Dangerous heat will persist across the Southwest U.S. through this week, easing by next week. The heat will focus further east in the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley beginning next week. Elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions will persist for the Great Basin today. Poor air quality lingers for the Northwest, Great Basin, Central Rockies into the Plains. Read More >
Soaring Forecast for Moriarty NM
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
0716 MDT Monday August 3 2026
This forecast is for Monday, August 3, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 85.6 F/29.8 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1404 ft/min (7.1 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 21339 ft MSL (15014 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 100.0 F/38.2 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1030 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 19538 ft MSL (13213 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Tuesday 08/04...... Excellent
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:15:20 / 20:05:03 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 49 min 42 sec (829 min 42 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:10:11 MDT... 72.22 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 08/03/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 17302 ft MSL (10977 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 17094 ft MSL (10769 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 19179 ft MSL (12854 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -4.1
K index......................... +24.0
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 -64.8 -84.6 035 15 8 3.6 2.0 77.3 171.1 23.5 M M
45000 -58.1 -72.6 025 18 9 5.2 2.9 63.9 147.0 16.7 M M
40000 -49.8 -57.6 015 20 10 6.9 3.8 54.8 130.6 11.6 M M
38000 -45.7 -50.3 015 18 9 6.9 3.8 52.2 126.0 10.1 M M
36000 -41.5 -42.7 010 16 8 7.6 4.2 50.3 122.5 9.0 M M
34000 -36.8 -34.2 015 17 9 7.9 4.3 48.5 119.3 7.9 M M
32000 -32.1 -25.8 025 17 9 7.8 4.3 47.2 117.0 7.1 M M
30000 -27.1 -16.8 030 15 8 7.3 4.0 45.0 113.0 5.6 M M
29000 -24.9 -12.8 030 13 7 7.4 4.0 44.2 111.5 5.0 M M
28000 -22.5 -8.5 035 12 6 8.3 4.6 43.4 110.2 4.5 M M
27000 -20.0 -4.0 040 10 5 8.3 4.6 42.8 109.1 4.0 M M
26000 -17.6 0.3 045 9 5 8.3 4.6 42.3 108.2 3.7 M M
25000 -15.1 4.8 050 8 4 7.6 4.2 41.9 107.3 3.3 M M
24000 -12.9 8.8 055 8 4 7.5 4.1 40.9 105.7 2.6 M M
23000 -10.6 12.9 060 7 4 7.5 4.1 40.1 104.2 2.0 M M
22000 -8.5 16.7 065 7 4 5.1 2.8 39.3 102.7 1.3 M M
21000 -7.2 19.0 060 7 3 4.5 2.5 37.3 99.2 -0.5 1385 7.0
20000 -6.0 21.2 050 6 3 4.9 2.7 35.6 96.0 -2.1 1318 6.7
19500 -5.4 22.3 045 6 3 5.5 3.0 34.8 94.6 -2.9 1284 6.5
19000 -4.4 24.1 030 6 3 8.2 4.5 34.4 93.8 -3.4 1240 6.3
18500 -3.3 26.1 010 7 4 8.2 4.5 34.1 93.3 -3.8 1193 6.1
18000 -2.2 28.0 360 9 4 8.7 4.8 33.8 92.9 -4.2 1144 5.8
17500 -0.2 31.6 345 11 6 8.9 4.9 33.6 92.5 -4.5 1063 5.4
17000 1.1 34.0 340 13 7 9.5 5.2 33.5 92.3 -4.6 1009 5.1
16500 2.6 36.7 340 14 7 9.8 5.4 33.5 92.3 -4.6 950 4.8
16000 4.1 39.4 340 14 7 9.7 5.3 33.5 92.3 -4.6 891 4.5
15500 5.5 41.9 345 15 8 9.5 5.2 33.5 92.3 -4.7 833 4.2
15000 6.9 44.4 345 15 8 9.6 5.2 33.4 92.2 -4.7 776 3.9
14500 8.3 46.9 350 14 7 9.0 4.9 33.4 92.1 -4.8 720 3.7
14000 9.6 49.3 350 13 7 9.0 5.0 33.3 91.9 -5.0 665 3.4
13500 11.0 51.8 350 12 6 8.4 4.6 33.1 91.6 -5.1 611 3.1
13000 12.1 53.8 345 11 6 8.2 4.5 32.9 91.2 -5.4 561 2.8
12500 13.3 55.9 340 9 5 8.0 4.4 32.6 90.7 -5.8 511 2.6
12000 14.4 57.9 320 9 4 7.8 4.3 32.3 90.2 -6.1 463 2.4
11500 15.5 59.9 295 9 5 7.6 4.2 32.0 89.6 -6.5 416 2.1
11000 16.5 61.7 280 11 6 7.2 4.0 31.6 88.9 -7.0 370 1.9
10500 17.5 63.5 265 14 7 7.0 3.9 31.2 88.2 -7.5 325 1.7
10250 18.0 64.4 265 15 8 6.8 3.7 31.0 87.8 -7.7 304 1.5
10000 18.5 65.3 260 16 8 6.8 3.8 30.8 87.4 -8.0 282 1.4
9750 19.0 66.2 255 17 9 6.8 3.7 30.5 87.0 -8.3 260 1.3
9500 19.4 66.9 255 18 9 6.8 3.7 30.3 86.6 -8.5 238 1.2
9250 19.9 67.8 250 19 10 6.7 3.7 30.1 86.2 -8.8 216 1.1
