Strong to severe thunderstorms will continue this evening from eastern Texas into the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys/southern Appalachians. The strongest storms could produce a few strong tornadoes (EF2+), damaging wind gusts, large hail, and locally heavy to excessive rainfall which may results in flash and urban flooding. Read More >
Soaring Forecast for Moriarty NM
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
0705 MDT Wednesday May 6 2026
This forecast is for Wednesday, May 6, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 49.6 F/9.8 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1154 ft/min (5.9 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 19507 ft MSL (13157 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 66.0 F/19.3 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0930 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ Between 20 mph and 30 mph
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 17665 ft MSL (11315 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 05/07..... Excellent
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:07:47 / 19:53:26 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 45 min 39 sec (825 min 39 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:00:37 MDT... 71.72 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 05/06/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 9334 ft MSL (2984 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 13049 ft MSL (6699 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 15899 ft MSL (9549 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +1.5
K index......................... -5.0
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 -57.1 -70.8 250 71 37 0.8 0.4 96.6 205.9 45.4 M M
45000 -55.9 -68.6 245 83 42 1.5 0.8 76.2 169.2 35.7 M M
40000 -53.7 -64.7 245 109 56 1.4 0.8 56.5 133.6 25.0 M M
38000 -51.3 -60.3 245 116 60 4.9 2.7 50.2 122.4 21.5 M M
36000 -48.4 -55.1 245 120 62 4.9 2.7 46.0 114.9 19.1 M M
34000 -45.3 -49.5 245 121 62 5.5 3.0 42.3 108.2 16.9 M M
32000 -42.0 -43.6 240 118 61 5.6 3.1 38.7 101.7 14.7 M M
30000 -38.5 -37.3 240 115 59 6.8 3.7 35.8 96.4 12.8 M M
29000 -36.5 -33.7 240 113 58 6.8 3.7 34.5 94.1 12.0 M M
28000 -34.4 -29.9 240 111 57 6.8 3.7 33.4 92.1 11.3 M M
27000 -32.4 -26.3 240 109 56 6.4 3.5 32.4 90.4 10.7 M M
26000 -30.8 -23.4 245 104 53 5.1 2.8 30.6 87.1 9.4 M M
25000 -29.3 -20.7 245 98 50 5.1 2.8 28.9 83.9 8.0 M M
24000 -27.7 -17.9 245 92 47 5.0 2.7 27.2 81.0 6.8 M M
23000 -26.1 -15.0 245 86 44 5.6 3.1 25.6 78.1 5.6 M M
22000 -24.0 -11.2 245 77 40 5.6 3.1 23.8 74.8 4.1 M M
21000 -22.4 -8.3 245 70 36 3.6 2.0 22.3 72.1 2.9 M M
20000 -21.5 -6.7 245 61 32 3.1 1.7 19.8 67.7 0.8 M M
19500 -21.0 -5.8 245 57 29 3.1 1.7 18.7 65.6 -0.2 1148 5.8
19000 -20.5 -4.9 245 52 27 3.1 1.7 17.6 63.6 -1.2 1120 5.7
18500 -20.0 -4.0 245 48 25 4.8 2.7 16.5 61.7 -2.1 1090 5.5
18000 -19.1 -2.4 250 45 23 6.0 3.3 15.9 60.6 -2.7 1048 5.3
17500 -18.2 -0.8 250 43 22 6.2 3.4 15.3 59.5 -3.3 1006 5.1
17000 -17.2 1.0 255 41 21 7.6 4.2 14.8 58.6 -3.7 960 4.9
16500 -16.1 3.0 255 39 20 7.5 4.1 14.4 57.9 -4.1 912 4.6
16000 -14.9 5.2 260 37 19 7.6 4.2 14.0 57.3 -4.4 864 4.4
15500 -13.8 7.2 260 36 18 7.6 4.2 13.7 56.6 -4.8 815 4.1
15000 -12.7 9.1 265 34 18 7.8 4.3 13.3 56.0 -5.2 766 3.9
14500 -11.5 11.3 265 33 17 8.0 4.4 13.0 55.4 -5.5 715 3.6
14000 -10.3 13.5 265 32 17 7.8 4.3 12.8 55.0 -5.8 665 3.4
13500 -9.2 15.4 270 31 16 7.5 4.1 12.4 54.3 -6.1 617 3.1
13000 -8.1 17.4 270 30 15 7.6 4.2 12.0 53.6 -6.5 568 2.9
12500 -6.9 19.6 275 29 15 7.9 4.3 11.7 53.1 -6.9 519 2.6
12000 -5.8 21.6 275 28 15 8.0 4.4 11.4 52.6 -7.2 470 2.4
11500 -4.6 23.7 280 27 14 8.3 4.5 11.1 52.1 -7.6 420 2.1
11000 -3.6 25.5 280 26 14 6.2 3.4 10.7 51.3 -8.0 374 1.9
10500 -2.5 27.5 280 25 13 7.7 4.2 10.3 50.6 -8.5 329 1.7
10250 -2.0 28.4 280 24 12 7.6 4.2 10.2 50.3 -8.7 305 1.5
10000 -1.5 29.3 285 23 12 7.0 3.8 10.0 50.0 -9.0 282 1.4
9750 -1.0 30.2 285 22 12 6.9 3.8 9.7 49.5 -9.3 260 1.3
9500 -0.5 31.1 280 22 11 7.6 4.2 9.6 49.2 -9.5 237 1.2
9250 0.1 32.2 280 21 11 7.2 3.9 9.4 48.9 -9.7 214 1.1
9000 0.6 33.1 280 20 10 8.4 4.6 9.2 48.6 -9.9 191 1.0
8750 1.2 34.2 280 19 10 8.1 4.5 9.1 48.4 -10.1 164 0.8
8500 1.7 35.1 280 18 10 6.8 3.7 8.9 48.1 -10.3 142 0.7
8250 2.2 36.0 280 18 9 7.4 4.1 8.7 47.7 -10.6 119 0.6
8000 2.8 37.0 275 18 9 8.8 4.8 8.6 47.5 -10.8 94 0.5
7750 3.4 38.1 275 18 9 7.6 4.2 8.5 47.3 -10.9 68 0.3
7500 3.9 39.0 270 18 9 6.8 3.7 8.3 46.9 -11.2 46 0.2
7250 4.4 39.9 270 18 9 4.6 2.5 8.0 46.5 -11.5 25 0.1
7000 4.5 40.1 265 17 9 1.3 0.7 7.5 45.4 -12.1 13 0.1
6750 4.6 40.3 265 16 8 0.6 0.3 6.8 44.3 -12.7 3 0.0
6500 4.5 40.1 260 13 7 -6.0 -3.3 5.9 42.7 -13.7 0 0.0
6250 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/06/2026 at 0900 MDT | 05/06/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +2.1 | CAPE... +8.0 LI... +1.5
