Soaring Forecast GJT

 Grand Junction Soaring Forecast

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796
UXUS97 KGJT 211306
SRGGJT

Soaring Forecast
National Weather Service Grand Junction, Colorado
606 AM MST Saturday, December 21, 2024

This forecast is for Saturday, December 21, 2024:

If the trigger temperature of 63.2 F/17.4 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Fair
Maximum rate of lift........................ 272 ft/min (1.4 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 7108 ft MSL (2269 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....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 5923 ft MSL (1084 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Sunday 12/22....... Fair

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

Remarks...

Sunrise/Sunset.................... 07:30:11 / 16:55:01 MST
Total possible sunshine........... 9 hr 24 min 50 sec (564 min 50 sec)
Altitude of sun at 12:12:36 MST... 27.38 degrees

Upper air data from rawinsonde observation taken on 12/21/2024 at 0500 MST

Freezing level.................. 5114 ft MSL (275 ft AGL)
Additional freezing level....... 12098 ft MSL (7259 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 22719 ft MSL (17880 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 14012 ft MSL (9173 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +16.7
K index......................... -20.2

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 -64.5 -84.1 300 30 16 -5.9 -3.2 93.0 199.3 47.3 M M
45000 -57.2 -71.0 300 33 17 -4.5 -2.5 80.3 176.6 43.0 M M
40000 -64.1 -83.4 315 21 11 3.2 1.8 46.1 115.0 23.6 M M
38000 -59.4 -74.9 310 19 10 7.0 3.9 43.2 109.8 22.5 M M
36000 -54.6 -66.3 305 17 9 8.9 4.9 41.7 107.1 22.0 M M
34000 -49.2 -56.6 300 13 7 8.7 4.8 41.0 105.9 22.1 M M
32000 -44.3 -47.7 305 13 7 8.2 4.5 39.8 103.7 21.8 M M
30000 -39.1 -38.4 295 12 6 8.6 4.7 38.8 101.9 21.6 M M
29000 -36.7 -34.1 260 10 5 7.3 4.0 38.1 100.6 21.3 M M
28000 -34.5 -30.1 250 10 5 7.6 4.2 37.2 98.9 20.9 M M
27000 -32.2 -26.0 230 13 7 8.0 4.4 36.3 97.4 20.5 M M
26000 -29.6 -21.3 255 9 5 8.6 4.7 35.9 96.6 20.4 M M
25000 -27.2 -17.0 270 8 4 8.4 4.6 35.3 95.6 20.1 M M
24000 -24.7 -12.5 310 10 5 7.3 4.0 34.7 94.5 19.9 M M
23000 -22.1 -7.8 315 10 5 8.4 4.6 34.4 94.0 19.9 M M
22000 -20.0 -4.0 285 14 7 6.0 3.3 33.4 92.1 19.2 M M
21000 -18.3 -0.9 290 14 7 6.4 3.5 31.9 89.4 18.2 M M
20000 -15.3 4.5 300 15 8 8.0 4.4 31.1 88.0 17.8 M M
19500 -14.1 6.6 295 17 9 8.0 4.4 30.8 87.4 17.7 M M
19000 -12.9 8.8 300 14 7 7.4 4.1 30.4 86.8 17.5 M M
18500 -11.8 10.8 290 16 8 7.4 4.0 30.0 86.0 17.2 M M
18000 -10.7 12.7 285 18 9 7.4 4.0 29.6 85.3 17.0 M M
17500 -9.6 14.7 285 18 9 7.4 4.0 29.2 84.6 16.7 M M
17000 -8.5 16.7 290 18 9 7.3 4.0 28.8 83.8 16.4 M M
16500 -7.5 18.5 290 18 9 6.2 3.4 28.3 82.9 16.1 M M
16000 -6.5 20.3 300 18 9 5.8 3.2 27.7 81.8 15.7 M M
15500 -5.8 21.6 315 15 8 3.7 2.0 26.8 80.2 14.9 M M
15000 -5.0 23.0 330 13 7 9.0 5.0 26.2 79.1 14.4 M M
14500 -4.1 24.6 315 12 6 2.7 1.5 25.5 77.9 13.9 M M
14000 -3.7 25.3 320 18 9 4.3 2.3 24.4 75.9 12.9 M M
13500 -2.8 27.0 320 16 8 6.4 3.5 23.8 74.8 12.4 M M
13000 -1.8 28.8 325 14 7 6.5 3.5 23.2 73.8 12.0 M M
12500 -0.8 30.6 305 14 7 6.4 3.5 22.7 72.9 11.6 M M
12000 0.2 32.4 290 12 6 8.2 4.5 22.3 72.1 11.2 M M
11500 1.3 34.3 285 10 5 5.8 3.2 21.8 71.2 10.8 M M
11000 2.1 35.8 275 8 4 6.6 3.6 21.2 70.1 10.3 M M
10500 3.3 37.9 285 5 3 7.5 4.1 20.9 69.6 10.1 M M
10250 3.8 38.8 275 5 2 4.8 2.6 20.6 69.1 9.8 M M
10000 4.1 39.4 260 4 2 6.3 3.5 20.2 68.4 9.5 M M
9750 4.6 40.3 260 4 2 1.6 0.9 19.9 67.8 9.2 M M
9500 4.4 39.9 230 4 2 -0.6 -0.3 19.0 66.2 8.3 M M
9250 4.6 40.3 195 6 3 3.8 2.1 18.4 65.2 7.8 M M
9000 4.9 40.8 180 9 4 4.3 2.4 17.9 64.3 7.4 M M
8750 5.2 41.4 175 10 5 -0.3 -0.2 17.4 63.4 6.9 M M
8500 4.7 40.5 170 11 6 -8.9 -4.9 16.3 61.3 5.8 M M
8250 4.1 39.4 165 13 6 -2.9 -1.6 14.9 58.8 4.5 M M
8000 4.3 39.7 155 12 6 4.0 2.2 14.3 57.8 3.9 M M
7750 4.4 39.9 150 11 6 -2.1 -1.1 13.7 56.6 3.3 M M
7500 4.0 39.2 140 10 5 -6.3 -3.5 12.5 54.5 2.2 M M
7250 3.5 38.3 125 8 4 -6.8 -3.7 11.3 52.3 1.0 M M
7000 3.0 37.4 105 8 4 -4.2 -2.3 10.0 50.1 -0.2 273 1.4
6750 3.0 37.4 110 8 4 3.1 1.7 9.3 48.7 -1.0 268 1.4
6500 3.4 38.1 110 7 3 5.2 2.8 8.9 48.0 -1.4 249 1.3
6250 3.6 38.5 115 6 3 1.3 0.7 8.4 47.1 -1.9 235 1.2
6000 3.7 38.7 125 4 2 2.4 1.3 7.7 45.9 -2.6 226 1.1
5750 3.7 38.7 140 5 3 -5.7 -3.1 7.1 44.7 -3.3 217 1.1
5500 2.8 37.0 150 9 4 -11.5 -6.3 5.4 41.8 -4.9 235 1.2
5250 2.0 35.6 145 12 6 -16.7 -9.2 3.8 38.9 -6.5 254 1.3
5000 -0.3 31.5 140 9 5 -43.5 -23.9 0.9 33.6 -9.5 313 1.6

* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *

12/21/2024 at 0800 MST | 12/21/2024 at 1100 MST
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.9 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.7
CINH... -0.3 K Index... -7.5 | CINH... -0.1 K Index... -7.7
|
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 -64.2 -83.6 290 22 12 3.3 1.8 | -64.4 -83.9 265 25 13 3.2 1.7
45000 -59.8 -75.6 300 20 10 -1.2 -0.7 | -60.2 -76.4 270 24 12 -0.6 -0.3
40000 -61.8 -79.2 295 20 10 -1.0 -0.6 | -61.3 -78.3 280 25 13 -0.6 -0.3
38000 -59.0 -74.2 290 18 9 6.8 3.7 | -58.3 -72.9 275 23 12 6.7 3.7
36000 -54.3 -65.7 290 16 8 6.8 3.7 | -53.7 -64.7 270 21 11 6.7 3.7
34000 -49.8 -57.6 290 16 8 8.2 4.5 | -49.3 -56.7 270 18 9 8.1 4.5
32000 -44.9 -48.8 285 17 9 8.2 4.5 | -44.4 -47.9 265 16 8 8.1 4.5
30000 -40.1 -40.2 275 17 9 7.9 4.3 | -39.7 -39.5 270 16 8 7.5 4.1
29000 -37.7 -35.9 270 18 9 7.9 4.3 | -37.5 -35.5 270 17 9 7.5 4.1
28000 -35.3 -31.5 265 18 9 7.9 4.3 | -35.2 -31.4 270 18 9 7.5 4.1
27000 -33.0 -27.4 260 18 9 7.9 4.3 | -33.0 -27.4 265 19 10 7.8 4.3
26000 -30.6 -23.1 255 16 8 7.9 4.3 | -30.6 -23.1 260 18 9 7.8 4.3
25000 -28.3 -18.9 250 15 8 7.9 4.3 | -28.3 -18.9 255 18 9 7.8 4.3
24000 -26.0 -14.8 250 14 7 7.1 3.9 | -26.0 -14.8 250 18 9 7.1 3.9
23000 -23.3 -9.9 250 13 7 7.2 3.9 | -23.9 -11.0 250 18 9 7.2 3.9
22000 -21.1 -6.0 255 12 6 7.1 3.9 | -21.2 -6.2 250 18 9 7.0 3.9
21000 -18.8 -1.8 260 12 6 8.2 4.5 | -18.9 -2.0 255 18 9 8.2 4.5
20000 -16.3 2.7 260 13 7 8.2 4.5 | -16.4 2.5 255 18 9 8.2 4.5
19500 -15.1 4.8 265 13 7 8.2 4.5 | -15.2 4.6 255 18 9 8.2 4.5
19000 -13.9 7.0 265 13 7 8.4 4.6 | -14.0 6.8 255 18 10 8.5 4.6
18500 -12.6 9.3 270 14 7 8.4 4.6 | -12.7 9.1 255 18 9 8.6 4.7
18000 -11.4 11.5 270 14 7 8.4 4.6 | -11.4 11.5 255 18 9 8.5 4.7
17500 -10.2 13.6 275 14 7 7.6 4.2 | -10.2 13.6 260 18 9 8.3 4.5
17000 -9.0 15.8 275 14 7 7.7 4.2 | -8.9 16.0 260 18 9 8.4 4.6
16500 -7.9 17.8 280 14 7 7.0 3.8 | -7.7 18.1 260 17 9 7.3 4.0