9000 20.4 68.7 245 20 10 5.8 3.2 29.8 85.7 -9.1 195 1.0
8750 20.8 69.4 245 21 11 5.5 3.0 29.5 85.1 -9.5 176 0.9
8500 21.2 70.2 240 21 11 5.0 2.7 29.2 84.5 -9.8 157 0.8
8250 21.5 70.7 240 22 11 4.0 2.2 28.8 83.8 -10.3 141 0.7
8000 21.7 71.1 235 22 11 3.3 1.8 28.3 83.0 -10.8 125 0.6
7750 22.0 71.6 235 21 11 3.2 1.8 27.8 82.1 -11.3 111 0.6
7500 22.1 71.8 230 21 11 1.2 0.7 27.3 81.1 -11.8 98 0.5
7250 22.1 71.8 230 18 9 -1.2 -0.6 26.5 79.7 -12.6 91 0.5
7000 22.1 71.8 225 15 7 -0.9 -0.5 25.7 78.3 -13.4 86 0.4
6750 22.0 71.6 215 11 6 -1.6 -0.9 24.9 76.8 -14.3 80 0.4
6500 21.7 71.1 200 8 4 -8.2 -4.5 23.9 74.9 -15.3 82 0.4
6250 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
08/03/2026 at 0900 MDT | 08/03/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +288.3 LI... -2.1 | CAPE... +229.7 LI... -1.7
CINH... -130.2 K Index... +22.2 | CINH... -8.9 K Index... +23.0
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -64.8 -84.6 060 12 6 3.5 1.9 | -64.9 -84.8 055 6 3 3.2 1.7
45000 -58.4 -73.1 030 13 7 5.0 2.8 | -58.5 -73.3 020 9 5 5.5 3.0
40000 -50.2 -58.4 010 17 9 7.1 3.9 | -49.8 -57.6 010 13 7 7.2 3.9
38000 -46.0 -50.8 015 15 8 7.1 3.9 | -45.5 -49.9 005 15 8 7.2 3.9
36000 -41.7 -43.1 020 14 7 7.8 4.3 | -41.2 -42.2 360 17 9 7.4 4.0
34000 -36.9 -34.4 025 14 7 8.0 4.4 | -36.7 -34.1 020 12 6 7.4 4.1
32000 -31.5 -24.7 035 15 8 8.2 4.5 | -31.7 -25.1 050 9 5 7.8 4.3
30000 -26.5 -15.7 035 14 7 8.3 4.5 | -27.0 -16.6 040 9 5 7.9 4.3
29000 -24.0 -11.2 035 13 7 8.2 4.5 | -24.7 -12.5 040 9 5 7.9 4.3
28000 -21.6 -6.9 035 12 6 7.6 4.2 | -22.3 -8.1 035 9 4 8.1 4.5
27000 -19.4 -2.9 035 11 6 7.6 4.2 | -19.8 -3.6 035 7 4 8.1 4.5
26000 -17.1 1.2 035 9 5 7.6 4.2 | -17.4 0.7 035 5 3 8.2 4.5
25000 -14.8 5.4 040 7 4 7.3 4.0 | -14.9 5.2 035 4 2 7.7 4.2
24000 -12.6 9.3 050 6 3 7.2 3.9 | -12.7 9.1 035 3 2 7.6 4.2
23000 -10.5 13.1 065 6 3 7.2 4.0 | -10.4 13.3 035 2 1 7.6 4.2
22000 -8.5 16.7 075 5 3 4.6 2.5 | -8.3 17.1 030 2 1 4.1 2.3
21000 -7.3 18.9 060 5 2 4.2 2.3 | -7.3 18.9 005 3 1 3.8 2.1
20000 -6.1 21.0 040 4 2 4.6 2.5 | -6.2 20.8 350 3 2 4.3 2.3
19500 -5.5 22.1 035 4 2 5.4 3.0 | -5.7 21.7 345 4 2 5.5 3.0
19000 -4.5 23.9 025 5 2 8.2 4.5 | -4.7 23.5 350 4 2 8.7 4.8
18500 -3.4 25.9 020 5 3 8.2 4.5 | -3.5 25.7 355 4 2 8.7 4.8
18000 -2.3 27.9 015 6 3 8.9 4.9 | -2.2 28.0 360 5 3 9.3 5.1
17500 -0.3 31.5 355 8 4 9.1 5.0 | -0.1 31.8 350 7 4 9.4 5.2
17000 1.0 33.8 350 10 5 9.7 5.3 | 1.3 34.3 350 8 4 9.6 5.3
16500 2.5 36.5 345 10 5 9.8 5.4 | 2.7 36.9 345 9 4 9.7 5.3
16000 4.0 39.2 345 11 5 9.8 5.4 | 4.2 39.6 345 9 5 9.5 5.2
15500 5.4 41.7 345 11 6 9.8 5.4 | 5.5 41.9 345 10 5 9.1 5.0
15000 6.9 44.4 345 11 6 9.8 5.4 | 6.9 44.4 345 10 5 9.2 5.0
14500 8.3 46.9 345 11 6 9.8 5.4 | 8.2 46.8 340 11 5 8.4 4.6
14000 9.8 49.6 345 11 6 9.8 5.4 | 9.4 48.9 340 11 6 8.4 4.6
13500 11.2 52.2 345 11 6 8.6 4.7 | 10.6 51.1 335 11 6 8.7 4.8
13000 12.4 54.3 340 10 5 8.3 4.6 | 11.9 53.4 330 12 6 8.8 4.8
12500 13.7 56.7 335 9 4 8.0 4.4 | 13.2 55.8 325 12 6 9.2 5.0
12000 14.8 58.6 320 9 4 7.8 4.3 | 14.6 58.3 325 12 6 9.4 5.2
11500 15.9 60.6 305 9 5 7.8 4.3 | 16.0 60.8 320 12 6 9.4 5.1
11000 16.9 62.4 290 11 6 6.0 3.3 | 17.4 63.3 320 11 6 9.2 5.0
10500 17.7 63.9 280 13 7 5.7 3.1 | 18.7 65.7 315 11 6 9.0 4.9
10250 18.0 64.4 280 13 7 4.1 2.3 | 19.4 66.9 315 11 6 9.5 5.2
10000 18.3 64.9 275 14 7 3.8 2.1 | 20.1 68.2 315 11 6 10.3 5.7
9750 18.5 65.3 275 15 8 3.8 2.1 | 20.9 69.6 315 11 6 10.0 5.5
9500 18.7 65.7 270 15 8 4.3 2.4 | 21.6 70.9 315 11 6 10.4 5.7
9250 19.0 66.2 270 15 8 5.3 2.9 | 22.4 72.3 310 11 6 10.5 5.8
9000 19.4 66.9 270 15 8 5.4 3.0 | 23.2 73.8 310 11 6 9.5 5.2
8750 19.7 67.5 270 14 7 5.1 2.8 | 23.8 74.8 310 11 6 9.0 4.9
8500 20.1 68.2 270 14 7 6.1 3.3 | 24.5 76.1 310 11 6 9.5 5.2
8250 20.6 69.1 270 13 7 7.3 4.0 | 25.2 77.4 310 11 6 9.9 5.4
8000 21.1 70.0 270 12 6 7.7 4.2 | 26.0 78.8 310 11 6 10.0 5.5
7750 21.7 71.1 270 12 6 7.9 4.3 | 26.7 80.1 310 11 6 10.0 5.5
7500 22.3 72.1 270 11 6 8.8 4.8 | 27.5 81.5 305 11 6 10.3 5.6
7250 23.0 73.4 270 11 5 9.7 5.3 | 28.2 82.8 305 11 6 10.6 5.8
7000 23.7 74.7 270 10 5 9.3 5.1 | 29.0 84.2 305 11 5 10.4 5.7