CINH... -0.1 K Index... +6.6 | CINH... -0.0 K Index... +11.8
|
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 -56.9 -70.4 250 68 35 1.0 0.6 | -57.0 -70.6 250 63 32 1.0 0.6
45000 -55.3 -67.5 240 80 41 2.0 1.1 | -55.2 -67.4 245 73 38 1.8 1.0
40000 -52.2 -62.0 245 104 54 1.9 1.1 | -52.5 -62.5 245 97 50 1.8 1.0
38000 -50.4 -58.7 245 109 56 3.5 1.9 | -50.8 -59.4 245 102 53 3.5 1.9
36000 -48.4 -55.1 245 111 57 3.5 1.9 | -48.7 -55.7 245 106 54 3.5 1.9
34000 -46.1 -51.0 245 111 57 4.6 2.5 | -46.5 -51.7 245 107 55 4.6 2.5
32000 -43.4 -46.1 245 105 54 4.6 2.5 | -43.4 -46.1 250 95 49 4.6 2.5
30000 -40.4 -40.7 245 99 51 6.1 3.3 | -40.6 -41.1 250 81 42 5.1 2.8
29000 -38.6 -37.5 245 95 49 6.0 3.3 | -39.0 -38.2 250 69 35 5.1 2.8
28000 -36.8 -34.2 250 90 47 6.0 3.3 | -37.5 -35.5 250 57 29 5.1 2.8
27000 -35.0 -31.0 250 86 44 6.1 3.3 | -35.9 -32.6 255 45 23 5.8 3.2
26000 -33.1 -27.6 250 78 40 6.1 3.4 | -34.1 -29.4 255 40 20 6.2 3.4
25000 -31.3 -24.3 250 70 36 6.1 3.4 | -32.3 -26.1 260 34 18 6.2 3.4
24000 -29.5 -21.1 255 62 32 6.2 3.4 | -30.4 -22.7 265 29 15 6.5 3.6
23000 -27.7 -17.9 255 48 25 5.8 3.2 | -28.2 -18.8 265 27 14 7.4 4.1
22000 -25.5 -13.9 270 31 16 5.8 3.2 | -26.0 -14.8 265 27 14 7.5 4.1
21000 -23.8 -10.8 290 21 11 6.2 3.4 | -23.8 -10.8 265 26 14 7.7 4.2
20000 -21.9 -7.4 290 20 10 6.2 3.4 | -21.4 -6.5 270 27 14 7.9 4.3
19500 -21.0 -5.8 290 20 10 6.3 3.4 | -20.3 -4.5 270 28 14 7.9 4.3
19000 -20.0 -4.0 290 20 10 6.2 3.4 | -19.1 -2.4 275 28 14 7.8 4.3
18500 -19.1 -2.4 290 20 10 7.1 3.9 | -17.9 -0.2 275 29 15 7.6 4.2
18000 -18.0 -0.4 290 21 11 7.4 4.1 | -16.3 2.7 275 28 14 7.2 3.9
17500 -16.8 1.8 290 23 12 7.4 4.1 | -15.3 4.5 280 27 14 7.0 3.9
17000 -15.7 3.7 285 24 13 7.3 4.0 | -14.2 6.4 280 27 14 6.9 3.8
16500 -14.7 5.5 280 26 14 7.3 4.0 | -13.2 8.2 285 26 13 6.9 3.8
16000 -13.6 7.5 275 28 14 6.8 3.7 | -12.2 10.0 285 25 13 7.1 3.9
15500 -12.6 9.3 275 28 14 6.8 3.7 | -11.1 12.0 285 24 13 7.2 3.9
15000 -11.6 11.1 275 28 14 6.3 3.5 | -10.2 13.6 285 24 12 5.9 3.2
14500 -10.7 12.7 275 27 14 6.2 3.4 | -9.3 15.3 290 23 12 5.9 3.2
14000 -9.8 14.4 275 26 13 6.2 3.4 | -8.6 16.5 290 22 11 4.5 2.5
13500 -8.9 16.0 275 24 13 6.4 3.5 | -8.0 17.6 285 20 10 4.2 2.3
13000 -8.0 17.6 280 23 12 6.6 3.6 | -7.5 18.5 285 18 9 6.7 3.7
12500 -7.0 19.4 280 23 12 6.9 3.8 | -6.2 20.8 285 18 9 8.6 4.7
12000 -6.0 21.2 285 22 11 7.1 3.9 | -4.9 23.2 285 17 9 9.2 5.1
11500 -5.0 23.0 290 22 11 7.5 4.1 | -3.5 25.7 285 17 9 10.1 5.6
11000 -4.1 24.6 290 21 11 5.8 3.2 | -2.2 28.0 285 16 8 8.0 4.4
10500 -3.1 26.4 290 20 10 6.8 3.7 | -0.8 30.6 280 16 8 9.4 5.2
10250 -2.6 27.3 290 19 10 6.6 3.6 | -0.1 31.8 280 16 8 9.3 5.1
10000 -2.2 28.0 290 18 9 6.4 3.5 | 0.6 33.1 280 16 8 9.4 5.1
9750 -1.7 28.9 290 18 9 6.9 3.8 | 1.3 34.3 280 16 8 9.8 5.4
9500 -1.2 29.8 290 17 9 7.2 3.9 | 2.0 35.6 280 16 8 9.4 5.2
9250 -0.6 30.9 285 17 9 7.4 4.0 | 2.7 36.9 280 16 8 10.6 5.8
9000 -0.0 32.0 285 17 9 9.8 5.4 | 3.6 38.5 280 16 8 11.1 6.1
8750 0.8 33.4 285 17 9 9.5 5.2 | 4.3 39.7 280 16 8 9.5 5.2
8500 1.4 34.5 285 17 9 7.6 4.2 | 5.0 41.0 280 16 8 8.8 4.8
8250 2.0 35.6 280 17 9 8.9 4.9 | 5.7 42.3 280 16 8 9.8 5.4
8000 2.7 36.9 280 17 9 10.6 5.8 | 6.5 43.7 280 16 8 11.0 6.0
7750 3.5 38.3 280 17 9 10.0 5.5 | 7.3 45.1 280 16 8 10.0 5.5
7500 4.2 39.6 280 17 9 8.6 4.7 | 8.0 46.4 280 16 8 9.0 4.9
7250 4.9 40.8 280 17 9 10.1 5.5 | 8.7 47.7 280 15 8 10.6 5.8
7000 5.7 42.3 275 16 8 11.5 6.3 | 9.5 49.1 275 15 8 12.4 6.8
6750 6.5 43.7 275 16 8 9.8 5.4 | 10.4 50.7 275 15 8 10.2 5.6
6500 7.3 45.1 275 16 8 13.0 7.1 | 11.3 52.3 275 14 7 17.1 9.4
6250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
05/06/2026 at 1500 MDT | 05/06/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +93.1 LI... -1.5 | CAPE... +43.4 LI... -0.5
CINH... -0.2 K Index... +21.4 | CINH... -72.7 K Index... +23.2
|
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 -57.6 -71.7 250 63 32 0.6 0.3 | -58.9 -74.0 255 61 32 0.9 0.5
45000 -56.4 -69.5 245 74 38 2.1 1.2 | -57.2 -71.0 250 67 35 2.4 1.3
40000 -53.1 -63.6 250 92 47 2.2 1.2 | -53.5 -64.3 250 78 40 2.5 1.4
38000 -51.1 -60.0 250 98 50 3.9 2.2 | -51.6 -60.9 250 81 42 3.6 2.0
36000 -48.7 -55.7 250 103 53 3.9 2.2 | -49.4 -56.9 250 84 43 3.6 2.0
34000 -46.2 -51.2 250 103 53 4.9 2.7 | -46.9 -52.4 255 84 43 5.8 3.2
32000 -43.3 -45.9 250 88 45 4.9 2.7 | -42.9 -45.2 255 76 39 5.9 3.2
30000 -39.9 -39.8 250 71 36 4.8 2.6 | -39.2 -38.6 255 65 33 6.7 3.7
29000 -38.5 -37.3 250 62 32 4.8 2.6 | -37.2 -35.0 260 56 29 6.7 3.7
28000 -37.1 -34.8 250 54 28 4.8 2.6 | -35.2 -31.4 260 48 25 6.7 3.7
27000 -35.5 -31.9 255 46 24 6.7 3.7 | -33.3 -27.9 265 41 21 5.3 2.9
26000 -33.4 -28.1 255 45 23 7.2 4.0 | -31.8 -25.2 265 41 21 5.2 2.8
25000 -31.2 -24.2 255 43 22 7.2 4.0 | -30.2 -22.4 265 41 21 5.2 2.8
24000 -29.0 -20.2 255 41 21 6.9 3.8 | -28.7 -19.7 270 41 21 5.4 3.0
