7.2   4.0
 18500 -10.6  12.9  265  34 17   8.8   4.8 |  -9.9  14.2  265  47 24   7.6   4.2
 18000  -9.2  15.4  265  33 17   8.8   4.8 |  -8.8  16.2  265  47 24   7.6   4.2
 17500  -7.9  17.8  260  33 17   8.5   4.7 |  -7.1  19.2  260  47 24   7.0   3.8
 17000  -6.6  20.1  260  33 17   8.4   4.6 |  -6.0  21.2  260  46 24   7.1   3.9
 16500  -4.8  23.4  260  33 17   7.4   4.1 |  -5.0  23.0  260  45 23   7.1   3.9
 16000  -3.7  25.3  255  32 17   7.1   3.9 |  -3.9  25.0  260  44 23   7.1   3.9
 15500  -2.6  27.3  255  32 16   6.9   3.8 |  -2.8  27.0  260  43 22   6.9   3.8
 15000  -1.6  29.1  255  32 16   6.2   3.4 |  -1.9  28.6  260  43 22   5.8   3.2
 14500  -0.7  30.7  255  32 16   5.0   2.8 |  -1.0  30.2  260  42 22   4.2   2.3
 14000  -0.0  32.0  255  32 16   4.8   2.6 |  -0.4  31.3  260  42 22   5.0   2.7
 13500   0.7  33.3  255  32 16   4.5   2.5 |   0.3  32.5  260  41 21   4.6   2.5
 13000   1.4  34.5  260  32 17   5.5   3.0 |   1.0  33.8  260  40 21   4.9   2.7
 12500   2.2  36.0  260  32 17   5.3   2.9 |   1.8  35.2  260  37 19   4.8   2.6
 12000   2.9  37.2  260  32 16   4.8   2.6 |   2.5  36.5  260  33 17   5.1   2.8
 11750   3.3  37.9  260  30 16   5.4   2.9 |   2.9  37.2  260  31 16   5.4   2.9
 11500   3.7  38.7  260  29 15   5.7   3.1 |   3.3  37.9  255  28 15   5.6   3.1
 11250   4.1  39.4  260  27 14   4.8   2.6 |   3.7  38.7  255  26 14   4.9   2.7
 11000   4.4  39.9  255  25 13   3.4   1.9 |   4.0  39.2  250  25 13   2.9   1.6
 10750   4.6  40.3  255  24 12   2.0   1.1 |   4.1  39.4  250  23 12  -0.3  -0.1
 10500   4.8  40.6  255  22 11   2.8   1.5 |   3.9  39.0  245  22 11  -2.1  -1.1
 10250   4.9  40.8  255  20 10  -2.8  -1.5 |   3.8  38.8  245  21 11  -2.4  -1.3
 10000   4.2  39.6  250  19 10 -12.4  -6.8 |   3.5  38.3  240  19 10  -4.2  -2.3
  9750   3.1  37.6  245  18  9 -14.3  -7.9 |   3.1  37.6  240  18  9  -4.3  -2.3
  9500   2.0  35.6  240  17  9 -15.2  -8.3 |   2.9  37.2  235  17  9  -0.4  -0.2
  9250   0.5  32.9  235  16  8 -24.6 -13.5 |   3.1  37.6  230  15  8   8.1   4.5
  9000  -2.6  27.3  230   8  4 -62.2 -34.2 |   4.2  39.6  225  10  5  24.8  13.6
  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

           11/23/2024 at 1400 MST          |       11/23/2024 at 1700 MST
                                           |
CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +2.2        | CAPE...     0.0    LI...       +2.7
CINH...     0.0    K Index... -13.4        | CINH...     0.0    K Index... -14.4
                                           |
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 -69.3 -92.7  285  56 29   1.3   0.7 | -70.6 -95.1  270  59 31   2.7   1.5
 45000 -67.1 -88.8  285  71 36   3.3   1.8 | -66.4 -87.5  280  64 33   4.1   2.2
 40000 -62.0 -79.6  275  54 28   3.0   1.7 | -60.2 -76.4  275  55 28   3.9   2.1
 38000 -57.4 -71.3  275  51 26   8.5   4.7 | -56.3 -69.3  265  52 27   7.0   3.9
 36000 -52.2 -62.0  270  49 25   8.5   4.7 | -52.1 -61.8  260  49 25   7.0   3.9
 34000 -46.3 -51.3  275  48 25   9.2   5.0 | -47.3 -53.1  255  47 24   9.0   4.9
 32000 -40.8 -41.4  275  49 25   9.2   5.0 | -41.3 -42.3  255  44 23   9.0   4.9
 30000 -35.5 -31.9  275  51 26   8.4   4.6 | -35.9 -32.6  255  44 23   9.0   4.9
