Soaring Guidance
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
512
UXUS97 KPUB 031204
SRGPUB
Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado
0604 MDT Sunday, August 3, 2025
This forecast is for Villa Grove, CO for Sunday, August 3, 2025:
If the trigger temperature of 68.1 F/20.0 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1710 ft/min (8.7 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 25646 ft MSL (16667 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 81.0 F/27.7 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................. 22918 ft MSL (13939 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 08/04....... Excellent
Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:08:20 / 20:11:09 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 2 min 50 sec (842 min 50 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:09:44 MDT... 68.90 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 08/03/2025 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 15763 ft MSL (6784 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 17280 ft MSL (8301 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 20049 ft MSL (11070 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -6.1
K index......................... +11.4
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 -60.6 -77.1 295 13 7 4.1 2.2 M M M M M
45000 -54.7 -66.5 295 37 19 3.1 1.7 M M M M M
40000 -49.7 -57.5 300 78 40 4.8 2.7 M M M M M
38000 -46.8 -52.2 300 77 39 4.9 2.7 M M M M M
36000 -43.9 -47.0 305 76 39 4.8 2.7 M M M M M
34000 -40.3 -40.5 300 72 37 6.2 3.4 M M M M M
32000 -36.1 -33.0 295 67 34 6.1 3.4 M M M M M
30000 -32.2 -26.0 295 59 30 6.6 3.6 31.8 89.2 3.6 M M
29000 -30.2 -22.4 295 54 28 6.6 3.6 30.7 87.2 2.8 M M
28000 -28.2 -18.8 295 50 26 6.9 3.8 29.6 85.3 2.0 M M
27000 -26.1 -15.0 290 47 24 7.0 3.9 28.5 83.3 1.1 M M
26000 -24.0 -11.2 290 44 23 7.0 3.9 27.5 81.5 0.3 M M
25000 -21.9 -7.4 285 41 21 6.9 3.8 26.6 80.0 -0.5 1649 8.4
24000 -20.1 -4.2 290 38 20 5.9 3.2 25.2 77.4 -1.7 1565 7.9
23000 -18.3 -0.9 290 35 18 5.9 3.3 23.9 75.0 -2.9 1482 7.5
22000 -16.6 2.1 295 32 17 6.7 3.7 22.7 72.8 -4.0 1400 7.1
21000 -14.3 6.3 295 31 16 8.0 4.4 21.9 71.5 -4.7 1301 6.6
20000 -11.9 10.6 295 29 15 8.1 4.4 21.4 70.4 -5.4 1201 6.1
19500 -10.7 12.7 295 29 15 8.1 4.4 21.1 70.0 -5.7 1151 5.8
19000 -9.5 14.9 295 28 14 9.3 5.1 21.0 69.7 -5.9 1098 5.6
18500 -8.1 17.4 295 28 14 9.2 5.0 20.8 69.5 -6.0 1043 5.3
18000 -6.8 19.8 295 27 14 9.4 5.2 20.8 69.4 -6.1 987 5.0
17500 -5.3 22.5 295 26 13 9.6 5.3 20.7 69.3 -6.2 929 4.7
17000 -3.9 25.0 295 25 13 9.7 5.3 20.7 69.3 -6.3 871 4.4