23000 -27.1 -16.8 260 40 21 6.5 3.6 | -27.0 -16.6 265 40 21 5.6 3.1
22000 -25.2 -13.4 265 39 20 6.5 3.6 | -25.4 -13.7 265 39 20 5.7 3.1
21000 -23.3 -9.9 270 38 20 5.6 3.1 | -23.6 -10.5 265 38 20 8.3 4.5
20000 -21.7 -7.1 270 34 18 5.4 3.0 | -21.1 -6.0 260 38 19 8.5 4.7
19500 -20.9 -5.6 275 32 17 5.5 3.0 | -19.8 -3.6 260 37 19 8.5 4.7
19000 -20.2 -4.4 275 30 16 5.6 3.1 | -18.6 -1.5 260 37 19 8.6 4.7
18500 -19.3 -2.7 280 29 15 7.6 4.2 | -17.3 0.9 255 37 19 8.8 4.8
18000 -18.0 -0.4 275 28 14 8.9 4.9 | -15.3 4.5 255 37 19 9.0 4.9
17500 -16.0 3.2 275 26 14 9.0 4.9 | -14.1 6.6 255 37 19 8.1 4.5
17000 -14.7 5.5 275 26 13 9.0 4.9 | -12.9 8.8 255 37 19 7.9 4.3
16500 -13.4 7.9 275 25 13 9.0 4.9 | -11.8 10.8 255 37 19 7.8 4.3
16000 -12.1 10.2 275 24 13 9.0 5.0 | -10.6 12.9 255 37 19 7.7 4.2
15500 -10.7 12.7 270 24 12 9.0 5.0 | -9.5 14.9 255 37 19 7.8 4.3
15000 -9.4 15.1 270 24 12 8.9 4.9 | -8.4 16.9 260 37 19 7.2 3.9
14500 -8.1 17.4 270 24 12 8.9 4.9 | -7.3 18.9 260 37 19 7.2 4.0
14000 -6.7 19.9 270 23 12 9.1 5.0 | -6.3 20.7 260 37 19 7.5 4.1
13500 -5.4 22.3 270 23 12 9.1 5.0 | -5.2 22.6 265 36 19 7.5 4.1
13000 -4.0 24.8 270 23 12 9.3 5.1 | -4.1 24.6 265 36 18 7.3 4.0
12500 -2.6 27.3 270 23 12 9.4 5.2 | -3.0 26.6 270 35 18 7.2 3.9
12000 -1.2 29.8 270 24 12 9.4 5.1 | -2.0 28.4 275 34 17 7.1 3.9
11500 0.2 32.4 270 24 12 9.3 5.1 | -0.9 30.4 280 33 17 7.3 4.0
11000 1.6 34.9 270 24 12 9.6 5.3 | -0.1 31.8 285 32 16 5.8 3.2
10500 3.1 37.6 270 24 13 9.9 5.4 | 0.9 33.6 295 31 16 6.9 3.8
10250 3.8 38.8 270 24 13 9.8 5.4 | 1.4 34.5 295 30 15 6.1 3.3
10000 4.5 40.1 270 25 13 9.5 5.2 | 1.8 35.2 300 30 15 6.7 3.7
9750 5.2 41.4 270 25 13 9.6 5.3 | 2.4 36.3 305 29 15 8.1 4.5
9500 5.9 42.6 270 25 13 9.1 5.0 | 3.0 37.4 305 29 15 7.4 4.1
9250 6.7 44.1 270 25 13 11.0 6.1 | 3.5 38.3 305 28 15 8.9 4.9
9000 7.6 45.7 270 25 13 11.4 6.2 | 4.3 39.7 310 28 14 10.0 5.5
8750 8.3 46.9 270 25 13 9.2 5.1 | 5.0 41.0 310 28 14 8.9 4.9
8500 9.0 48.2 270 25 13 9.4 5.2 | 5.6 42.1 310 28 14 8.6 4.7
8250 9.7 49.5 270 25 13 9.5 5.2 | 6.3 43.3 315 27 14 8.7 4.8
8000 10.4 50.7 270 25 13 9.8 5.4 | 6.9 44.4 315 27 14 8.9 4.9
7750 11.2 52.2 270 25 13 10.1 5.5 | 7.6 45.7 315 27 14 9.3 5.1
7500 11.9 53.4 270 25 13 10.0 5.5 | 8.3 46.9 315 26 14 9.5 5.2
7250 12.7 54.9 270 25 13 10.7 5.9 | 9.0 48.2 320 26 13 9.8 5.4
7000 13.5 56.3 270 24 12 11.8 6.5 | 9.8 49.6 320 25 13 10.4 5.7
6750 14.4 57.9 270 23 12 11.1 6.1 | 10.5 50.9 320 24 12 9.3 5.1
6500 15.4 59.7 270 22 11 18.1 9.9 | 11.2 52.2 320 23 12 10.1 5.6
6250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
________________________________________________________________________________
This product is issued once per day, at approximately 730 AM local
time. It is not continuously monitored nor updated after its initial
issuance.
The information contained herein is based on numerical weather prediction
model data for the Moriarty Municipal Airport site in Moriarty, New Mexico at
North Latitude: 34.9781667 deg
West Longitude: 106.0000278 deg
Elevation: 6204.2 feet (1891.0 meters)
and may not be representative of other areas along and east of the Sandia
and Manzano 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 are welcome and should be directed
to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this page.
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.
042613
Soaring Forecast for Albuquerque NM
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
0707 MDT Wednesday May 6 2026
This forecast is for Wednesday, May 6, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 50.6 F/10.4 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Good
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1279 ft/min (6.5 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 20301 ft MSL (14606 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 69.0 F/21.0 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0900 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1800 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ Between 20 mph and 30 mph
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 18277 ft MSL (12581 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 05/07..... Excellent
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:10:09 / 19:56:02 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 45 min 53 sec (825 min 53 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:03:06 MDT... 71.65 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 05/06/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 9016 ft MSL (3321 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 11836 ft MSL (6141 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 15317 ft MSL (9621 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +0.4
K index......................... +6.3
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 -57.6 -71.7 250 66 34 1.7 0.9 98.4 209.2 45.2 M M