 29000 -33.0 -27.4  275  52 27   8.4   4.6 | -33.2 -27.8  255  45 23   9.0   4.9
 28000 -30.5 -22.9  275  53 27   8.4   4.6 | -30.5 -22.9  260  46 24   9.0   4.9
 27000 -28.0 -18.4  275  53 27   8.0   4.4 | -27.9 -18.2  260  48 25   8.0   4.4
 26000 -25.6 -14.1  270  53 27   8.0   4.4 | -25.6 -14.1  260  51 26   8.0   4.4
 25000 -23.2  -9.8  270  53 27   8.0   4.4 | -23.2  -9.8  255  53 27   8.0   4.4
 24000 -20.9  -5.6  265  53 27   7.5   4.1 | -20.8  -5.4  255  55 28   7.9   4.3
 23000 -18.7  -1.7  265  53 27   7.5   4.1 | -18.4  -1.1  260  56 29   7.9   4.4
 22000 -16.5   2.3  265  53 28   7.6   4.2 | -16.0   3.2  260  56 29   7.9   4.3
 21000 -14.2   6.4  260  54 28   7.2   4.0 | -13.7   7.3  260  57 29   7.4   4.1
 20000 -12.1  10.2  260  55 28   7.2   4.0 | -11.5  11.3  260  57 29   7.5   4.1
 19500 -11.0  12.2  260  55 29   7.2   4.0 | -10.4  13.3  260  56 29   7.5   4.1
 19000  -9.9  14.2  260  56 29   7.2   4.0 |  -9.3  15.3  260  56 29   7.6   4.2
 18500  -8.8  16.2  260  56 29   7.3   4.0 |  -8.2  17.2  260  56 29   6.6   3.6
 18000  -7.7  18.1  260  56 29   7.3   4.0 |  -7.2  19.0  260  57 29   6.5   3.6
 17500  -6.6  20.1  260  56 29   7.0   3.8 |  -6.3  20.7  260  57 30   6.3   3.5
 17000  -5.1  22.8  260  55 29   6.2   3.4 |  -4.9  23.2  260  58 30   5.8   3.2
 16500  -4.2  24.4  260  55 28   6.0   3.3 |  -4.1  24.6  260  59 30   5.6   3.1
 16000  -3.3  26.1  260  55 28   5.6   3.1 |  -3.3  26.1  260  59 30   5.2   2.9
 15500  -2.5  27.5  260  55 28   5.6   3.1 |  -2.5  27.5  260  59 30   5.2   2.9
 15000  -1.6  29.1  265  54 28   6.2   3.4 |  -1.7  28.9  265  59 30   5.4   3.0
 14500  -0.7  30.7  265  54 28   4.2   2.3 |  -0.9  30.4  265  58 30   3.7   2.0
 14000  -0.2  31.6  265  54 28   5.0   2.7 |  -0.4  31.3  265  58 30   5.0   2.7
 13500   0.6  33.1  265  53 27   5.3   2.9 |   0.4  32.7  265  57 29   5.6   3.1
 13000   1.3  34.3  265  52 27   3.0   1.6 |   1.1  34.0  265  56 29   4.0   2.2
 12500   1.7  35.1  265  48 25   3.3   1.8 |   1.9  35.4  265  54 28   5.1   2.8
 12000   2.3  36.1  265  43 22   4.4   2.4 |   2.7  36.9  265  51 26   4.5   2.5
 11750   2.6  36.7  265  40 21   4.2   2.3 |   2.9  37.2  265  46 24   3.9   2.1
 11500   2.8  37.0  260  37 19   3.6   2.0 |   3.2  37.8  265  43 22   4.2   2.3
 11250   3.1  37.6  260  34 17   4.0   2.2 |   3.5  38.3  260  39 20   4.6   2.5
 11000   3.3  37.9  260  31 16   3.1   1.7 |   3.8  38.8  260  35 18   2.8   1.5
 10750   3.5  38.3  255  28 14   1.0   0.6 |   3.8  38.8  260  33 17   0.2   0.1
 10500   3.5  38.3  255  25 13   0.1   0.1 |   3.8  38.8  255  31 16  -0.2  -0.1
 10250   3.5  38.3  250  23 12   0.2   0.1 |   3.8  38.8  255  28 15   0.9   0.5
 10000   3.5  38.3  245  20 10   1.6   0.9 |   3.7  38.7  255  26 13  -3.1  -1.7
  9750   3.7  38.7  240  19 10   3.3   1.8 |   3.2  37.8  250  24 12  -7.7  -4.2
  9500   4.0  39.2  235  17  9   5.3   2.9 |   2.8  37.0  240  22 11  -3.4  -1.9
  9250   4.6  40.3  230  15  8  11.1   6.1 |   2.4  36.3  235  19 10  -9.6  -5.3
  9000   5.6  42.1  225  10  5  18.4  10.1 |  -0.1  31.8  225   9  5 -71.3 -39.1
  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.

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