16000 -6.9 19.6 280 13 7 6.9 3.8 | -6.7 19.9 260 16 8 7.2 3.9
15500 -5.9 21.4 280 13 7 6.6 3.6 | -5.6 21.9 260 15 8 6.8 3.7
15000 -4.9 23.2 280 12 6 6.3 3.5 | -4.7 23.5 255 14 7 6.3 3.4
14500 -4.0 24.8 280 11 6 6.3 3.5 | -3.8 25.2 255 13 7 6.2 3.4
14000 -3.1 26.4 280 10 5 6.1 3.3 | -2.9 26.8 250 12 6 5.9 3.2
13500 -2.2 28.0 275 10 5 6.1 3.4 | -2.0 28.4 245 12 6 5.9 3.3
13000 -1.3 29.7 270 9 5 5.8 3.2 | -1.1 30.0 240 11 6 5.6 3.1
12500 -0.4 31.3 265 8 4 5.9 3.2 | -0.3 31.5 240 11 6 5.8 3.2
12000 0.4 32.7 260 8 4 5.2 2.8 | 0.5 32.9 235 11 5 4.7 2.6
11500 1.2 34.2 255 7 4 5.4 2.9 | 1.2 34.2 230 10 5 4.9 2.7
11000 1.9 35.4 245 7 4 4.2 2.3 | 1.8 35.2 220 10 5 3.8 2.1
10500 2.5 36.5 240 7 3 4.8 2.6 | 2.4 36.3 215 9 5 4.3 2.3
10250 2.8 37.0 235 7 3 2.0 1.1 | 2.7 36.9 210 9 5 2.1 1.2
10000 2.8 37.0 230 7 3 1.5 0.8 | 2.7 36.9 210 9 5 1.6 0.9
9750 3.1 37.6 225 6 3 4.1 2.2 | 3.0 37.4 205 9 5 3.5 1.9
9500 3.4 38.1 215 6 3 3.6 2.0 | 3.2 37.8 200 9 5 3.1 1.7
9250 3.6 38.5 205 6 3 1.9 1.0 | 3.4 38.1 195 9 4 2.2 1.2
9000 3.6 38.5 200 6 3 0.6 0.3 | 3.5 38.3 195 9 4 1.3 0.7
8750 3.7 38.7 190 7 3 1.5 0.8 | 3.6 38.5 190 9 4 1.2 0.7
8500 3.8 38.8 185 6 3 1.3 0.7 | 3.7 38.7 190 8 4 1.0 0.6
8250 3.9 39.0 175 7 4 0.2 0.1 | 3.8 38.8 180 8 4 1.1 0.6
8000 3.9 39.0 170 7 4 -0.2 -0.1 | 3.9 39.0 175 8 4 0.4 0.2
7750 3.9 39.0 165 6 3 -0.9 -0.5 | 3.9 39.0 175 7 4 -0.5 -0.3
7500 3.8 38.8 160 6 3 -0.8 -0.5 | 3.8 38.8 175 7 3 -0.2 -0.1
7250 3.7 38.7 160 6 3 -0.8 -0.4 | 3.8 38.8 170 6 3 -1.2 -0.6
7000 3.7 38.7 155 6 3 -1.0 -0.6 | 3.8 38.8 165 6 3 2.2 1.2
6750 3.6 38.5 145 5 2 -1.0 -0.6 | 4.1 39.4 165 4 2 3.9 2.2
6500 3.5 38.3 135 4 2 -0.8 -0.5 | 4.3 39.7 155 3 1 2.9 1.6
6250 3.4 38.1 130 4 2 -0.7 -0.4 | 4.5 40.1 145 2 1 0.3 0.1
6000 3.1 37.6 120 4 2 -13.2 -7.2 | 4.4 39.9 130 1 1 3.0 1.6
5750 1.2 34.2 105 3 2 -34.5 -18.9 | 5.2 41.4 115 1 0 17.5 9.6
5500 -0.6 30.9 080 3 2 1.8 1.0 | 6.0 42.8 085 1 0 -8.7 -4.7
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