45000 -55.1 -67.2 245 72 37 1.8 1.0 80.0 175.9 36.7 M M
40000 -52.4 -62.3 240 98 50 1.8 1.0 60.0 140.1 26.2 M M
38000 -50.3 -58.5 240 104 54 4.3 2.4 54.3 129.7 23.0 M M
36000 -47.8 -54.0 240 109 56 4.3 2.4 49.5 121.1 20.2 M M
34000 -45.1 -49.2 240 112 57 5.1 2.8 45.3 113.6 17.7 M M
32000 -42.0 -43.6 240 110 57 5.1 2.8 41.3 106.4 15.3 M M
30000 -38.7 -37.7 245 108 56 6.9 3.8 38.1 100.5 13.2 M M
29000 -36.7 -34.1 245 106 55 6.8 3.7 36.8 98.2 12.4 M M
28000 -34.7 -30.5 245 104 54 6.8 3.7 35.6 96.1 11.6 M M
27000 -32.6 -26.7 245 102 53 6.9 3.8 34.6 94.3 11.0 M M
26000 -31.0 -23.8 245 97 50 4.9 2.7 32.9 91.2 9.7 M M
25000 -29.2 -20.6 245 88 45 5.0 2.7 30.6 87.1 8.1 M M
24000 -27.7 -17.9 245 81 42 4.7 2.6 28.9 84.1 6.8 M M
23000 -26.7 -16.1 250 71 37 3.1 1.7 26.5 79.7 4.9 M M
22000 -25.7 -14.3 250 61 32 3.1 1.7 24.1 75.4 2.9 M M
21000 -24.8 -12.6 250 51 26 4.0 2.2 21.8 71.3 1.1 M M
20000 -23.4 -10.1 255 45 23 4.7 2.6 20.0 67.9 -0.5 1255 6.4
19500 -22.7 -8.9 255 42 22 4.7 2.6 19.1 66.3 -1.3 1219 6.2
19000 -22.0 -7.6 255 39 20 4.8 2.6 18.2 64.8 -2.1 1183 6.0
18500 -21.3 -6.3 260 36 18 5.7 3.1 17.4 63.3 -2.8 1148 5.8
18000 -20.3 -4.5 260 34 18 7.3 4.0 16.9 62.5 -3.2 1102 5.6
17500 -19.2 -2.6 265 33 17 7.3 4.0 16.5 61.7 -3.6 1054 5.4
17000 -18.1 -0.6 265 32 16 7.7 4.3 16.1 61.0 -4.0 1006 5.1
16500 -16.9 1.6 265 30 16 7.7 4.2 15.8 60.4 -4.3 957 4.9
16000 -15.8 3.6 265 29 15 7.8 4.3 15.5 59.8 -4.7 908 4.6
15500 -14.6 5.7 265 28 15 7.8 4.3 15.1 59.2 -5.0 858 4.4
15000 -13.5 7.7 270 27 14 7.6 4.2 14.8 58.6 -5.3 809 4.1
14500 -12.4 9.7 270 26 13 7.5 4.1 14.4 57.9 -5.8 761 3.9
14000 -11.3 11.7 275 25 13 7.5 4.1 14.0 57.3 -6.2 714 3.6
13500 -10.2 13.6 275 24 12 7.4 4.0 13.6 56.6 -6.6 667 3.4
13000 -9.2 15.4 280 23 12 7.4 4.1 13.3 55.9 -7.0 621 3.2
12500 -8.1 17.4 285 23 12 7.7 4.2 12.9 55.2 -7.5 573 2.9
12000 -7.0 19.4 285 23 12 7.7 4.2 12.6 54.6 -7.8 525 2.7
11500 -5.9 21.4 290 23 12 7.3 4.0 12.2 54.0 -8.3 478 2.4
11000 -4.8 23.4 290 22 12 7.4 4.0 11.8 53.3 -8.7 431 2.2
10500 -3.7 25.3 285 22 11 7.8 4.3 11.5 52.7 -9.1 383 1.9
10250 -3.1 26.4 285 22 11 7.8 4.3 11.3 52.4 -9.3 358 1.8
10000 -2.0 28.4 285 20 10 7.8 4.3 11.0 51.9 -9.6 309 1.6
9750 -1.4 29.5 285 19 10 7.9 4.3 10.9 51.6 -9.8 285 1.4
9500 -0.8 30.6 285 19 10 7.6 4.2 10.7 51.3 -10.0 260 1.3
9250 -0.3 31.5 285 18 9 7.5 4.1 10.6 51.0 -10.2 236 1.2
9000 0.3 32.5 280 17 9 7.9 4.3 10.4 50.7 -10.4 212 1.1
8750 0.9 33.6 280 17 9 7.7 4.2 10.2 50.4 -10.6 187 1.0
8500 1.4 34.5 280 16 8 8.6 4.7 10.1 50.2 -10.8 163 0.8
8250 2.1 35.8 280 15 8 8.5 4.6 10.0 50.1 -10.9 135 0.7
8000 2.6 36.7 275 14 7 7.6 4.1 9.9 49.8 -11.1 111 0.6
7750 3.2 37.8 270 13 7 7.6 4.2 9.7 49.5 -11.3 87 0.4
7500 3.8 38.8 270 13 7 8.2 4.5 9.6 49.2 -11.5 63 0.3
7250 4.4 39.9 265 12 6 7.4 4.0 9.5 49.0 -11.6 37 0.2
7000 4.8 40.6 260 11 6 6.3 3.4 9.2 48.6 -11.9 16 0.1
6750 5.3 41.5 260 11 5 6.2 3.4 9.0 48.1 -12.2 M M
6500 5.8 42.4 255 10 5 7.8 4.3 8.7 47.7 -12.5 M M
6250 6.3 43.3 245 9 4 4.8 2.6 8.6 47.4 -12.7 M M
6000 6.3 43.3 230 7 4 -4.8 -2.7 7.8 46.1 -13.5 M M
5750 6.3 43.3 210 6 3 13.7 7.5 7.1 44.7 -14.3 M M
5500 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/06/2026 at 0900 MDT | 05/06/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +3.1 | CAPE... +9.6 LI... +1.6
CINH... -0.1 K Index... +12.8 | CINH... -0.0 K Index... +11.9
|
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 -56.6 -69.9 250 64 33 1.3 0.7 | -56.6 -69.9 250 59 30 1.3 0.7
45000 -54.6 -66.3 245 72 37 1.5 0.8 | -54.7 -66.5 245 66 34 1.7 0.9
40000 -52.3 -62.1 245 93 48 1.5 0.8 | -52.1 -61.8 250 88 45 1.7 0.9
38000 -50.6 -59.1 245 97 50 3.6 2.0 | -50.7 -59.3 250 90 47 2.7 1.5
36000 -48.5 -55.3 245 100 51 3.6 2.0 | -49.1 -56.4 250 90 46 2.7 1.5
34000 -46.2 -51.2 245 99 51 4.2 2.3 | -47.3 -53.1 250 87 45 4.3 2.3
32000 -43.7 -46.7 245 91 47 4.2 2.3 | -44.7 -48.5 250 72 37 4.3 2.3
30000 -41.1 -42.0 250 80 41 5.5 3.0 | -42.0 -43.6 255 57 29 5.5 3.0
29000 -39.4 -38.9 250 71 36 5.5 3.0 | -40.4 -40.7 255 48 24 5.4 3.0
28000 -37.8 -36.0 255 61 31 5.5 3.0 | -38.8 -37.8 255 38 20 5.4 3.0
27000 -36.2 -33.2 255 52 27 5.5 3.0 | -37.1 -34.8 260 29 15 6.0 3.3
26000 -34.4 -29.9 260 42 22 5.8 3.2 | -34.3 -29.7 260 26 14 7.8 4.3
25000 -32.3 -26.1 270 30 15 5.8 3.2 | -31.9 -25.4 260 25 13 7.8 4.3
24000 -30.6 -23.1 280 21 11 6.3 3.5 | -29.6 -21.3 260 24 12 7.4 4.1
23000 -28.4 -19.1 290 19 10 7.2 3.9 | -27.5 -17.5 265 25 13 7.2 3.9
22000 -26.3 -15.3 305 18 9 7.2 3.9 | -25.3 -13.5 265 27 14 7.2 3.9
21000 -24.1 -11.4 315 18 9 7.8 4.3 | -23.2 -9.8 270 28 14 7.3 4.0
20000 -21.8 -7.2 310 18 9 7.9 4.4 | -21.0 -5.8 270 29 15 7.3 4.0
19500 -20.6 -5.1 305 18 9 7.9 4.4 | -19.9 -3.8 275 29 15 7.3 4.0
19000 -19.4 -2.9 305 19 10 7.9 4.4 | -18.8 -1.8 275 30 15 7.3 4.0
18500 -18.2 -0.8 300 19 10 7.3 4.0 | -17.7 0.1 275 30 16 7.4 4.1
18000 -17.2 1.0 295 20 10 6.9 3.8 | -16.6 2.1 275 30 15 7.5 4.1