6750 24.4 75.9 270 10 5 10.3 5.7 | 29.8 85.6 305 10 5 11.4 6.2
6500 25.3 77.5 270 9 5 14.6 8.0 | 30.9 87.6 305 10 5 19.2 10.5
6250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
08/03/2026 at 1500 MDT | 08/03/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +85.0 LI... -0.6 | CAPE... +9.1 LI... -0.8
CINH... -1.7 K Index... +23.0 | CINH... -0.7 K Index... +19.7
|
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 -64.7 -84.5 045 3 2 2.6 1.4 | -65.4 -85.7 330 4 2 3.1 1.7
45000 -58.6 -73.5 020 9 5 5.7 3.2 | -58.8 -73.8 345 9 5 5.9 3.2
40000 -49.6 -57.3 360 12 6 7.1 3.9 | -49.6 -57.3 340 11 6 7.1 3.9
38000 -45.3 -49.5 355 14 7 7.2 3.9 | -45.4 -49.7 350 13 7 7.1 3.9
36000 -41.0 -41.8 355 17 9 7.5 4.1 | -41.1 -42.0 360 16 8 7.7 4.2
34000 -36.4 -33.5 350 14 7 7.6 4.2 | -36.4 -33.5 350 12 6 7.8 4.3
32000 -31.2 -24.2 350 10 5 7.8 4.3 | -31.1 -24.0 330 9 5 8.3 4.6
30000 -26.6 -15.9 010 6 3 7.8 4.3 | -26.0 -14.8 335 8 4 8.4 4.6
29000 -24.2 -11.6 030 5 3 7.8 4.3 | -23.5 -10.3 340 8 4 8.4 4.6
28000 -21.9 -7.4 045 4 2 7.3 4.0 | -21.1 -6.0 340 7 4 7.6 4.2
27000 -19.7 -3.5 045 3 2 7.3 4.0 | -18.8 -1.8 335 5 3 7.6 4.2
26000 -17.5 0.5 050 3 1 7.3 4.0 | -16.6 2.1 335 4 2 7.6 4.2
25000 -15.4 4.3 045 2 1 5.6 3.1 | -14.4 6.1 335 3 2 5.5 3.0
24000 -13.9 7.0 005 3 2 5.4 3.0 | -12.9 8.8 355 4 2 5.2 2.8
23000 -12.3 9.9 350 5 2 5.6 3.1 | -11.4 11.5 005 5 3 5.3 2.9
22000 -10.7 12.7 340 6 3 7.3 4.0 | -9.8 14.4 010 6 3 6.9 3.8
21000 -8.5 16.7 330 7 4 7.7 4.2 | -7.8 18.0 345 8 4 7.3 4.0
20000 -6.3 20.7 320 8 4 7.9 4.3 | -5.8 21.6 335 10 5 7.6 4.2
19500 -5.3 22.5 315 8 4 8.3 4.5 | -4.7 23.5 330 12 6 8.1 4.5
19000 -4.0 24.8 315 8 4 9.1 5.0 | -3.4 25.9 325 12 6 9.7 5.3
18500 -2.6 27.3 315 9 4 9.1 5.0 | -2.0 28.4 325 12 6 9.6 5.3
18000 -1.2 29.8 315 9 4 9.5 5.2 | 0.2 32.4 325 13 7 9.6 5.3
17500 0.9 33.6 310 8 4 9.6 5.3 | 1.6 34.9 320 13 7 9.6 5.3
17000 2.3 36.1 310 8 4 9.6 5.3 | 3.1 37.6 320 13 7 9.9 5.4
16500 3.8 38.8 310 8 4 9.6 5.3 | 4.6 40.3 320 13 7 9.9 5.4
16000 5.2 41.4 310 8 4 9.7 5.3 | 6.1 43.0 320 14 7 9.9 5.4
15500 6.6 43.9 310 8 4 9.9 5.4 | 7.5 45.5 320 14 7 9.7 5.3
15000 8.1 46.6 310 8 4 9.9 5.4 | 9.0 48.2 315 14 7 9.7 5.3
14500 9.6 49.3 310 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 10.4 50.7 315 14 7 9.5 5.2
14000 10.9 51.6 310 8 4 9.3 5.1 | 11.8 53.2 315 15 8 9.5 5.2
13500 12.4 54.3 310 8 4 9.8 5.4 | 13.2 55.8 315 15 8 9.7 5.3
13000 13.8 56.8 310 8 4 9.8 5.4 | 14.7 58.5 315 15 8 9.7 5.3
12500 15.3 59.5 310 9 4 9.7 5.3 | 16.2 61.2 315 16 8 9.8 5.4
12000 16.7 62.1 315 9 4 9.6 5.3 | 17.6 63.7 315 16 8 9.8 5.4
11500 18.2 64.8 315 9 5 9.6 5.2 | 19.1 66.4 315 17 9 9.9 5.4
11000 19.6 67.3 315 9 5 9.7 5.3 | 20.5 68.9 310 17 9 9.5 5.2
10500 21.0 69.8 315 9 5 9.1 5.0 | 22.0 71.6 310 17 9 9.9 5.4
10250 21.7 71.1 315 9 5 9.5 5.2 | 22.7 72.9 310 18 9 9.9 5.4
10000 22.5 72.5 315 10 5 10.5 5.8 | 23.4 74.1 310 18 9 9.6 5.3
9750 23.2 73.8 315 10 5 10.1 5.5 | 24.2 75.6 310 18 9 9.5 5.2
9500 24.0 75.2 315 10 5 10.8 5.9 | 24.9 76.8 310 18 9 10.1 5.5
9250 24.8 76.6 315 10 5 11.0 6.0 | 25.7 78.3 310 18 9 10.6 5.8
9000 25.6 78.1 315 10 5 9.9 5.4 | 26.4 79.5 310 19 10 9.6 5.2
8750 26.3 79.3 315 10 5 9.4 5.2 | 27.1 80.8 310 19 10 8.9 4.9
8500 27.0 80.6 315 10 5 9.6 5.3 | 27.8 82.0 305 19 10 9.2 5.0
8250 27.8 82.0 315 10 5 9.6 5.3 | 28.5 83.3 305 19 10 10.0 5.5
8000 28.5 83.3 315 10 5 9.9 5.4 | 29.3 84.7 305 19 10 10.0 5.5
7750 29.2 84.6 315 10 5 10.1 5.5 | 30.0 86.0 305 19 10 9.4 5.2
7500 30.0 86.0 315 10 5 10.4 5.7 | 30.7 87.3 305 19 10 9.7 5.3
7250 30.8 87.4 315 10 5 10.7 5.9 | 31.4 88.5 305 19 10 10.1 5.5
7000 31.6 88.9 315 10 5 11.1 6.1 | 32.2 90.0 305 19 10 10.4 5.7
6750 32.4 90.3 315 10 5 9.7 5.3 | 33.0 91.4 305 18 9 10.0 5.5
6500 33.2 91.8 315 10 5 14.6 8.0 | 33.7 92.7 305 18 9 11.9 6.5
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
0716 MDT Monday August 3 2026