12/21/2024 at 1400 MST | 12/21/2024 at 1700 MST
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.7 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.4
CINH... -0.0 K Index... -4.3 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... -2.3
|
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 -63.6 -82.5 265 33 17 3.3 1.8 | -64.2 -83.6 270 31 16 3.0 1.6
45000 -59.3 -74.7 265 30 16 -1.6 -0.9 | -60.0 -76.0 255 32 16 -0.9 -0.5
40000 -61.8 -79.2 265 29 15 -1.4 -0.8 | -61.3 -78.3 250 35 18 -0.7 -0.4
38000 -58.8 -73.8 260 29 15 7.3 4.0 | -58.6 -73.5 250 34 17 6.6 3.6
36000 -53.9 -65.0 250 29 15 7.3 4.0 | -54.6 -66.3 255 32 16 6.6 3.6
34000 -49.5 -57.1 250 29 15 7.7 4.2 | -49.9 -57.8 260 31 16 7.5 4.1
32000 -44.9 -48.8 250 29 15 7.7 4.2 | -45.4 -49.7 265 31 16 7.5 4.1
30000 -40.1 -40.2 255 29 15 8.3 4.5 | -40.8 -41.4 270 32 17 8.0 4.4
29000 -37.6 -35.7 260 29 15 8.3 4.5 | -38.4 -37.1 270 32 17 8.0 4.4
28000 -35.1 -31.2 260 30 15 8.3 4.5 | -36.0 -32.8 270 33 17 8.1 4.4
27000 -32.7 -26.9 265 29 15 7.7 4.2 | -33.5 -28.3 270 32 17 8.5 4.6
26000 -30.4 -22.7 265 28 14 7.7 4.2 | -31.0 -23.8 270 31 16 8.5 4.6
25000 -28.1 -18.6 270 26 13 7.7 4.2 | -28.4 -19.1 270 30 16 8.5 4.6
24000 -25.9 -14.6 270 24 13 7.3 4.0 | -26.0 -14.8 265 29 15 7.4 4.0
23000 -23.7 -10.7 265 24 12 7.3 4.0 | -23.7 -10.7 265 28 14 7.5 4.1
22000 -21.0 -5.8 260 23 12 7.2 4.0 | -21.5 -6.7 265 27 14 7.5 4.1
21000 -18.6 -1.5 255 23 12 8.0 4.4 | -18.6 -1.5 265 26 14 7.9 4.3
20000 -16.2 2.8 255 24 12 8.0 4.4 | -16.3 2.7 265 26 14 7.9 4.3
19500 -15.0 5.0 250 24 12 8.0 4.4 | -15.1 4.8 265 26 14 7.9 4.3
19000 -13.9 7.0 250 24 12 8.0 4.4 | -14.0 6.8 260 26 14 7.6 4.2
18500 -12.7 9.1 250 24 12 7.9 4.4 | -12.9 8.8 260 26 13 7.3 4.0
18000 -11.5 11.3 250 24 12 8.0 4.4 | -11.8 10.8 260 26 13 7.3 4.0
17500 -10.3 13.5 250 23 12 7.6 4.2 | -10.7 12.7 260 25 13 6.9 3.8
17000 -9.2 15.4 250 22 12 7.6 4.2 | -9.7 14.5 260 25 13 6.9 3.8
16500 -8.1 17.4 250 22 11 7.1 3.9 | -8.7 16.3 260 24 12 6.8 3.8