17500 -16.2 2.8 290 21 11 6.9 3.8 | -15.4 4.3 280 30 15 7.4 4.0
17000 -15.2 4.6 285 22 11 6.5 3.6 | -14.4 6.1 280 29 15 6.8 3.7
16500 -14.2 6.4 280 24 12 6.6 3.6 | -13.4 7.9 280 28 15 7.0 3.8
16000 -13.3 8.1 275 25 13 5.6 3.1 | -12.5 9.5 280 27 14 4.9 2.7
15500 -12.5 9.5 275 26 13 5.5 3.0 | -11.8 10.8 280 26 13 5.0 2.8
15000 -11.7 10.9 275 26 13 5.1 2.8 | -11.1 12.0 285 25 13 5.5 3.0
14500 -11.0 12.2 275 25 13 4.9 2.7 | -10.3 13.5 285 24 12 5.8 3.2
14000 -10.3 13.5 280 24 12 5.3 2.9 | -9.5 14.9 285 23 12 6.5 3.6
13500 -9.5 14.9 280 22 12 6.2 3.4 | -8.4 16.9 285 23 12 7.3 4.0
13000 -8.6 16.5 285 21 11 6.4 3.5 | -7.4 18.7 285 22 11 7.6 4.2
12500 -7.6 18.3 290 21 11 7.4 4.1 | -6.2 20.8 285 21 11 8.3 4.6
12000 -6.5 20.3 295 20 10 7.4 4.1 | -5.0 23.0 285 20 10 8.5 4.7
11500 -5.4 22.3 295 20 10 7.5 4.1 | -3.7 25.3 285 20 10 9.1 5.0
11000 -4.3 24.3 300 20 11 7.3 4.0 | -2.3 27.9 285 19 10 9.3 5.1
10500 -3.4 25.9 295 19 10 6.2 3.4 | -0.8 30.6 285 18 9 9.9 5.4
10250 -2.9 26.8 295 18 9 5.8 3.2 | -0.1 31.8 285 18 9 9.3 5.1
10000 -2.5 27.5 295 16 8 6.2 3.4 | 1.3 34.3 285 17 9 9.7 5.3
9750 -1.4 29.5 290 14 7 7.9 4.3 | 2.0 35.6 285 17 9 9.9 5.5
9500 -0.9 30.4 290 13 6 6.3 3.4 | 2.8 37.0 285 16 8 9.2 5.0
9250 -0.5 31.1 285 11 6 6.4 3.5 | 3.4 38.1 285 16 8 9.0 4.9
9000 0.1 32.2 280 11 6 8.3 4.6 | 4.1 39.4 285 16 8 9.6 5.3
8750 0.7 33.3 280 11 6 7.9 4.3 | 4.8 40.6 285 15 8 9.3 5.1
8500 1.3 34.3 275 11 5 8.7 4.8 | 5.5 41.9 285 15 8 10.0 5.5
8250 2.0 35.6 270 10 5 9.6 5.3 | 6.3 43.3 280 14 7 10.3 5.7
8000 2.7 36.9 270 10 5 9.5 5.2 | 7.1 44.8 280 14 7 9.8 5.4
7750 3.4 38.1 270 10 5 9.6 5.3 | 7.8 46.0 280 13 7 10.1 5.5
7500 4.1 39.4 270 10 5 9.1 5.0 | 8.5 47.3 280 13 6 9.5 5.2
7250 4.8 40.6 265 10 5 9.4 5.2 | 9.2 48.6 280 12 6 9.9 5.4
7000 5.5 41.9 265 10 5 10.0 5.5 | 10.0 50.0 280 12 6 10.7 5.9
6750 6.3 43.3 265 10 5 10.0 5.5 | 10.8 51.4 280 11 6 10.7 5.9
6500 7.0 44.6 265 9 5 9.9 5.4 | 11.6 52.9 280 11 5 9.9 5.4
6250 7.8 46.0 265 9 5 13.4 7.4 | 12.5 54.5 280 10 5 15.2 8.4
6000 9.1 48.4 260 9 5 20.4 11.2 | 14.0 57.2 275 9 5 26.6 14.6
5750 10.4 50.7 260 8 4 7.7 4.2 | 15.6 60.1 275 8 4 5.7 3.1
5500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
05/06/2026 at 1500 MDT | 05/06/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +80.8 LI... -1.1 | CAPE... +37.0 LI... -0.3
CINH... -1.2 K Index... +24.8 | CINH... -36.2 K Index... +22.7
|
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 -57.5 -71.5 250 59 30 0.9 0.5 | -58.5 -73.3 255 55 28 1.3 0.7
45000 -56.1 -69.0 250 65 33 2.2 1.2 | -56.4 -69.5 255 62 32 2.2 1.2
40000 -52.8 -63.0 250 80 41 2.1 1.1 | -53.1 -63.6 255 72 37 2.2 1.2
38000 -51.0 -59.8 250 84 43 3.4 1.9 | -51.5 -60.7 255 73 38 2.8 1.6
36000 -48.9 -56.0 250 87 45 3.4 1.9 | -49.8 -57.6 255 72 37 2.8 1.6
34000 -46.7 -52.1 250 84 43 4.8 2.6 | -47.7 -53.9 255 69 36 5.3 2.9
32000 -43.7 -46.7 250 69 36 4.9 2.7 | -44.4 -47.9 260 62 32 5.4 2.9
30000 -40.8 -41.4 250 56 29 5.3 2.9 | -40.9 -41.6 265 53 27 7.2 4.0
29000 -39.2 -38.6 255 52 27 5.3 2.9 | -38.7 -37.7 270 48 25 7.3 4.0
28000 -37.6 -35.7 255 49 25 5.3 2.9 | -36.5 -33.7 275 43 22 7.3 4.0
27000 -36.0 -32.8 255 46 24 5.7 3.1 | -33.9 -29.0 285 39 20 6.1 3.3
26000 -33.6 -28.5 260 44 23 6.5 3.5 | -32.0 -25.6 280 39 20 6.2 3.4
25000 -31.7 -25.1 260 43 22 6.5 3.5 | -30.1 -22.2 280 39 20 6.2 3.4
24000 -29.7 -21.5 265 42 21 6.4 3.5 | -28.3 -18.9 275 39 20 5.2 2.9
23000 -27.8 -18.0 265 39 20 6.4 3.5 | -26.8 -16.2 275 40 20 4.9 2.7
22000 -25.9 -14.6 270 37 19 6.5 3.6 | -25.4 -13.7 275 40 21 5.0 2.8
21000 -23.9 -11.0 270 35 18 7.7 4.2 | -23.6 -10.5 270 40 21 8.7 4.8
20000 -21.7 -7.1 275 32 17 7.7 4.2 | -21.2 -6.2 265 38 20 8.4 4.6
19500 -20.6 -5.1 275 31 16 7.7 4.2 | -20.0 -4.0 265 38 19 8.4 4.6
19000 -19.4 -2.9 275 30 15 7.6 4.2 | -18.7 -1.7 265 37 19 8.4 4.6
18500 -18.3 -0.9 275 29 15 8.7 4.8 | -17.5 0.5 265 36 19 8.8 4.8
18000 -17.0 1.4 275 28 14 8.8 4.8 | -16.2 2.8 265 36 19 8.8 4.8
17500 -15.7 3.7 275 28 14 8.6 4.7 | -14.9 5.2 265 36 18 8.5 4.7
17000 -14.5 5.9 275 27 14 8.1 4.4 | -13.7 7.3 265 36 18 8.0 4.4
16500 -13.3 8.1 275 26 13 8.1 4.4 | -12.5 9.5 265 36 18 8.1 4.4
16000 -12.1 10.2 275 26 13 8.2 4.5 | -11.4 11.5 265 36 18 7.2 3.9
15500 -10.9 12.4 275 25 13 8.2 4.5 | -10.3 13.5 265 36 18 7.2 4.0
15000 -9.7 14.5 275 24 13 8.3 4.5 | -9.2 15.4 270 35 18 7.4 4.1
14500 -8.4 16.9 275 24 12 8.3 4.6 | -8.1 17.4 270 35 18 7.4 4.1
14000 -7.2 19.0 275 24 12 8.2 4.5 | -7.0 19.4 270 34 18 7.5 4.1
13500 -6.0 21.2 275 24 12 8.2 4.5 | -5.9 21.4 275 33 17 7.5 4.1
13000 -4.8 23.4 275 24 12 8.7 4.8 | -4.8 23.4 280 32 16 7.5 4.1
12500 -3.4 25.9 275 24 12 9.4 5.2 | -3.7 25.3 285 30 15 7.6 4.2
12000 -2.0 28.4 275 24 12 9.6 5.3 | -2.6 27.3 290 29 15 7.8 4.3
11500 -0.5 31.1 275 23 12 9.9 5.4 | -1.4 29.5 295 27 14 8.2 4.5
11000 1.0 33.8 275 23 12 9.8 5.4 | -0.1 31.8 300 27 14 8.5 4.7
10500 2.5 36.5 275 23 12 9.8 5.4 | 1.2 34.2 305 26 14 8.9 4.9