This forecast is for Monday, August 3, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 88.6 F/31.5 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1427 ft/min (7.3 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 20931 ft MSL (15259 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 102.0 F/39.3 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 18872 ft MSL (13200 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Tuesday 08/04...... Excellent
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:17:42 / 20:07:39 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 49 min 57 sec (829 min 57 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:12:41 MDT... 72.08 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 08/03/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 17264 ft MSL (11592 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 16893 ft MSL (11221 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 18676 ft MSL (13004 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -3.6
K index......................... +21.3
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 -65.0 -85.0 030 15 8 3.7 2.0 79.2 174.5 23.8 M M
45000 -58.5 -73.3 015 18 9 5.3 2.9 66.5 151.7 17.5 M M
40000 -49.7 -57.5 005 19 10 6.8 3.7 56.9 134.4 12.2 M M
38000 -45.6 -50.1 005 18 9 6.8 3.7 54.2 129.6 10.7 M M
36000 -41.4 -42.5 005 17 9 7.8 4.3 52.2 125.9 9.5 M M
34000 -36.7 -34.1 015 16 8 7.9 4.3 50.4 122.7 8.4 M M
32000 -32.0 -25.6 030 15 8 7.9 4.3 49.1 120.4 7.6 M M
30000 -27.2 -17.0 030 14 7 8.0 4.4 47.5 117.5 6.6 M M
29000 -24.8 -12.6 030 13 7 8.0 4.4 46.9 116.4 6.2 M M
28000 -22.4 -8.3 030 11 6 8.0 4.4 46.3 115.3 5.8 M M
27000 -19.9 -3.8 030 9 5 8.0 4.4 45.5 114.0 5.3 M M
26000 -16.9 1.6 035 7 4 8.0 4.4 44.8 112.6 4.7 M M
25000 -14.6 5.7 045 6 3 7.0 3.8 44.1 111.4 4.3 M M
24000 -12.5 9.5 050 5 2 7.0 3.9 43.0 109.4 3.4 M M
23000 -10.4 13.3 055 4 2 7.1 3.9 42.1 107.7 2.6 M M
22000 -8.5 16.7 060 3 2 4.4 2.4 41.0 105.7 1.7 M M
21000 -7.1 19.2 050 3 1 4.8 2.6 39.1 102.3 0.0 M M
20000 -5.8 21.6 035 2 1 5.3 2.9 37.4 99.4 -1.6 1360 6.9
19500 -5.2 22.6 025 2 1 6.2 3.4 36.7 98.1 -2.4 1325 6.7
19000 -4.2 24.4 350 3 2 6.9 3.8 36.2 97.2 -2.9 1282 6.5
18500 -3.2 26.2 340 5 2 6.8 3.7 35.7 96.3 -3.4 1238 6.3
18000 -2.1 28.2 335 6 3 9.5 5.2 35.5 95.8 -3.7 1188 6.0
17500 -0.7 30.7 335 8 4 9.5 5.2 35.4 95.7 -3.8 1131 5.7
17000 0.7 33.3 335 9 5 9.6 5.3 35.4 95.7 -3.8 1074 5.5
16500 2.2 36.0 335 9 5 9.9 5.4 35.4 95.7 -3.9 1015 5.2
16000 3.7 38.7 335 10 5 9.9 5.4 35.4 95.7 -3.9 956 4.9
15500 5.2 41.4 340 11 5 9.8 5.4 35.4 95.8 -3.9 897 4.6
15000 6.6 43.9 340 11 6 9.8 5.4 35.4 95.8 -3.9 838 4.3
14500 8.1 46.6 340 11 6 9.7 5.3 35.4 95.8 -3.9 779 4.0
14000 9.5 49.1 340 11 6 9.6 5.3 35.4 95.7 -3.9 721 3.7
13500 11.0 51.8 340 10 5 9.2 5.0 35.4 95.7 -4.0 663 3.4
13000 12.3 54.1 340 9 5 8.7 4.8 35.2 95.4 -4.2 610 3.1
12500 13.6 56.5 335 7 4 8.5 4.7 35.1 95.1 -4.3 556 2.8
12000 14.7 58.5 315 6 3 7.9 4.3 34.8 94.6 -4.7 506 2.6
11500 15.9 60.6 290 6 3 7.9 4.3 34.5 94.1 -5.0 457 2.3
11000 16.9 62.4 275 8 4 6.9 3.8 34.1 93.4 -5.5 411 2.1
10500 17.9 64.2 265 9 5 7.4 4.0 33.7 92.7 -5.9 366 1.9
10250 18.4 65.1 260 11 5 6.4 3.5 33.5 92.3 -6.2 344 1.7
10000 18.8 65.8 255 11 6 5.7 3.1 33.2 91.7 -6.5 325 1.6
9750 19.2 66.6 255 11 6 5.8 3.2 32.9 91.2 -6.9 305 1.6
9500 19.6 67.3 255 12 6 6.1 3.3 32.6 90.7 -7.2 286 1.5
9250 20.0 68.0 250 13 7 5.6 3.1 32.3 90.1 -7.5 266 1.3
9000 20.4 68.7 245 13 7 4.9 2.7 31.9 89.5 -8.0 248 1.3
8750 21.0 69.8 240 13 7 4.2 2.3 31.2 88.2 -8.8 213 1.1
8500 21.3 70.3 240 14 7 4.5 2.5 30.8 87.4 -9.3 199 1.0
8250 21.7 71.1 230 14 7 5.9 3.2 30.4 86.8 -9.7 180 0.9
8000 22.0 71.6 225 15 8 5.6 3.1 30.1 86.2 -10.0 161 0.8
7750 22.4 72.3 220 15 8 5.4 3.0 29.8 85.6 -10.4 142 0.7
7500 22.8 73.0 215 16 8 4.7 2.6 29.4 85.0 -10.8 125 0.6
7250 23.1 73.6 210 17 9 4.2 2.3 29.0 84.3 -11.3 108 0.5
7000 23.4 74.1 205 17 9 4.3 2.3 28.6 83.5 -11.7 92 0.5
6750 23.7 74.7 200 17 9 4.0 2.2 28.2 82.8 -12.2 75 0.4
6500 23.9 75.0 195 17 9 3.6 2.0 27.7 81.9 -12.7 60 0.3
6250 24.2 75.6 190 17 9 3.3 1.8 27.3 81.1 -13.2 45 0.2
6000 24.3 75.7 185 14 7 -1.1 -0.6 26.7 80.0 -13.8 33 0.2
5750 23.7 74.7 180 9 5 -21.3 -11.7 25.2 77.4 -15.2 46 0.2