16000 -7.1 19.2 250 21 11 7.0 3.8 | -7.7 18.1 260 23 12 6.8 3.7
15500 -6.1 21.0 250 20 10 6.9 3.8 | -6.7 19.9 260 23 12 6.8 3.7
15000 -5.1 22.8 250 19 10 6.7 3.7 | -5.7 21.7 260 22 11 6.8 3.7
14500 -4.1 24.6 245 18 9 6.7 3.6 | -4.7 23.5 260 22 11 6.8 3.7
14000 -3.2 26.2 245 17 9 6.1 3.4 | -3.7 25.3 260 21 11 6.3 3.5
13500 -2.2 28.0 240 17 9 6.2 3.4 | -2.8 27.0 260 21 11 6.4 3.5
13000 -1.4 29.5 240 16 8 5.6 3.1 | -1.9 28.6 260 20 10 5.9 3.2
12500 -0.5 31.1 235 16 8 5.7 3.1 | -1.0 30.2 255 19 10 5.9 3.3
12000 0.3 32.5 235 15 8 5.1 2.8 | -0.2 31.6 255 19 10 5.3 2.9
11500 1.0 33.8 230 14 7 5.1 2.8 | 0.6 33.1 250 18 9 5.3 2.9
11000 1.7 35.1 230 13 7 4.2 2.3 | 1.3 34.3 245 17 9 4.4 2.4
10500 2.3 36.1 225 12 6 4.5 2.5 | 2.0 35.6 240 15 8 4.7 2.6
10250 2.6 36.7 220 11 6 2.8 1.5 | 2.3 36.1 240 14 7 2.9 1.6
10000 2.8 37.0 220 11 6 2.5 1.4 | 2.4 36.3 240 14 7 2.8 1.5
9750 3.1 37.6 220 10 5 3.9 2.1 | 2.7 36.9 235 13 7 4.4 2.4
9500 3.3 37.9 215 10 5 3.7 2.0 | 3.1 37.6 230 12 6 4.3 2.4
9250 3.6 38.5 215 9 5 3.1 1.7 | 3.4 38.1 225 11 6 3.2 1.8
9000 3.8 38.8 215 8 4 2.2 1.2 | 3.5 38.3 225 10 5 2.1 1.1
8750 3.9 39.0 210 8 4 2.0 1.1 | 3.7 38.7 225 9 5 2.7 1.5
8500 4.1 39.4 210 7 4 1.8 1.0 | 3.9 39.0 220 8 4 2.7 1.5
8250 4.4 39.9 205 6 3 2.2 1.2 | 4.1 39.4 215 8 4 2.4 1.3
8000 4.5 40.1 200 5 3 1.0 0.5 | 4.4 39.9 215 6 3 1.5 0.8
7750 4.5 40.1 200 5 2 0.6 0.3 | 4.5 40.1 210 5 3 1.6 0.9
7500 4.6 40.3 195 4 2 1.6 0.9 | 4.6 40.3 210 4 2 2.5 1.4
7250 4.7 40.5 195 3 2 1.1 0.6 | 4.8 40.6 215 3 2 2.9 1.6
7000 4.8 40.6 190 2 1 2.8 1.5 | 5.0 41.0 220 3 1 1.4 0.7
6750 5.1 41.2 190 1 1 5.6 3.1 | 5.1 41.2 215 2 1 2.6 1.4
6500 5.6 42.1 185 1 0 6.4 3.5 | 5.4 41.7 240 1 1 4.3 2.3
6250 6.0 42.8 000 0 0 5.3 2.9 | 5.7 42.3 285 1 1 6.0 3.3
6000 6.5 43.7 000 0 0 8.7 4.8 | 6.1 43.0 320 2 1 -2.5 -1.4
5750 7.4 45.3 000 0 0 16.8 9.2 | 5.0 41.0 325 1 1 -23.1 -12.7
5500 8.4 47.1 020 1 0 2.1 1.1 | 4.2 39.6 325 2 1 19.4 10.6
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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