10250 3.2 37.8 275 22 12 10.1 5.5 | 1.8 35.2 305 26 13 8.8 4.8
10000 4.0 39.2 275 22 11 10.0 5.5 | 2.5 36.5 310 26 13 9.2 5.0
9750 4.7 40.5 275 22 11 10.0 5.5 | 3.2 37.8 310 26 13 9.6 5.3
9500 5.5 41.9 275 22 11 10.0 5.5 | 4.6 40.3 310 26 13 9.4 5.2
9250 6.2 43.2 275 22 11 9.6 5.2 | 5.3 41.5 315 26 13 9.1 5.0
9000 7.6 45.7 275 21 11 9.8 5.4 | 6.0 42.8 315 26 13 9.1 5.0
8750 8.4 47.1 275 21 11 9.4 5.1 | 6.7 44.1 315 26 13 8.8 4.8
8500 9.1 48.4 270 21 11 10.8 5.9 | 7.3 45.1 315 26 13 9.9 5.4
8250 10.0 50.0 270 20 10 11.1 6.1 | 8.1 46.6 315 26 13 10.3 5.7
8000 10.7 51.3 270 20 10 9.8 5.4 | 8.9 48.0 315 25 13 9.4 5.2
7750 11.5 52.7 270 20 10 10.4 5.7 | 9.6 49.3 315 25 13 9.8 5.4
7500 12.2 54.0 270 19 10 9.3 5.1 | 10.3 50.5 315 25 13 9.1 5.0
7250 12.9 55.2 270 19 10 9.8 5.4 | 11.0 51.8 320 25 13 9.4 5.2
7000 13.7 56.7 270 19 10 11.1 6.1 | 11.7 53.1 320 25 13 10.3 5.6
6750 14.5 58.1 270 18 9 10.9 6.0 | 12.5 54.5 320 24 12 10.1 5.6
6500 15.3 59.5 270 18 9 10.1 5.5 | 13.2 55.8 320 24 12 10.1 5.6
6250 16.2 61.2 270 17 9 14.8 8.1 | 14.1 57.4 320 23 12 12.5 6.9
6000 17.7 63.9 270 16 8 25.3 13.9 | 15.2 59.4 320 20 10 17.1 9.4
5750 19.2 66.6 270 14 7 6.0 3.3 | 16.3 61.3 320 18 9 8.8 4.8
5500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
________________________________________________________________________________
This product is issued once per day, at approximately 730 AM.
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 the Albuquerque International
Sunport site in Albuquerque, New Mexico at
North Latitude: 35.03806 deg
West Longitude: 106.62194 deg
Elevation: 5298.6 feet (1615 meters)
and may not be representative of other areas, especially along and east of
the Sandia and Manzano 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 are welcome and should be directed
to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this page.
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.
042613
Soaring Forecast for Santa Fe NM
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
0706 MDT Wednesday May 6 2026
This forecast is for Wednesday, May 6, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 47.6 F/8.6 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 812 ft/min (4.1 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 20119 ft MSL (13640 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 64.0 F/18.2 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0930 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1800 MDT
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................. 16724 ft MSL (10246 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 05/07..... Excellent
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:06:58 / 19:55:01 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 48 min 4 sec (828 min 4 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:00:59 MDT... 71.09 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 05/06/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 8871 ft MSL (2392 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 11400 ft MSL (4921 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 14724 ft MSL (8245 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -2.6
K index......................... +9.9
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 -56.4 -69.5 255 66 34 1.5 0.8 97.6 207.7 46.7 M M
45000 -54.1 -65.4 245 74 38 1.2 0.6 79.0 174.2 38.1 M M
40000 -52.3 -62.1 240 99 51 1.1 0.6 57.7 135.9 26.7 M M
38000 -50.7 -59.3 240 105 54 3.8 2.1 51.5 124.6 23.1 M M
36000 -48.4 -55.1 240 107 55 3.8 2.1 46.3 115.3 20.0 M M
34000 -46.0 -50.8 240 108 56 5.5 3.0 41.8 107.2 17.3 M M
32000 -42.7 -44.9 240 105 54 5.4 3.0 38.0 100.5 15.0 M M
30000 -39.5 -39.1 240 100 52 4.7 2.6 34.8 94.6 12.9 M M
29000 -38.1 -36.6 245 91 47 4.8 2.6 32.7 90.8 11.5 M M
28000 -36.6 -33.9 245 82 42 4.8 2.6 30.8 87.4 10.1 M M
27000 -35.2 -31.4 245 73 38 4.9 2.7 29.0 84.3 8.9 M M
26000 -33.7 -28.7 250 61 31 3.8 2.1 26.3 79.3 6.8 M M
25000 -32.5 -26.5 250 51 26 3.8 2.1 24.0 75.3 5.1 M M
24000 -31.4 -24.5 255 42 22 3.9 2.1 22.0 71.5 3.4 M M
23000 -29.5 -21.1 260 34 17 7.0 3.8 20.7 69.2 2.4 M M
22000 -27.5 -17.5 270 26 14 7.0 3.8 19.7 67.4 1.5 M M
21000 -25.4 -13.7 285 20 10 7.1 3.9 18.8 65.8 0.8 M M
20000 -23.3 -9.9 285 21 11 7.1 3.9 17.8 64.0 -0.1 1200 6.1
19500 -22.2 -8.0 285 22 11 7.1 3.9 17.3 63.2 -0.5 1153 5.9
19000 -21.2 -6.2 285 23 12 7.1 3.9 16.9 62.4 -0.9 1107 5.6
18500 -20.1 -4.2 285 24 12 7.0 3.8 16.5 61.7 -1.2 1060 5.4
18000 -19.1 -2.4 280 25 13 6.6 3.6 16.0 60.7 -1.7 1015 5.2
17500 -18.1 -0.6 280 26 13 6.6 3.6 15.4 59.8 -2.2 971 4.9
17000 -17.1 1.2 275 27 14 6.6 3.6 14.9 58.8 -2.7 927 4.7
16500 -16.1 3.0 275 27 14 6.6 3.6 14.4 57.8 -3.2 882 4.5
16000 -15.1 4.8 270 27 14 7.0 3.8 13.9 56.9 -3.6 838 4.3
15500 -14.1 6.6 270 26 14 7.2 4.0 13.4 56.2 -4.1 791 4.0