16500 -2.4 27.7 295 24 13 9.5 5.2 20.7 69.3 -6.3 814 4.1
16000 -1.0 30.2 295 23 12 9.5 5.2 20.7 69.2 -6.4 757 3.8
15500 1.1 34.0 295 21 11 9.3 5.1 20.6 69.0 -6.6 671 3.4
15000 2.5 36.5 300 19 10 9.2 5.1 20.5 68.9 -6.7 615 3.1
14500 3.9 39.0 300 18 9 9.9 5.4 20.5 68.9 -6.7 557 2.8
14000 5.3 41.5 300 17 9 9.7 5.3 20.5 68.9 -6.8 499 2.5
13500 6.8 44.2 305 16 8 10.4 5.7 20.5 68.9 -6.8 440 2.2
13000 8.2 46.8 305 16 8 8.7 4.8 20.5 68.9 -6.9 383 1.9
12500 9.5 49.1 305 14 7 8.3 4.5 20.4 68.6 -7.1 330 1.7
12000 10.6 51.1 300 11 6 7.4 4.1 20.1 68.2 -7.5 282 1.4
11750 11.0 51.8 295 9 5 7.1 3.9 19.9 67.8 -7.8 261 1.3
11500 11.5 52.7 290 8 4 4.6 2.5 19.6 67.3 -8.2 242 1.2
11250 11.5 52.7 280 6 3 2.1 1.1 19.1 66.3 -8.9 232 1.2
11000 11.6 52.9 265 5 2 2.9 1.6 18.5 65.4 -9.6 223 1.1
10750 11.7 53.1 240 4 2 3.3 1.8 18.0 64.4 -10.2 213 1.1
10500 11.7 53.1 220 4 2 0.3 0.2 17.5 63.4 -11.0 205 1.0
10250 11.5 52.7 220 4 2 -1.9 -1.0 16.6 61.9 -11.9 203 1.0
10000 11.3 52.3 220 3 2 -2.6 -1.4 15.7 60.3 -12.9 201 1.0
9750 11.2 52.2 225 3 2 2.4 1.3 14.9 58.8 -13.8 199 1.0
9500 11.2 52.2 210 3 2 -6.7 -3.7 14.3 57.7 -14.5 190 1.0
9250 9.7 49.5 260 3 1 -36.6 -20.1 11.9 53.4 -16.8 228 1.2
9000 8.2 46.8 295 4 2 21.4 11.8 9.5 49.1 -19.1 266 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 * * * * * *
08/03/2025 at 0900 MDT | 08/03/2025 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +648.7 LI... -3.0 | CAPE... +40.4 LI... -1.0
CINH... -44.4 K Index... +7.2 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +18.0
|
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 -60.5 -76.9 300 11 6 4.0 2.2 | -61.6 -78.9 295 23 12 3.2 1.8
45000 -54.9 -66.8 305 39 20 3.1 1.7 | -56.5 -69.7 305 48 25 3.7 2.0
40000 -49.9 -57.8 305 83 43 5.3 2.9 | -50.5 -58.9 310 76 39 6.2 3.4
38000 -46.7 -52.1 310 82 42 5.3 2.9 | -46.7 -52.1 315 78 40 6.2 3.4
36000 -43.5 -46.3 310 80 41 5.3 2.9 | -43.0 -45.4 315 81 42 6.2 3.4
34000 -40.0 -40.0 305 74 38 6.0 3.3 | -39.2 -38.6 315 75 39 6.3 3.4
32000 -35.9 -32.6 305 67 35 5.8 3.2 | -35.0 -31.0 310 68 35 6.3 3.5
30000 -31.8 -25.2 305 61 31 7.1 3.9 | -31.2 -24.2 310 61 31 6.3 3.4
29000 -29.6 -21.3 305 58 30 7.1 3.9 | -29.4 -20.9 310 57 29 6.3 3.4
28000 -27.5 -17.5 305 55 28 6.8 3.7 | -27.5 -17.5 310 53 27 6.7 3.7
27000 -25.5 -13.9 305 50 26 6.8 3.7 | -25.4 -13.7 310 49 25 6.8 3.7
26000 -23.5 -10.3 305 46 24 6.8 3.7 | -23.4 -10.1 310 45 23 6.8 3.7
25000 -21.4 -6.5 300 42 21 6.5 3.6 | -21.4 -6.5 310 41 21 6.5 3.6
24000 -19.7 -3.5 300 38 20 5.6 3.0 | -19.6 -3.3 305 39 20 5.9 3.2
23000 -18.1 -0.6 295 35 18 5.6 3.1 | -17.9 -0.2 300 37 19 5.9 3.2