5500 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
08/03/2026 at 0900 MDT | 08/03/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +256.9 LI... -1.7 | CAPE... +237.8 LI... -1.3
CINH... -159.2 K Index... +19.0 | CINH... -26.7 K Index... +21.3
|
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 -64.8 -84.6 040 11 6 3.5 1.9 | -64.9 -84.8 035 9 5 3.1 1.7
45000 -58.3 -72.9 015 14 7 5.2 2.8 | -58.5 -73.3 010 15 8 5.5 3.0
40000 -49.8 -57.6 010 16 8 7.2 4.0 | -49.7 -57.5 005 17 9 7.1 3.9
38000 -45.5 -49.9 010 16 8 7.2 4.0 | -45.4 -49.7 360 17 9 7.1 3.9
36000 -41.1 -42.0 010 17 9 7.7 4.2 | -41.1 -42.0 360 17 9 7.9 4.3
34000 -36.5 -33.7 020 14 7 7.7 4.2 | -36.3 -33.3 010 12 6 7.9 4.4
32000 -31.9 -25.4 030 11 6 7.9 4.3 | -31.6 -24.9 025 8 4 7.9 4.3
30000 -27.1 -16.8 020 11 6 8.1 4.4 | -26.9 -16.4 040 7 4 7.8 4.3
29000 -24.6 -12.3 020 12 6 8.1 4.4 | -24.5 -12.1 050 7 3 7.8 4.3
28000 -22.2 -8.0 015 11 6 8.0 4.4 | -22.2 -8.0 060 6 3 7.6 4.2
27000 -19.8 -3.6 015 9 5 8.0 4.4 | -19.4 -2.9 050 4 2 7.6 4.2
26000 -16.8 1.8 015 7 3 8.0 4.4 | -17.1 1.2 035 3 1 7.6 4.2
25000 -14.5 5.9 015 5 2 7.1 3.9 | -14.8 5.4 355 2 1 6.8 3.7
24000 -12.3 9.9 030 3 2 7.2 3.9 | -12.8 9.0 320 2 1 6.9 3.8
23000 -10.2 13.6 050 3 1 7.2 4.0 | -10.7 12.7 305 3 2 6.9 3.8
22000 -8.2 17.2 075 2 1 3.8 2.1 | -8.8 16.2 300 4 2 4.9 2.7
21000 -7.0 19.4 065 1 1 4.4 2.4 | -7.3 18.9 300 5 3 5.3 2.9
20000 -5.8 21.6 025 1 0 4.9 2.7 | -5.8 21.6 300 6 3 5.6 3.1
19500 -5.2 22.6 345 1 0 6.1 3.3 | -5.0 23.0 305 6 3 6.4 3.5
19000 -4.2 24.4 340 2 1 7.0 3.8 | -4.1 24.6 310 7 3 6.9 3.8
18500 -3.3 26.1 335 4 2 6.9 3.8 | -3.1 26.4 320 7 4 6.8 3.7
18000 -2.1 28.2 340 5 3 9.5 5.2 | -2.0 28.4 325 7 4 9.4 5.2
17500 -0.7 30.7 345 6 3 9.4 5.2 | -0.6 30.9 330 8 4 9.3 5.1
17000 0.7 33.3 345 7 4 9.6 5.3 | 0.8 33.4 335 8 4 9.5 5.2
16500 2.2 36.0 345 7 4 9.8 5.4 | 2.2 36.0 335 9 5 9.8 5.4
16000 3.6 38.5 350 8 4 9.8 5.4 | 3.7 38.7 340 9 5 9.8 5.4
15500 5.1 41.2 350 8 4 9.7 5.3 | 5.1 41.2 340 10 5 9.4 5.2
15000 6.5 43.7 345 8 4 9.7 5.3 | 6.5 43.7 340 11 6 9.5 5.2
14500 7.9 46.2 345 8 4 8.8 4.9 | 8.0 46.4 340 12 6 9.4 5.2
14000 9.2 48.6 335 9 5 8.7 4.8 | 9.4 48.9 340 13 7 9.4 5.2
13500 10.5 50.9 330 10 5 8.6 4.7 | 10.8 51.4 340 13 7 9.4 5.2
13000 11.8 53.2 325 11 6 8.6 4.7 | 12.2 54.0 340 14 7 9.4 5.2
12500 13.1 55.6 320 13 6 8.6 4.7 | 13.6 56.5 340 15 8 9.1 5.0
12000 14.4 57.9 320 14 7 8.8 4.8 | 14.8 58.6 340 14 7 8.2 4.5
11500 15.7 60.3 320 15 8 8.6 4.7 | 16.0 60.8 345 14 7 7.8 4.3
11000 16.8 62.2 320 16 8 7.4 4.0 | 16.9 62.4 345 12 6 5.6 3.1
10500 18.0 64.4 325 16 8 8.5 4.7 | 17.7 63.9 340 10 5 6.4 3.5
10250 18.6 65.5 325 16 8 7.2 4.0 | 18.2 64.8 335 9 5 7.3 4.0
10000 19.0 66.2 325 16 8 6.2 3.4 | 18.7 65.7 330 9 4 7.8 4.3
9750 19.5 67.1 325 15 8 6.6 3.6 | 19.2 66.6 330 8 4 7.4 4.0
9500 19.9 67.8 325 14 7 6.1 3.3 | 19.8 67.6 325 7 4 8.5 4.6
9250 20.3 68.5 320 14 7 5.2 2.8 | 20.4 68.7 320 7 4 9.4 5.2
9000 20.6 69.1 315 12 6 4.9 2.7 | 21.1 70.0 315 7 3 9.0 4.9
8750 21.0 69.8 310 10 5 5.2 2.8 | 22.5 72.5 315 6 3 8.2 4.5
8500 21.5 70.7 295 7 4 3.8 2.1 | 23.0 73.4 315 6 3 8.9 4.9
8250 21.8 71.2 275 6 3 3.9 2.1 | 23.8 74.8 310 6 3 10.4 5.7
8000 22.0 71.6 255 6 3 4.2 2.3 | 24.6 76.3 310 6 3 10.2 5.6
7750 22.2 72.0 235 6 3 3.3 1.8 | 25.3 77.5 305 6 3 9.7 5.3
7500 22.4 72.3 220 7 4 3.8 2.1 | 26.0 78.8 305 6 3 9.5 5.2
7250 22.8 73.0 215 8 4 7.4 4.1 | 26.8 80.2 305 6 3 10.8 5.9
7000 23.4 74.1 210 9 4 8.8 4.8 | 27.6 81.7 305 5 3 11.4 6.3
6750 24.0 75.2 205 9 5 8.6 4.7 | 28.4 83.1 300 5 3 10.4 5.7
6500 24.6 76.3 205 9 5 9.1 5.0 | 29.2 84.6 300 5 3 9.9 5.4
6250 25.3 77.5 205 9 5 9.4 5.2 | 29.9 85.8 300 5 3 9.6 5.3
6000 26.1 79.0 205 9 5 14.3 7.9 | 30.7 87.3 300 5 3 15.3 8.4
5750 27.9 82.2 205 8 4 36.9 20.2 | 33.0 91.4 295 5 2 56.5 31.0
5500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
08/03/2026 at 1500 MDT | 08/03/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +8.1 LI... -0.4 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... -0.5
CINH... -0.0 K Index... +19.8 | CINH... -0.3 K Index... +18.7
|
