678 UXUS97 KPUB 141246 SRGPUB Soaring Forecast National Weather Service Pueblo, Colorado 0546 MST Sunday, January 14, 2024 This forecast is for the Air Force Academy for Sunday, January 14, 2024: If the trigger temperature of 40.8 F/4.9 C is reached...then Thermal Soaring Index....................... Poor Maximum rate of lift........................ 0 ft/min (0.0 m/s) Maximum height of thermals.................. 7664 ft MSL (96 ft AGL) Forecast maximum temperature................... 11.0 F/-12.1 C Time of trigger temperature.................... None Time of overdevelopment........................ None Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... Broken/overcast opaque middle Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less Height of the -3 thermal index................. None Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 01/15....... Poor Wave Soaring Index............................. Not available Remarks... Sunrise/Sunset.................... 07:16:57 / 16:59:33 MST Total possible sunshine........... 9 hr 42 min 36 sec (582 min 36 sec) Altitude of sun at 12:08:15 MST... 29.70 degrees Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 01/14/2024 at 0500 MST Freezing level.................. Entire airmass below 32 F / 0 C Convective condensation level... 15441 ft MSL (7873 ft AGL) Lifted condensation level....... 7610 ft MSL (42 ft AGL) Lifted index.................... +19.3 K index......................... +8.4 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 -59.6 -75.3 295 88 45 3.4 1.9 M M M M M 45000 -54.3 -65.7 290 85 44 3.5 1.9 M M M M M 40000 -56.4 -69.5 285 91 47 -2.3 -1.3 M M M M M 38000 -57.6 -71.7 285 94 48 0.0 0.0 M M M M M 36000 -57.2 -71.0 280 94 48 0.7 0.4 M M M M M 34000 -56.7 -70.1 275 94 48 0.2 0.1 M M M M M 32000 -53.3 -63.9 275 88 45 6.7 3.7 M M M M M 30000 -49.3 -56.7 270 82 42 6.6 3.6 M M M M M 29000 -46.7 -52.1 265 73 37 9.1 5.0 18.5 65.4 23.4 M M 28000 -44.0 -47.2 260 62 32 9.1 5.0 18.2 64.8 23.5 M M 27000 -41.3 -42.3 255 52 27 9.1 5.0 18.1 64.5 23.7 M M 26000 -38.6 -37.5 255 47 24 8.2 4.5 17.8 64.1 23.7 M M 25000 -36.1 -33.0 260 52 27 8.3 4.6 17.2 62.9 23.5 M M 24000 -33.7 -28.7 265 57 30 8.3 4.6 16.7 62.1 23.4 M M 23000 -31.2 -24.2 270 62 32 8.6 4.7 16.3 61.3 23.3 M M 22000 -28.6 -19.5 270 62 32 8.5 4.7 15.8 60.4 23.2 M M 21000 -26.0 -14.8 275 62 32 8.5 4.7 15.4 59.7 23.1 M M 20000 -23.8 -10.8 275 62 32 5.8 3.2 14.6 58.3 22.7 M M 19500 -22.9 -9.2 280 62 32 5.9 3.3 13.9 57.1 22.2 M M 19000 -21.6 -6.9 285 61 31 5.9 3.3 13.4 55.3 21.6 M M 18500 -20.7 -5.3 285 61 31 6.0 3.3 12.3 54.2 21.1 M M 18000 -19.9 -3.8 285 61 31 4.8 2.7 11.7 53.1 20.7 M M 17500 -19.2 -2.6 290 61 31 4.4 2.4 10.8 51.4 20.0 M M 17000 -18.6 -1.5 290 61 32 4.7 2.6 9.9 49.8 19.2 M M 16500 -17.7 0.1 295 60 31 7.1 3.9 9.3 48.7 18.8 M M 16000 -16.7 1.9 295 59 30 6.9 3.8 8.8 47.9 18.5 M M 15500 -15.6 3.9 295 57 30 8.4 4.6 8.4 47.2 18.2 M M 15000 -14.3 6.3 295 55 28 8.4 4.6 8.2 46.8 18.1 M M 14500 -13.1 8.4 295 53 27 7.9 4.3 8.0 46.4 18.0 M M 14000 -12.0 10.4 295 52 27 7.6 4.2 7.7 45.8 17.7 M M 13500 -10.9 12.4 295 52 27 6.7 3.7 7.3 45.2 17.5 M M 13000 -10.0 14.0 290 52 27 5.1 2.8 6.7 44.0 16.9 M M 12500 -9.0 15.8 290 55 28 8.8 4.8 6.3 43.3 16.6 M M 12000 -8.0 17.6 285 51 26 5.6 3.1 5.8 42.4 16.3 M M 11750 -7.5 18.5 285 48 25 6.3 3.5 5.5 41.8 16.0 M M 11500 -7.1 19.2 280 45 23 4.2 2.3 5.2 41.3 15.8 M M 11250 -6.9 19.6 280 45 23 4.0 2.2 4.6 40.4 15.3 M M 11000 -6.5 20.3 280 44 23 5.8 3.2 4.3 39.8 15.0 M M 10750 -6.1 21.0 280 43 22 5.8 3.2 4.0 39.2 14.7 M M 10500 -5.7 21.7 280 42 22 4.0 2.2 3.7 38.6 14.4 M M 10250 -5.5 22.1 280 38 20 2.7 1.5 3.1 37.6 14.0 M M 10000 -5.2 22.6 280 35 18 3.3 1.8 2.6 36.7 13.5 M M 9750 -5.0 23.0 280 32 17 4.8 2.6 2.1 35.9 13.1 M M 9500 -4.7 23.5 280 30 15 -1.3 -0.7 1.7 35.0 12.6 M M 9250 -5.1 22.8 280 26 13 -7.1 -3.9 0.5 32.8 11.5 M M 9000 -5.5 22.1 285 22 11 -2.6 -1.4 -0.6 30.8 10.4 M M 8750 -5.6 21.9 285 18 9 -2.2 -1.2 -1.5 29.3 9.6 M M 8500 -6.2 20.8 290 14 7 -16.2 -8.9 -2.8 26.9 8.4 M M 8250 -7.9 17.8 285 12 6 -27.0 -14.8 -5.4 22.3 5.9 M M 8000 -9.6 14.7 285 9 5 -16.7 -9.2 -7.8 17.9 3.5 M M 7750 -10.5 13.1 280 5 3 -12.2 -6.7 -9.5 14.9 1.9 M M 7500 M M M M M M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M M M M M M 6750 M M M M M M M M M M M M * * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * * 01/14/2024 at 0800 MST | 01/14/2024 at 1100 MST | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +1.4 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +2.5 CINH... 0.0 K Index... +11.2 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +8.5 | 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 -58.2 -72.8 290 88 45 2.9 1.6 | -57.4 -71.3 290 83 43 2.0 1.1 45000 -53.8 -64.8 290 89 46 3.0 1.6 | -54.4 -65.9 285 82 42 2.0 1.1 40000 -54.3 -65.7 285 89 46 -1.0 -0.5 | -53.4 -64.1 285 85 44 0.4 0.2 38000 -54.8 -66.6 285 89 46 0.7 0.4 | -53.2 -63.8 285 86 44 -0.0 -0.0 36000 -53.6 -64.5 285 84 43 1.9 1.0 | -53.4 -64.1 285 81 42 -0.3 -0.2 34000 -52.4 -62.3 280 79 41 1.9 1.0 | -53.6 -64.5 285 76 39 -0.2 -0.1 32000 -51.3 -60.3 285 70 36 1.8 1.0 | -51.7 -61.1 280 73 38 4.4 2.4 30000 -50.3 -58.5 290 60 31 1.8 1.0 | -49.0 -56.2 280 70 36 4.4 2.4 29000 -48.9 -56.0 290 58 30 6.6 3.6 | -47.8 -54.0 280 66 34 4.2 2.3 28000 -46.9 -52.4 295 57 29 6.7 3.7 | -46.5 -51.7 280 60 31 4.2 2.3 27000 -44.9 -48.8 295 57 29 6.7 3.7 | -45.2 -49.4 280 53 28 4.2 2.3 26000 -42.8 -45.0 295 56 29 8.2 4.5 | -43.8 -46.8 280 47 24 8.8 4.8 25000 -40.3 -40.5 295 56 29 8.4 4.6 | -40.9 -41.6 280 43 22 9.5 5.2 24000 -37.8 -36.0 290 56 29 8.4 4.6 | -38.1 -36.6 285 38 20 9.5 5.2 23000 -35.3 -31.5 290 55 29 8.4 4.6 | -35.3 -31.5 285 35 18 8.5 4.7 22000 -32.8 -27.0 290 55 28 8.4 4.6 | -32.8 -27.0 285 41 21 8.2 4.5 21000 -30.3 -22.5 285 55 28 8.4 4.6 | -29.8 -21.6 290 49 25 8.2 4.5 20000 -27.2 -17.0 285 53 27 8.4 4.6 | -27.2 -17.0 290 53 27 8.8 4.8 19500 -25.9 -14.6 285 52 27 8.4 4.6 | -25.9 -14.6 285 53 27 8.8 4.8 19000 -24.7 -12.5 280 51 26 8.4 4.6 | -24.6 -12.3 285 54 28 8.8 4.9 18500 -23.4 -10.1 280 50 26 8.4 4.6 | -23.2 -9.8 280 54 28 8.8 4.9 18000 -22.2 -8.0 280 48 25 8.9 4.9 | -21.9 -7.4 280 55 28 8.2 4.5 17500 -20.8 -5.4 275 44 23 9.2 5.1 | -20.8 -5.4 280 53 27 7.8 4.3 17000 -19.4 -2.9 270 40 21 9.1 5.0 | -19.6 -3.3 275 52 27 7.7 4.2 16500 -18.2 -0.8 270 38 20 7.4 4.1 | -18.5 -1.3 275 49 25 7.1 3.9 16000 -17.1 1.2 280 38 20 7.6 4.2 | -17.5 0.5 275 45 23 7.1 3.9 15500 -16.0 3.2 285 39 20 7.0 3.8 | -16.3 2.7 270 40 21 7.9 4.3 15000 -15.0 5.0 295 41 21 7.0 3.8 | -15.2 4.6 270 34 18 7.9 4.3 14500 -13.9 7.0 300 43 22 7.3 4.0 | -14.1 6.6 270 29 15 5.7 3.1 14000 -12.8 9.0 305 45 23 7.4 4.1 | -13.4 7.9 285 32 16 4.9 2.7 13500 -11.7 10.9 305 47 24 7.1 3.9 | -12.7 9.1 290 35 18 5.4 3.0 13000 -10.8 12.6 305 47 24 6.3 3.5 | -11.8 10.8 295 36 19 6.4 3.5 12500 -9.6 14.7 305 48 25 9.1 5.0 | -11.2 11.8 300 38 19 4.0 2.2 12000 -8.6 16.5 300 47 24 6.0 3.3 | -10.1 13.8 300 36 18 8.5 4.6 11750 -8.1 17.4 300 47 24 6.8 3.7 | -9.5 14.9 300 35 18 8.1 4.5 11500 -7.7 18.1 295 46 24 4.7 2.6 | -8.9 16.0 300 33 17 8.9 4.9 11250 -7.4 18.7 295 44 22 4.3 2.4 | -8.2 17.2 300 33 17 8.4 4.6 11000 -7.0 19.4 295 41 21 5.8 3.2 | -7.7 18.1 295 31 16 7.1 3.9 10750 -6.6 20.1 290 39 20 6.2 3.4 | -7.1 19.2 295 30 16 8.3 4.6 10500 -6.2 20.8 290 37 19 3.2 1.7 | -6.6 20.1 295 29 15 4.9 2.7 10250 -6.1 21.0 290 34 18 1.6 