22000 -16.4 2.5 295 32 16 6.5 3.5 | -16.1 3.0 295 35 18 6.6 3.6
21000 -14.2 6.4 295 29 15 7.5 4.1 | -14.0 6.8 295 29 15 7.5 4.1
20000 -12.0 10.4 295 26 13 7.6 4.2 | -11.8 10.8 295 24 12 7.7 4.2
19500 -10.9 12.4 295 24 13 7.7 4.2 | -10.7 12.7 290 21 11 8.0 4.4
19000 -9.6 14.7 300 23 12 9.3 5.1 | -9.4 15.1 290 20 10 9.8 5.4
18500 -8.3 17.1 300 23 12 9.2 5.0 | -8.0 17.6 295 19 10 9.7 5.3
18000 -6.9 19.6 305 23 12 9.4 5.2 | -6.5 20.3 295 19 10 9.8 5.4
17500 -5.5 22.1 305 23 12 9.5 5.2 | -5.1 22.8 295 18 9 9.8 5.4
17000 -4.1 24.6 310 23 12 9.5 5.2 | -3.6 25.5 295 17 9 9.8 5.4
16500 -2.7 27.1 310 23 12 9.5 5.2 | -2.1 28.2 295 17 9 9.8 5.4
16000 -1.2 29.8 315 23 12 9.5 5.2 | 0.1 32.2 300 16 8 9.8 5.4
15500 0.9 33.6 315 23 12 9.7 5.3 | 1.5 34.7 300 15 8 9.7 5.3
15000 2.4 36.3 315 22 11 9.7 5.3 | 3.0 37.4 300 15 8 9.7 5.3
14500 3.8 38.8 315 22 11 9.2 5.1 | 4.4 39.9 300 15 7 9.8 5.4
14000 5.2 41.4 315 21 11 9.6 5.2 | 6.0 42.8 300 14 7 10.1 5.5
13500 6.7 44.1 315 20 10 11.0 6.0 | 7.5 45.5 300 14 7 11.1 6.1
13000 8.2 46.8 315 19 10 8.4 4.6 | 9.0 48.2 305 14 7 8.9 4.9
12500 9.5 49.1 315 18 9 9.2 5.1 | 10.4 50.7 305 13 7 10.4 5.7
12000 10.9 51.6 315 16 8 8.7 4.8 | 12.0 53.6 305 13 7 9.4 5.2
11750 11.4 52.5 310 15 8 7.7 4.2 | 12.7 54.9 305 13 7 8.0 4.4
11500 12.0 53.6 310 14 7 7.9 4.3 | 13.3 55.9 305 13 7 9.5 5.2
11250 12.6 54.7 305 14 7 7.8 4.3 | 14.1 57.4 305 13 6 10.2 5.6
11000 13.1 55.6 305 13 7 7.7 4.2 | 14.8 58.6 305 12 6 10.0 5.5
10750 13.7 56.7 300 12 6 8.7 4.8 | 15.6 60.1 310 12 6 10.0 5.5
10500 14.3 57.7 295 12 6 5.3 2.9 | 16.3 61.3 310 12 6 10.7 5.9
10250 14.4 57.9 290 11 6 2.1 1.1 | 17.2 63.0 310 12 6 11.2 6.1
10000 14.4 57.9 285 10 5 3.2 1.8 | 18.0 64.4 310 11 6 11.6 6.3
9750 14.5 58.1 280 9 5 4.1 2.3 | 18.8 65.8 310 11 6 9.5 5.2
9500 14.8 58.6 270 8 4 10.9 6.0 | 19.6 67.3 310 11 6 16.2 8.9
9250 15.9 60.6 265 7 3 19.2 10.5 | 21.5 70.7 310 10 5 33.2 18.2
9000 17.0 62.6 255 5 3 5.6 3.1 | 23.3 73.9 310 9 5 1.4 0.7
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
08/03/2025 at 1500 MDT | 08/03/2025 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +53.3 LI... -0.9 | CAPE... +47.7 LI... -0.5
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +15.4 | CINH... -8.3 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 -62.6 -80.7 300 18 9 2.7 1.5 | -63.8 -82.8 290 17 9 2.2 1.2
45000 -57.6 -71.7 305 37 19 4.5 2.5 | -58.8 -73.8 295 31 16 5.3 2.9
40000 -50.6 -59.1 305 61 31 5.9 3.3 | -50.8 -59.4 300 54 28 5.6 3.1
38000 -47.1 -52.8 305 65 33 5.9 3.3 | -47.4 -53.3 300 59 30 5.6 3.1
36000 -43.5 -46.3 310 69 36 5.8 3.2 | -44.0 -47.2 305 64 33 5.6 3.1