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 -64.8 -84.6 015 4 2 2.9 1.6 | -65.3 -85.5 325 6 3 3.5 1.9
45000 -58.5 -73.3 005 11 6 5.7 3.1 | -58.3 -72.9 345 12 6 5.7 3.1
40000 -49.6 -57.3 360 12 6 7.0 3.8 | -49.4 -56.9 340 13 6 7.1 3.9
38000 -45.4 -49.7 355 15 8 7.0 3.9 | -45.1 -49.2 340 15 8 7.1 3.9
36000 -41.2 -42.2 350 17 9 7.4 4.1 | -40.9 -41.6 345 17 9 7.6 4.2
34000 -36.1 -33.0 350 13 7 7.6 4.2 | -35.7 -32.3 340 13 6 7.7 4.2
32000 -31.5 -24.7 345 9 4 8.1 4.5 | -31.0 -23.8 330 8 4 8.0 4.4
30000 -26.6 -15.9 360 5 3 8.3 4.5 | -26.2 -15.2 330 7 3 8.1 4.4
29000 -24.1 -11.4 010 4 2 8.3 4.5 | -23.8 -10.8 325 6 3 8.1 4.4
28000 -21.8 -7.2 025 3 1 7.4 4.1 | -21.4 -6.5 320 5 2 7.6 4.2
27000 -19.5 -3.1 020 1 1 7.5 4.1 | -19.1 -2.4 310 4 2 7.6 4.2
26000 -17.3 0.9 000 0 0 7.5 4.1 | -16.8 1.8 295 3 2 7.6 4.2
25000 -15.1 4.8 215 1 1 6.2 3.4 | -14.6 5.7 275 3 2 6.4 3.5
24000 -13.4 7.9 295 2 1 5.8 3.2 | -12.8 9.0 280 4 2 6.0 3.3
23000 -11.7 10.9 315 3 2 5.9 3.2 | -11.1 12.0 285 4 2 6.1 3.3
22000 -10.0 14.0 325 5 3 6.0 3.3 | -9.3 15.3 290 5 3 6.1 3.4
21000 -7.8 18.0 325 9 5 6.3 3.4 | -7.1 19.2 300 8 4 6.3 3.5
20000 -6.1 21.0 330 12 6 6.5 3.6 | -5.4 22.3 305 10 5 6.6 3.6
19500 -5.2 22.6 330 13 7 8.4 4.6 | -4.5 23.9 305 11 6 8.4 4.6
19000 -3.9 25.0 330 13 7 8.8 4.9 | -3.1 26.4 305 11 6 9.1 5.0
18500 -2.6 27.3 325 13 7 8.9 4.9 | -1.8 28.8 310 12 6 9.1 5.0
18000 -1.2 29.8 325 13 7 9.7 5.3 | -0.4 31.3 310 12 6 9.6 5.3
17500 0.2 32.4 325 13 7 9.6 5.3 | 1.0 33.8 315 12 6 9.6 5.3
17000 1.7 35.1 325 13 7 9.6 5.3 | 2.5 36.5 315 12 6 9.6 5.3
16500 3.1 37.6 325 13 7 9.6 5.3 | 3.9 39.0 315 12 6 9.7 5.3
16000 4.5 40.1 325 13 7 9.6 5.3 | 5.4 41.7 315 12 6 9.7 5.3
15500 6.0 42.8 325 13 7 9.7 5.3 | 6.8 44.2 315 12 6 9.7 5.3
15000 7.4 45.3 325 13 6 9.7 5.3 | 8.3 46.9 315 12 6 9.7 5.3
14500 8.9 48.0 325 13 6 9.7 5.3 | 9.7 49.5 320 12 6 9.8 5.4
14000 10.3 50.5 325 12 6 9.7 5.3 | 11.2 52.2 320 12 6 9.8 5.4
13500 11.7 53.1 325 12 6 9.7 5.3 | 12.6 54.7 320 12 6 9.7 5.3
13000 13.2 55.8 325 12 6 9.7 5.3 | 14.1 57.4 320 12 6 9.7 5.3
12500 14.6 58.3 325 12 6 9.7 5.3 | 15.5 59.9 320 12 6 9.7 5.3
12000 16.1 61.0 325 12 6 9.6 5.3 | 17.0 62.6 320 12 6 9.7 5.3
11500 17.5 63.5 320 12 6 9.5 5.2 | 18.4 65.1 320 12 6 9.7 5.3
11000 18.9 66.0 320 12 6 9.1 5.0 | 19.8 67.6 325 12 6 9.2 5.1
10500 20.4 68.7 320 12 6 10.4 5.7 | 21.3 70.3 325 12 6 10.2 5.6
10250 21.1 70.0 320 11 6 9.8 5.4 | 22.0 71.6 325 13 6 9.9 5.4
10000 21.8 71.2 320 11 6 9.6 5.3 | 22.7 72.9 325 13 6 9.8 5.4
9750 22.5 72.5 320 11 6 9.7 5.3 | 23.5 74.3 325 13 6 9.8 5.4
9500 23.3 73.9 320 11 6 9.7 5.3 | 24.2 75.6 325 13 7 9.5 5.2
9250 24.0 75.2 320 11 6 9.6 5.3 | 24.9 76.8 325 13 7 9.3 5.1
9000 24.7 76.5 320 11 6 9.6 5.3 | 25.6 78.1 325 13 7 9.5 5.2
8750 25.4 77.7 320 11 5 9.2 5.0 | 26.3 79.3 325 13 7 9.1 5.0
8500 26.1 79.0 320 10 5 11.0 6.0 | 27.0 80.6 325 13 7 10.3 5.7
8250 27.0 80.6 315 10 5 11.3 6.2 | 27.8 82.0 325 13 7 10.6 5.8
8000 27.8 82.0 315 10 5 9.6 5.2 | 28.6 83.5 325 13 7 9.6 5.3
7750 29.2 84.6 315 10 5 9.1 5.0 | 30.0 86.0 325 13 7 9.4 5.2
7500 29.9 85.8 315 10 5 8.9 4.9 | 30.7 87.3 330 14 7 9.0 4.9
7250 30.6 87.1 315 9 5 10.6 5.8 | 31.4 88.5 330 13 7 9.9 5.5
7000 31.4 88.5 315 9 5 11.1 6.1 | 32.2 90.0 330 13 7 10.4 5.7
6750 32.2 90.0 315 9 5 10.6 5.8 | 32.9 91.2 330 13 7 10.3 5.6
6500 33.0 91.4 315 9 4 10.4 5.7 | 33.7 92.7 330 13 7 10.5 5.8
6250 33.9 93.0 315 8 4 16.1 8.9 | 34.6 94.3 330 13 7 13.3 7.3
6000 35.5 95.9 310 8 4 24.6 13.5 | 35.7 96.3 330 12 6 17.3 9.5
5750 37.0 98.6 310 7 4 9.9 5.5 | 36.9 98.4 330 11 6 10.4 5.7
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
0717 MDT Monday August 3 2026
This forecast is for Monday, August 3, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 85.4 F/29.6 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1361 ft/min (6.9 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 20867 ft MSL (14417 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 98.0 F/37.1 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 18535 ft MSL (12086 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Tuesday 08/04...... Excellent