15000 -13.0 8.6 270 26 13 7.3 4.0 13.0 55.4 -4.5 745 3.8
14500 -12.0 10.4 270 25 13 7.3 4.0 12.6 54.7 -4.9 698 3.5
14000 -10.9 12.4 275 25 13 7.4 4.1 12.2 54.0 -5.4 652 3.3
13500 -9.8 14.4 275 24 12 7.5 4.1 11.9 53.3 -5.8 605 3.1
13000 -8.8 16.2 275 23 12 7.6 4.2 11.5 52.7 -6.2 558 2.8
12500 -7.7 18.1 280 23 12 7.2 4.0 11.1 52.0 -6.6 511 2.6
12000 -6.1 21.0 280 22 11 7.1 3.9 10.5 51.0 -7.3 442 2.2
11500 -5.1 22.8 285 22 12 6.9 3.8 10.1 50.2 -7.8 397 2.0
11000 -4.2 24.4 285 21 11 6.9 3.8 9.6 49.3 -8.3 354 1.8
10500 -3.1 26.4 285 22 11 7.2 4.0 9.2 48.5 -8.8 308 1.6
10250 -2.6 27.3 285 22 11 6.1 3.3 9.0 48.2 -9.1 286 1.5
10000 -2.2 28.0 280 21 11 6.4 3.5 8.7 47.6 -9.4 266 1.4
9750 -1.7 28.9 280 21 11 7.5 4.1 8.5 47.2 -9.6 243 1.2
9500 -1.2 29.8 280 21 11 7.3 4.0 8.3 46.9 -9.9 219 1.1
9250 -0.6 30.9 280 20 10 6.8 3.7 8.1 46.6 -10.1 196 1.0
9000 -0.2 31.6 280 20 10 7.2 3.9 7.8 46.1 -10.4 174 0.9
8750 0.4 32.7 275 19 10 8.3 4.6 7.7 45.9 -10.5 149 0.8
8500 1.0 33.8 275 19 10 7.4 4.1 7.6 45.6 -10.7 125 0.6
8250 1.6 34.9 270 19 10 9.9 5.5 7.4 45.4 -10.9 100 0.5
8000 2.4 36.3 270 18 10 8.7 4.8 7.5 45.5 -10.8 69 0.3
7750 2.8 37.0 265 18 9 5.5 3.0 7.2 45.0 -11.2 48 0.2
7500 3.3 37.9 260 17 9 6.2 3.4 7.0 44.5 -11.5 27 0.1
7250 3.8 38.8 260 16 8 8.0 4.4 6.7 44.1 -11.7 5 0.0
7000 4.3 39.7 250 15 8 3.5 1.9 6.6 43.8 -12.0 M M
6750 4.1 39.4 245 11 6 -9.0 -4.9 5.6 42.1 -12.9 M M
6500 3.8 38.8 230 7 4 14.7 8.0 4.6 40.4 -13.9 M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/06/2026 at 0900 MDT | 05/06/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +5.6 LI... +1.7 | CAPE... +42.2 LI... +0.6
CINH... -1.8 K Index... +15.5 | CINH... -0.7 K Index... +16.8
|
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 -56.3 -69.3 255 65 33 1.5 0.8 | -56.3 -69.3 255 60 31 1.3 0.7
45000 -54.1 -65.4 245 71 36 1.3 0.7 | -54.3 -65.7 250 65 33 1.7 0.9
40000 -52.2 -62.0 245 87 45 1.3 0.7 | -51.7 -61.1 250 80 41 1.7 0.9
38000 -50.6 -59.1 245 90 46 3.2 1.8 | -50.4 -58.7 250 80 41 2.4 1.3
36000 -48.7 -55.7 245 90 46 3.2 1.8 | -49.0 -56.2 250 76 39 2.4 1.3
34000 -46.7 -52.1 245 87 45 3.8 2.1 | -47.4 -53.3 250 71 36 3.5 1.9
32000 -44.5 -48.1 250 74 38 3.8 2.1 | -45.3 -49.5 255 56 29 3.4 1.9
30000 -42.1 -43.8 250 60 31 4.9 2.7 | -43.0 -45.4 260 43 22 6.4 3.5
29000 -40.7 -41.3 255 47 24 4.8 2.6 | -41.1 -42.0 260 40 21 6.2 3.4
28000 -39.2 -38.6 265 35 18 4.8 2.6 | -39.3 -38.7 260 37 19 6.2 3.4
27000 -37.8 -36.0 280 25 13 4.7 2.6 | -37.4 -35.3 260 34 18 6.3 3.5
26000 -35.8 -32.4 290 21 11 7.3 4.0 | -34.7 -30.5 260 33 17 7.4 4.1
25000 -33.1 -27.6 295 17 9 7.3 4.0 | -32.5 -26.5 260 32 16 7.4 4.1
24000 -30.9 -23.6 300 15 8 7.3 4.0 | -30.2 -22.4 255 31 16 7.1 3.9
23000 -28.7 -19.7 300 15 8 7.4 4.0 | -28.3 -18.9 260 31 16 6.6 3.6
22000 -26.5 -15.7 295 16 8 7.4 4.0 | -26.3 -15.3 265 30 16 6.7 3.7
21000 -24.3 -11.7 295 17 9 7.2 4.0 | -24.3 -11.7 270 30 16 7.8 4.3
20000 -22.2 -8.0 295 20 10 7.2 4.0 | -21.9 -7.4 275 30 15 8.0 4.4
19500 -21.1 -6.0 295 22 11 7.2 4.0 | -20.7 -5.3 275 30 15 8.0 4.4
19000 -20.0 -4.0 295 24 12 7.2 4.0 | -19.5 -3.1 275 30 15 8.0 4.4
18500 -19.0 -2.2 295 25 13 7.4 4.1 | -18.4 -1.1 280 30 15 7.2 4.0
18000 -17.9 -0.2 290 25 13 7.5 4.1 | -17.4 0.7 280 29 15 6.8 3.7
17500 -16.7 1.9 290 25 13 7.6 4.2 | -16.4 2.5 285 29 15 6.8 3.7
17000 -15.7 3.7 290 24 13 6.4 3.5 | -15.4 4.3 285 28 14 6.8 3.7
16500 -14.7 5.5 285 24 12 6.5 3.6 | -14.4 6.1 285 27 14 6.9 3.8
16000 -13.8 7.2 285 23 12 5.5 3.0 | -13.4 7.9 290 26 13 6.3 3.4
15500 -13.1 8.4 285 23 12 5.3 2.9 | -12.5 9.5 290 25 13 6.3 3.4
15000 -12.3 9.9 285 22 11 5.6 3.1 | -11.6 11.1 290 24 12 6.4 3.5
14500 -11.4 11.5 290 21 11 6.2 3.4 | -10.7 12.7 290 22 12 6.6 3.6
14000 -10.6 12.9 290 20 10 6.4 3.5 | -9.8 14.4 285 21 11 7.3 4.0
13500 -9.6 14.7 295 20 10 7.1 3.9 | -8.5 16.7 285 21 11 8.9 4.9
13000 -8.5 16.7 300 20 10 7.1 3.9 | -7.2 19.0 285 20 11 8.9 4.9
12500 -7.5 18.5 300 20 10 6.8 3.7 | -5.9 21.4 285 20 10 9.1 5.0
12000 -6.6 20.1 305 19 10 6.8 3.7 | -4.5 23.9 285 20 10 9.1 5.0
11500 -5.2 22.6 300 18 9 6.4 3.5 | -2.4 27.7 280 20 10 9.2 5.0
11000 -4.2 24.4 300 17 9 6.5 3.6 | -1.1 30.0 280 20 10 9.4 5.1
10500 -3.3 26.1 295 16 8 6.4 3.5 | 0.3 32.5 280 20 10 9.6 5.2
10250 -2.9 26.8 290 15 8 6.3 3.5 | 1.1 34.0 275 19 10 9.8 5.4
10000 -2.4 27.7 285 15 8 8.4 4.6 | 1.8 35.2 275 19 10 9.8 5.4
9750 -1.7 28.9 285 15 8 9.7 5.3 | 2.5 36.5 275 19 10 9.7 5.3
9500 -0.9 30.4 285 15 8 9.7 5.3 | 3.3 37.9 275 19 10 9.9 5.4
9250 -0.2 31.6 285 15 8 8.4 4.6 | 4.0 39.2 275 19 10 9.3 5.1
9000 0.3 32.5 280 14 7 8.3 4.6 | 4.7 40.5 270 19 10 9.4 5.2
8750 1.0 33.8 280 14 7 9.8 5.4 | 5.4 41.7 270 19 10 10.2 5.6
8500 1.7 35.1 280 14 7 9.1 5.0 | 6.2 43.2 270 19 10 9.8 5.4
8250 2.4 36.3 280 14 7 10.3 5.7 | 6.9 44.4 270 19 10 10.8 5.9
8000 3.3 37.9 280 14 7 10.5 5.8 | 7.7 45.9 270 19 10 10.9 6.0
7750 4.0 39.2 280 14 7 9.6 5.2 | 8.5 47.3 265 19 10 9.9 5.4