34000 -39.3 -38.7 310 68 35 7.0 3.9 | -39.9 -39.8 310 63 33 7.0 3.8
32000 -34.6 -30.3 310 66 34 7.1 3.9 | -35.2 -31.4 310 62 32 7.2 4.0
30000 -30.6 -23.1 310 59 30 6.6 3.6 | -30.7 -23.3 315 54 28 7.5 4.1
29000 -28.6 -19.5 310 55 28 6.6 3.6 | -28.4 -19.1 315 49 25 7.5 4.1
28000 -26.7 -16.1 310 51 26 6.0 3.3 | -26.3 -15.3 310 45 23 5.4 3.0
27000 -24.9 -12.8 310 46 24 6.0 3.3 | -24.6 -12.3 310 40 21 5.7 3.1
26000 -23.1 -9.6 305 42 21 6.0 3.3 | -22.9 -9.2 305 36 18 5.7 3.1
25000 -21.3 -6.3 305 37 19 5.9 3.2 | -21.3 -6.3 295 31 16 6.4 3.5
24000 -19.5 -3.1 300 31 16 5.9 3.2 | -19.2 -2.6 290 27 14 7.1 3.9
23000 -17.8 -0.0 295 25 13 6.1 3.4 | -17.1 1.2 285 23 12 7.2 3.9
22000 -16.0 3.2 285 20 10 8.3 4.5 | -15.0 5.0 275 19 10 8.7 4.8
21000 -13.2 8.2 285 18 9 9.4 5.2 | -12.2 10.0 275 18 9 9.4 5.1
20000 -10.4 13.3 285 16 8 9.4 5.2 | -9.4 15.1 275 16 8 9.4 5.1
19500 -9.0 15.8 285 15 8 9.5 5.2 | -8.1 17.4 275 15 8 9.4 5.2
19000 -7.6 18.3 285 14 7 9.7 5.3 | -6.7 19.9 275 14 7 9.3 5.1
18500 -6.2 20.8 285 14 7 9.6 5.3 | -5.3 22.5 275 13 7 9.3 5.1
18000 -4.7 23.5 290 13 7 9.8 5.4 | -3.9 25.0 275 13 6 9.6 5.2
17500 -3.3 26.1 290 13 7 9.9 5.4 | -2.4 27.7 275 12 6 9.6 5.3
17000 -1.8 28.8 290 12 6 9.9 5.4 | -1.0 30.2 275 11 6 9.6 5.3
16500 -0.3 31.5 290 12 6 9.6 5.3 | 0.4 32.7 275 10 5 9.5 5.2
16000 1.1 34.0 295 11 6 9.6 5.3 | 1.8 35.2 280 9 5 9.5 5.2
15500 2.6 36.7 295 11 6 9.8 5.4 | 4.0 39.2 280 8 4 9.8 5.4
15000 4.8 40.6 295 11 5 9.7 5.3 | 5.5 41.9 280 7 3 9.6 5.3
14500 6.2 43.2 295 10 5 9.9 5.4 | 6.8 44.2 280 6 3 9.4 5.1
14000 7.7 45.9 300 10 5 10.2 5.6 | 8.3 46.9 280 5 2 9.7 5.3
13500 9.3 48.7 300 10 5 10.3 5.6 | 9.8 49.6 285 3 2 10.3 5.7
13000 10.8 51.4 300 10 5 9.6 5.3 | 11.2 52.2 290 2 1 8.8 4.8
12500 12.2 54.0 300 9 5 9.9 5.4 | 12.6 54.7 325 1 1 10.1 5.5
12000 13.7 56.7 305 9 5 9.7 5.3 | 14.1 57.4 060 2 1 9.5 5.2
11750 14.4 57.9 305 9 5 9.5 5.2 | 14.8 58.6 065 2 1 8.8 4.8
11500 15.1 59.2 305 9 5 9.6 5.3 | 15.5 59.9 070 3 1 9.4 5.2
11250 15.8 60.4 305 9 4 9.6 5.3 | 16.2 61.2 075 3 2 9.8 5.4
11000 16.6 61.9 305 8 4 9.6 5.3 | 16.9 62.4 075 4 2 9.7 5.3
10750 17.3 63.1 305 8 4 10.9 6.0 | 17.7 63.9 075 4 2 10.3 5.6
10500 18.2 64.8 310 8 4 11.1 6.1 | 18.4 65.1 075 5 2 10.4 5.7
10250 18.9 66.0 310 8 4 10.1 5.6 | 19.2 66.6 075 5 3 9.9 5.5
10000 19.7 67.5 310 8 4 10.7 5.9 | 20.0 68.0 075 5 3 10.3 5.6
9750 20.5 68.9 310 8 4 9.5 5.2 | 20.7 69.3 075 5 3 9.4 5.2
9500 21.3 70.3 310 7 4 16.7 9.2 | 21.4 70.5 075 5 3 12.2 6.7
9250 23.1 73.6 310 7 4 31.9 17.5 | 22.6 72.7 080 5 3 19.1 10.5
9000 25.0 77.0 310 6 3 4.2 2.3 | 23.7 74.7 080 4 2 6.3 3.5
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