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:14:28 / 20:06:41 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 52 min 13 sec (832 min 13 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:10:34 MDT... 71.58 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 08/03/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 17359 ft MSL (10909 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 17606 ft MSL (11156 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 19261 ft MSL (12812 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -2.8
K index......................... +22.5
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 -64.7 -84.5 015 13 6 3.4 1.8 76.9 170.4 24.0 M M
45000 -58.5 -73.3 360 15 8 5.5 3.0 64.0 147.1 17.4 M M
40000 -49.6 -57.3 360 17 9 6.4 3.5 54.5 130.1 12.2 M M
38000 -45.8 -50.4 360 16 8 6.4 3.5 51.5 124.7 10.4 M M
36000 -41.9 -43.4 355 16 8 7.7 4.2 49.1 120.5 8.9 M M
34000 -37.1 -34.8 360 15 8 8.0 4.4 47.4 117.3 7.9 M M
32000 -32.3 -26.1 005 14 7 8.1 4.4 46.2 115.2 7.2 M M
30000 -27.3 -17.1 360 12 6 8.3 4.6 44.9 112.8 6.4 M M
29000 -24.8 -12.6 360 10 5 8.3 4.6 44.4 112.0 6.1 M M
28000 -22.3 -8.1 355 9 5 8.0 4.4 43.9 111.1 5.8 M M
27000 -19.3 -2.7 350 6 3 8.0 4.4 43.0 109.4 5.1 M M
26000 -16.9 1.6 340 4 2 8.0 4.4 42.4 108.3 4.7 M M
25000 -14.6 5.7 320 3 1 7.1 3.9 41.8 107.2 4.2 M M
24000 -12.5 9.5 310 2 1 7.1 3.9 40.7 105.3 3.4 M M
23000 -10.3 13.5 300 2 1 7.1 3.9 39.8 103.6 2.6 M M
22000 -8.4 16.9 290 1 1 4.9 2.7 38.8 101.8 1.7 M M
21000 -6.9 19.6 005 1 1 5.1 2.8 37.0 98.6 0.2 M M
20000 -5.5 22.1 030 2 1 5.6 3.1 35.5 95.9 -1.3 1297 6.6
19500 -4.8 23.4 035 3 2 6.3 3.5 34.8 94.7 -2.0 1261 6.4
19000 -3.8 25.2 015 4 2 7.2 4.0 34.4 93.8 -2.6 1216 6.2
18500 -2.8 27.0 360 5 2 7.2 4.0 33.9 93.1 -3.0 1171 5.9
18000 -1.7 28.9 350 6 3 8.6 4.7 33.6 92.5 -3.4 1123 5.7
17500 -0.4 31.3 340 7 4 8.7 4.8 33.4 92.2 -3.6 1070 5.4
17000 0.8 33.4 330 9 4 9.0 4.9 33.3 91.9 -3.8 1017 5.2
16500 2.2 36.0 325 10 5 9.6 5.3 33.2 91.8 -3.9 960 4.9
16000 3.7 38.7 325 11 5 9.6 5.2 33.2 91.7 -3.9 903 4.6
15500 5.1 41.2 325 11 6 9.8 5.4 33.2 91.7 -4.0 845 4.3
15000 6.6 43.9 325 12 6 9.8 5.4 33.2 91.8 -4.0 786 4.0
14500 8.0 46.4 325 13 7 9.9 5.4 33.2 91.8 -4.0 727 3.7
14000 9.5 49.1 325 13 7 9.8 5.4 33.2 91.8 -4.0 668 3.4
13500 11.0 51.8 330 14 7 9.5 5.2 33.3 91.9 -4.0 609 3.1
13000 12.4 54.3 330 13 7 8.8 4.8 33.1 91.6 -4.1 553 2.8
12500 13.7 56.7 335 13 6 8.6 4.7 33.0 91.4 -4.2 499 2.5
12000 14.8 58.6 330 11 6 6.8 3.7 32.6 90.7 -4.6 451 2.3
11500 15.8 60.4 320 9 5 7.4 4.1 32.2 89.9 -5.1 406 2.1
11000 17.0 62.6 285 8 4 5.7 3.1 31.3 88.4 -6.1 346 1.8
10500 17.8 64.0 260 10 5 5.4 3.0 30.8 87.4 -6.8 309 1.6
10250 18.1 64.6 255 10 5 4.5 2.5 30.4 86.6 -7.3 292 1.5
10000 18.4 65.1 250 11 5 4.7 2.6 30.0 85.9 -7.7 276 1.4
9750 18.7 65.7 245 11 6 5.0 2.7 29.6 85.2 -8.2 260 1.3
9500 19.0 66.2 240 12 6 3.8 2.1 29.2 84.5 -8.6 243 1.2
9250 19.3 66.7 240 11 6 4.6 2.5 28.7 83.7 -9.1 228 1.2
9000 19.7 67.5 240 10 5 6.3 3.4 28.4 83.1 -9.4 208 1.1
8750 20.1 68.2 235 10 5 5.7 3.1 28.1 82.6 -9.8 187 1.0
8500 20.6 69.1 235 9 5 6.2 3.4 27.8 82.1 -10.1 167 0.8
8250 21.1 70.0 235 8 4 5.4 3.0 27.5 81.6 -10.3 144 0.7
8000 21.4 70.5 235 6 3 4.0 2.2 27.2 80.9 -10.7 126 0.6
7750 21.7 71.1 225 5 3 3.6 2.0 26.7 80.1 -11.1 109 0.6
7500 22.0 71.6 215 4 2 2.9 1.6 26.2 79.2 -11.6 94 0.5
7250 22.2 72.0 195 4 2 1.9 1.1 25.7 78.2 -12.2 81 0.4
7000 22.4 72.3 170 3 2 3.7 2.0 25.1 77.2 -12.8 68 0.3
6750 22.5 72.5 155 3 1 -2.5 -1.4 24.6 76.2 -13.4 55 0.3
6500 20.8 69.4 130 3 1 -57.7 -31.7 22.0 71.7 -15.9 102 0.5
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
08/03/2026 at 0900 MDT | 08/03/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +27.8 LI... -0.9 | CAPE... +275.5 LI... -1.3
CINH... -110.1 K Index... +20.6 | CINH... -16.9 K Index... +21.8
|
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 -64.8 -84.6 025 8 4 3.2 1.7 | -64.9 -84.8 010 7 3 3.2 1.8
45000 -58.4 -73.1 360 13 7 5.4 3.0 | -58.4 -73.1 350 14 7 5.4 2.9