7500 4.7 40.5 275 14 7 10.1 5.6 | 9.3 48.7 265 18 9 10.5 5.8
7250 5.5 41.9 275 14 7 10.2 5.6 | 10.1 50.2 265 18 9 10.8 5.9
7000 6.3 43.3 275 13 7 14.2 7.8 | 11.0 51.8 265 18 9 17.8 9.8
6750 7.7 45.9 275 12 6 21.3 11.7 | 12.8 55.0 265 16 8 29.5 16.2
6500 9.0 48.2 270 11 6 8.6 4.7 | 14.6 58.3 260 15 8 8.6 4.7
05/06/2026 at 1500 MDT | 05/06/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +161.4 LI... -1.5 | CAPE... +1.4 LI... +0.7
CINH... -0.6 K Index... +24.2 | CINH... -8.1 K Index... +19.6
|
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 -56.8 -70.2 255 59 31 0.7 0.4 | -58.0 -72.4 255 56 29 1.2 0.6
45000 -55.8 -68.4 250 66 34 1.8 1.0 | -56.2 -69.2 250 61 31 2.1 1.1
40000 -53.0 -63.4 250 74 38 1.8 1.0 | -53.0 -63.4 255 65 34 2.0 1.1
38000 -51.3 -60.3 250 73 38 3.3 1.8 | -51.4 -60.5 255 62 32 3.1 1.7
36000 -49.4 -56.9 255 71 37 3.3 1.8 | -49.5 -57.1 260 57 29 3.1 1.7
34000 -47.1 -52.8 255 67 34 5.1 2.8 | -47.2 -53.0 260 53 27 6.1 3.3
32000 -44.1 -47.4 250 57 29 5.1 2.8 | -43.5 -46.3 260 51 26 6.2 3.4
30000 -41.1 -42.0 250 49 25 4.8 2.6 | -39.9 -39.8 265 49 25 5.1 2.8
29000 -39.6 -39.3 250 48 25 4.8 2.6 | -38.4 -37.1 265 46 23 5.1 2.8
28000 -38.2 -36.8 250 47 24 4.8 2.6 | -36.8 -34.2 265 43 22 5.1 2.8
27000 -36.8 -34.2 250 47 24 5.1 2.8 | -34.9 -30.8 265 39 20 5.2 2.8
26000 -34.5 -30.1 255 44 23 6.2 3.4 | -33.4 -28.1 265 38 20 5.2 2.9
25000 -32.6 -26.7 260 42 21 6.2 3.4 | -31.8 -25.2 260 37 19 5.3 2.9
24000 -30.8 -23.4 265 40 20 6.5 3.6 | -30.3 -22.5 255 36 19 6.4 3.5
23000 -28.8 -19.8 265 37 19 6.8 3.7 | -28.1 -18.6 255 36 19 7.2 4.0
22000 -26.8 -16.2 265 34 17 6.8 3.7 | -26.0 -14.8 255 37 19 7.2 4.0
21000 -24.7 -12.5 270 31 16 8.2 4.5 | -23.8 -10.8 255 37 19 7.7 4.2
20000 -22.3 -8.1 270 29 15 8.2 4.5 | -21.6 -6.9 255 38 20 7.7 4.2
19500 -21.1 -6.0 270 29 15 8.2 4.5 | -20.4 -4.7 250 39 20 7.7 4.2
19000 -19.9 -3.8 270 28 14 8.2 4.5 | -19.3 -2.7 250 40 20 7.7 4.2
18500 -18.6 -1.5 270 27 14 9.0 5.0 | -18.1 -0.6 250 40 21 8.0 4.4
18000 -17.3 0.9 270 26 14 9.2 5.1 | -16.9 1.6 255 41 21 8.1 4.4
17500 -15.9 3.4 270 26 13 9.1 5.0 | -15.7 3.7 255 42 21 8.1 4.4
17000 -14.6 5.7 270 26 13 8.9 4.9 | -14.6 5.7 255 42 21 7.8 4.3
16500 -13.3 8.1 270 26 13 8.9 4.9 | -13.4 7.9 260 41 21 7.9 4.3
16000 -12.0 10.4 270 26 13 8.5 4.7 | -12.3 9.9 260 41 21 7.4 4.0
15500 -10.7 12.7 270 26 13 8.6 4.7 | -11.2 11.8 265 40 20 7.4 4.1
15000 -9.5 14.9 270 26 13 8.5 4.7 | -10.1 13.8 270 39 20 6.8 3.7
14500 -8.2 17.2 270 26 13 8.5 4.7 | -9.2 15.4 275 36 19 6.6 3.6
14000 -7.0 19.4 270 25 13 8.7 4.8 | -8.2 17.2 280 34 18 6.5 3.6
13500 -5.6 21.9 270 26 13 9.0 5.0 | -7.3 18.9 285 32 17 6.5 3.6
13000 -4.3 24.3 270 26 13 9.1 5.0 | -6.3 20.7 290 30 16 7.1 3.9
12500 -2.9 26.8 270 26 13 9.3 5.1 | -4.4 24.1 295 29 15 8.8 4.8
12000 -1.5 29.3 270 26 14 9.2 5.1 | -3.0 26.6 300 29 15 9.8 5.4
11500 -0.1 31.8 270 27 14 9.2 5.0 | -1.6 29.1 300 29 15 9.0 4.9
11000 1.4 34.5 270 27 14 10.4 5.7 | -0.2 31.6 300 28 14 9.9 5.4
10500 3.5 38.3 270 27 14 9.7 5.3 | 1.3 34.3 300 28 14 9.7 5.3
10250 4.3 39.7 270 27 14 10.3 5.7 | 2.0 35.6 300 28 14 8.9 4.9
10000 5.0 41.0 270 27 14 10.0 5.5 | 2.7 36.9 300 27 14 9.6 5.3
9750 5.8 42.4 270 27 14 9.8 5.4 | 3.4 38.1 300 27 14 10.1 5.5
9500 6.5 43.7 265 27 14 9.8 5.4 | 4.2 39.6 300 27 14 10.2 5.6
9250 7.2 45.0 265 27 14 10.0 5.5 | 4.9 40.8 300 27 14 9.2 5.1
9000 8.0 46.4 265 27 14 10.1 5.6 | 5.6 42.1 300 26 13 9.0 4.9
8750 8.7 47.7 265 27 14 10.0 5.5 | 6.3 43.3 300 26 13 9.8 5.4
8500 9.5 49.1 265 27 14 10.0 5.5 | 7.0 44.6 300 25 13 9.5 5.2
8250 10.2 50.4 265 27 14 10.3 5.6 | 7.7 45.9 305 25 13 10.4 5.7
8000 11.0 51.8 265 27 14 10.4 5.7 | 8.5 47.3 305 25 13 10.3 5.6
7750 11.8 53.2 265 26 14 10.2 5.6 | 9.3 48.7 305 24 12 9.5 5.2
7500 12.6 54.7 265 26 13 10.4 5.7 | 10.0 50.0 305 23 12 10.0 5.5
7250 13.4 56.1 265 25 13 10.9 6.0 | 10.8 51.4 305 22 11 10.4 5.7
7000 14.3 57.7 265 25 13 16.9 9.3 | 11.6 52.9 305 21 11 13.1 7.2
6750 15.9 60.6 265 23 12 26.1 14.3 | 12.7 54.9 305 19 10 17.5 9.6
6500 17.6 63.7 260 20 10 9.9 5.4 | 13.9 57.0 305 16 8 9.8 5.4
________________________________________________________________________________
This product is issued once per day, at approximately 730 AM local
time. It is not continuously monitored nor updated after its initial
issuance.
The information contained herein is based on numerical weather prediction
model data for the Santa Fe County Municipal Airport site in Santa Fe, New Mexico at
North Latitude: 35.61097 deg
West Longitude: 106.61097 deg
Elevation: 6279.5 feet (1936.0 meters)
and may not be representative of other areas along and east of the Sandia
and Manzano 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 are welcome and should be directed
to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this page.
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.
042613
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