0.9 | -6.4 20.5 295 26 14 3.7 2.0 10000 -5.8 21.6 290 31 16 3.5 1.9 | -5.9 21.4 290 24 12 5.9 3.2 9750 -5.5 22.1 285 28 14 5.5 3.0 | -5.5 22.1 290 22 11 7.5 4.1 9500 -5.3 22.5 285 24 13 -2.1 -1.1 | -5.1 22.8 290 20 10 -2.6 -1.4 9250 -5.9 21.4 285 21 11 -10.3 -5.7 | -5.8 21.6 290 17 9 -11.2 -6.2 9000 -6.5 20.3 285 18 9 -6.7 -3.7 | -6.4 20.5 295 14 7 -4.4 -2.4 8750 -6.9 19.6 280 14 7 -6.4 -3.5 | -6.7 19.9 295 11 6 -5.3 -2.9 8500 -7.8 18.0 280 11 6 -21.3 -11.7 | -7.4 18.7 300 8 4 -14.1 -7.7 8250 -10.0 14.0 275 9 4 -33.0 -18.1 | -8.7 16.3 300 6 3 -20.4 -11.2 8000 -12.1 10.2 275 6 3 -23.9 -13.1 | -9.9 14.2 300 4 2 -6.8 -3.7 7750 -13.6 7.5 255 3 1 -16.8 -9.2 | -9.3 15.3 020 1 0 20.8 11.4 7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 6750 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 01/14/2024 at 1400 MST | 01/14/2024 at 1700 MST | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +0.9 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +1.7 CINH... 0.0 K Index... +9.4 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +7.6 | 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 -57.3 -71.1 285 80 41 2.1 1.2 | -56.9 -70.4 285 79 41 2.3 1.3 45000 -54.1 -65.4 285 81 42 2.2 1.2 | -53.5 -64.3 280 80 41 2.3 1.3 40000 -53.0 -63.4 285 87 45 0.4 0.2 | -53.6 -64.5 280 80 41 -0.6 -0.3 38000 -52.8 -63.0 285 89 46 0.0 0.0 | -53.9 -65.0 280 79 41 -0.3 -0.2 36000 -53.0 -63.4 280 88 45 -0.3 -0.2 | -54.0 -65.2 280 75 39 -0.0 -0.0 34000 -53.2 -63.8 280 86 44 -0.2 -0.1 | -54.0 -65.2 280 71 36 0.0 0.0 32000 -52.0 -61.6 280 76 39 2.9 1.6 | -53.1 -63.6 280 64 33 2.0 1.1 30000 -50.2 -58.4 280 62 32 3.0 1.6 | -51.9 -61.4 285 57 29 2.0 1.1 29000 -48.6 -55.5 285 56 29 7.1 3.9 | -50.3 -58.5 285 54 28 8.2 4.5 28000 -46.5 -51.7 285 52 27 7.2 4.0 | -47.8 -54.0 290 52 27 8.4 4.6 27000 -44.3 -47.7 290 48 25 7.2 4.0 | -45.2 -49.4 290 50 26 8.4 4.6 26000 -42.1 -43.8 295 44 23 7.5 4.1 | -42.7 -44.9 290 48 25 8.2 4.5 25000 -39.9 -39.8 295 41 21 7.5 4.1 | -40.3 -40.5 295 46 24 8.2 4.5 24000 -37.6 -35.7 295 39 20 7.5 4.1 | -37.8 -36.0 295 43 22 8.2 4.5 23000 -35.3 -31.5 295 37 19 8.0 4.4 | -35.4 -31.7 295 41 21 8.3 4.6 22000 -32.3 -26.1 295 39 20 8.2 4.5 | -32.9 -27.2 295 40 21 8.4 4.6 21000 -29.8 -21.6 295 40 21 8.2 4.5 | -29.7 -21.5 295 40 20 8.4 4.6 20000 -27.6 -17.7 295 43 22 6.7 3.7 | -27.5 -17.5 295 41 21 7.0 3.8 19500 -26.6 -15.9 295 44 23 6.7 3.7 | -26.4 -15.5 295 41 21 7.0 3.8 19000 -25.6 -14.1 295 45 23 6.7 3.7 | -25.4 -13.7 300 42 22 7.0 3.8 18500 -24.7 -12.5 290 47 24 6.7 3.7 | -24.4 -11.9 300 43 22 7.0 3.8 18000 -23.7 -10.7 290 48 25 7.3 4.0 | -23.3 -9.9 300 44 23 6.8 3.7 17500 -22.5 -8.5 290 48 25 7.9 4.4 | -22.3 -8.1 300 44 23 6.6 3.6 17000 -21.3 -6.3 285 49 25 8.0 4.4 | -21.4 -6.5 300 45 23 6.6 3.6 16500 -20.1 -4.2 285 47 24 8.6 4.7 | -20.4 -4.7 300 45 23 6.2 3.4 16000 -18.8 -1.8 280 44 23 8.6 4.7 | -19.5 -3.1 300 44 22 6.1 3.4 15500 -17.6 0.3 280 42 22 7.6 4.2 | -18.5 -1.3 300 42 22 7.0 3.9 15000 -16.5 2.3 275 40 21 7.5 4.1 | -17.5 0.5 300 40 21 7.0 3.9 14500 -15.4 4.3 275 39 20 6.7 3.7 | -16.4 2.5 295 38 20 7.9 4.3 14000 -14.5 5.9 280 40 21 6.3 3.5 | -15.2 4.6 295 36 19 8.2 4.5 13500 -13.6 7.5 285 42 21 6.9 3.8 | -14.0 6.8 290 35 18 9.4 5.2 13000 -12.5 9.5 285 39 20 8.1 4.5 | -12.5 9.5 290 35 18 11.4 6.2 12500 -11.5 11.3 290 35 18 5.5 3.0 | -11.5 11.3 290 35 18 3.7 2.1 12000 -10.3 13.5 290 33 17 9.9 5.5 | -10.3 13.5 290 33 17 9.1 5.0 11750 -9.6 14.7 290 32 16 9.1 5.0 | -9.7 14.5 285 32 17 8.5 4.7 11500 -8.9 16.0 290 31 16 11.4 6.3 | -9.0 15.8 285 31 16 10.6 5.8 11250 -7.9 17.8 290 30 15 10.8 5.9 | -8.1 17.4 285 31 16 10.7 5.8 11000 -7.3 18.9 290 29 15 7.7 4.2 | -7.5 18.5 285 30 15 8.4 4.6 10750 -6.7 19.9 290 28 14 9.5 5.2 | -6.8 19.8 290 29 15 9.8 5.4 10500 -6.0 21.2 290 27 14 5.1 2.8 | -6.1 21.0 290 29 15 6.6 3.6 10250 -5.9 21.4 290 24 12 2.5 1.4 | -5.8 21.6 290 26 13 5.4 3.0 10000 -5.6 21.9 290 21 11 3.8 2.1 | -5.2 22.6 285 24 13 7.5 4.1 9750 -5.2 22.6 290 19 10 7.4 4.1 | -4.7 23.5 285 23 12 8.4 4.6 9500 -4.9 23.2 290 17 9 -7.2 -4.0 | -4.3 24.3 285 21 11 -3.8 -2.1 9250 -6.3 20.7 290 14 7 -20.7 -11.3 | -5.2 22.6 285 18 9 -13.5 -7.4 9000 -7.4 18.7 290 11 6 -9.5 -5.2 | -5.9 21.4 280 16 8 -6.5 -3.6 8750 -7.9 17.8 295 8 4 -5.8 -3.2 | -6.3 20.7 270 13 7 -7.8 -4.3 8500 -8.2 17.2 300 5 3 -2.9 -1.6 | -7.2 19.0 260 10 5 -15.6 -8.6 8250 -8.3 17.1 320 2 1 -0.7 -0.4 | -8.6 16.5 245 7 3 -20.4 -11.2 8000 -8.3 17.1 040 2 1 2.4 1.3 | -9.9 14.2 215 4 2 -11.1 -6.1 7750 -7.7 18.1 065 3 2 16.5 9.1 | -10.1 13.8 150 5 3 1.2 0.7 7500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 7000 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M 6750 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 the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado at North Latitude: 38 deg 58 min 48.000 sec West Longitude: 104 deg 49 min 12.000 sec Elevation: 6572 feet (2003 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