40000 -49.7 -57.5 355 14 7 7.2 4.0 | -49.8 -57.6 345 15 8 7.1 3.9
38000 -45.4 -49.7 350 15 8 7.2 4.0 | -45.6 -50.1 340 15 8 7.1 3.9
36000 -41.1 -42.0 345 16 8 7.5 4.1 | -41.3 -42.3 335 15 8 7.8 4.3
34000 -36.5 -33.7 350 13 7 7.5 4.1 | -36.5 -33.7 330 11 6 7.9 4.3
32000 -32.0 -25.6 360 9 5 7.8 4.3 | -31.8 -25.2 315 7 4 8.0 4.4
30000 -27.1 -16.8 350 9 5 8.1 4.4 | -26.9 -16.4 320 4 2 8.2 4.5
29000 -24.7 -12.5 345 10 5 8.1 4.4 | -24.4 -11.9 325 2 1 8.2 4.5
28000 -21.7 -7.1 340 9 5 8.1 4.4 | -21.5 -6.7 315 1 1 7.4 4.0
27000 -19.2 -2.6 330 8 4 8.1 4.4 | -19.3 -2.7 285 2 1 7.3 4.0
26000 -16.8 1.8 320 7 4 8.1 4.4 | -17.1 1.2 275 3 2 7.4 4.0
25000 -14.4 6.1 310 6 3 7.2 3.9 | -14.9 5.2 270 5 2 6.5 3.6
24000 -12.3 9.9 290 4 2 7.2 4.0 | -13.0 8.6 275 7 3 6.6 3.6
23000 -10.1 13.8 255 3 2 7.3 4.0 | -11.0 12.2 275 8 4 6.6 3.6
22000 -8.1 17.4 225 3 2 3.7 2.0 | -9.1 15.6 275 10 5 5.6 3.1
21000 -7.0 19.4 220 2 1 4.1 2.2 | -7.5 18.5 280 9 5 5.9 3.2
20000 -5.9 21.4 215 1 1 4.7 2.6 | -5.8 21.6 285 9 5 6.2 3.4
19500 -5.4 22.3 210 1 0 6.2 3.4 | -5.0 23.0 285 9 5 7.0 3.8
19000 -4.3 24.3 320 1 0 7.8 4.3 | -3.9 25.0 290 8 4 7.7 4.2
18500 -3.2 26.2 340 2 1 7.8 4.3 | -2.8 27.0 295 8 4 7.7 4.2
18000 -2.0 28.4 340 4 2 9.3 5.1 | -1.6 29.1 305 8 4 9.1 5.0
17500 -0.6 30.9 340 5 3 9.3 5.1 | -0.3 31.5 310 8 4 9.1 5.0
17000 0.8 33.4 340 7 4 9.4 5.2 | 1.0 33.8 315 8 4 9.2 5.0
16500 2.2 36.0 340 8 4 9.5 5.2 | 2.4 36.3 320 9 5 9.3 5.1
16000 3.6 38.5 340 9 5 9.5 5.2 | 3.8 38.8 325 9 5 9.3 5.1
15500 5.1 41.2 340 10 5 9.5 5.2 | 5.2 41.4 330 10 5 9.6 5.2
15000 6.5 43.7 340 11 6 9.6 5.2 | 6.6 43.9 330 10 5 9.5 5.2
14500 7.9 46.2 340 11 6 9.3 5.1 | 8.1 46.6 335 11 6 9.4 5.1
14000 9.3 48.7 340 12 6 9.1 5.0 | 9.5 49.1 335 11 6 9.3 5.1
13500 10.7 51.3 340 13 7 8.9 4.9 | 10.8 51.4 340 12 6 9.3 5.1
13000 12.0 53.6 335 13 7 8.6 4.7 | 12.2 54.0 340 12 6 9.2 5.1
12500 13.2 55.8 335 13 6 8.4 4.6 | 13.6 56.5 340 13 7 9.0 4.9
12000 14.4 57.9 325 12 6 7.3 4.0 | 14.8 58.6 340 13 7 8.1 4.5
11500 15.4 59.7 320 12 6 7.5 4.1 | 16.0 60.8 340 13 7 9.0 4.9
11000 16.9 62.4 310 12 6 7.2 3.9 | 17.7 63.9 335 11 6 7.0 3.8
10500 17.8 64.0 305 12 6 5.2 2.8 | 18.8 65.8 335 10 5 8.8 4.8
10250 18.2 64.8 300 11 6 4.6 2.5 | 19.4 66.9 335 9 5 8.6 4.7
10000 18.5 65.3 295 11 6 4.8 2.6 | 20.0 68.0 330 9 4 8.7 4.8
9750 18.8 65.8 290 11 6 4.9 2.7 | 20.6 69.1 330 8 4 8.6 4.7
9500 19.0 66.2 285 11 5 3.2 1.7 | 21.3 70.3 325 8 4 8.9 4.9
9250 19.2 66.6 280 10 5 2.7 1.5 | 22.0 71.6 325 7 4 9.5 5.2
9000 19.4 66.9 275 9 5 3.8 2.1 | 22.7 72.9 320 7 4 9.7 5.3
8750 19.6 67.3 275 8 4 3.6 2.0 | 23.4 74.1 320 7 3 9.7 5.3
8500 19.8 67.6 270 7 4 3.7 2.1 | 24.1 75.4 315 6 3 9.7 5.3
8250 20.2 68.4 270 6 3 5.6 3.1 | 24.8 76.6 315 6 3 10.0 5.5
8000 20.7 69.3 270 6 3 8.4 4.6 | 25.6 78.1 310 6 3 10.3 5.6
7750 21.4 70.5 270 5 3 9.0 4.9 | 26.3 79.3 310 6 3 10.4 5.7
7500 22.0 71.6 270 5 2 8.9 4.9 | 27.1 80.8 305 5 3 10.5 5.7
7250 22.7 72.9 270 4 2 9.1 5.0 | 27.9 82.2 300 5 3 10.9 6.0
7000 23.4 74.1 270 4 2 9.1 5.0 | 28.7 83.7 300 5 3 9.3 5.1
6750 24.2 75.6 270 4 2 12.4 6.8 | 29.4 84.9 295 5 3 14.2 7.8
6500 25.7 78.3 265 3 2 33.1 18.2 | 31.8 89.2 290 5 2 62.6 34.3
08/03/2026 at 1500 MDT | 08/03/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +138.2 LI... -0.7 | CAPE... +26.9 LI... -0.6
CINH... -6.2 K Index... +25.5 | CINH... -28.5 K Index... +22.0
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -64.5 -84.1 335 5 2 3.0 1.6 | -65.0 -85.0 305 8 4 3.0 1.6
45000 -58.3 -72.9 345 11 6 5.4 3.0 | -58.4 -73.1 325 14 7 5.9 3.2
40000 -49.6 -57.3 335 13 7 6.9 3.8 | -49.2 -56.6 325 16 8 6.9 3.8
38000 -45.5 -49.9 335 16 8 6.9 3.8 | -45.1 -49.2 330 18 9 6.9 3.8
36000 -41.3 -42.3 335 19 10 7.6 4.2 | -40.9 -41.6 330 19 10 7.9 4.3
34000 -36.7 -34.1 325 15 8 7.7 4.2 | -36.1 -33.0 320 16 8 8.0 4.4
32000 -32.0 -25.6 305 12 6 7.9 4.3 | -31.3 -24.3 310 13 7 7.8 4.3
30000 -27.1 -16.8 300 9 5 8.2 4.5 | -26.7 -16.1 305 13 7 7.6 4.2
29000 -24.0 -11.2 295 7 4 8.2 4.5 | -23.9 -11.0 300 13 7 7.6 4.2
28000 -21.7 -7.1 290 6 3 7.4 4.0 | -21.5 -6.7 300 12 6 8.1 4.4
27000 -19.5 -3.1 275 6 3 7.4 4.0 | -19.1 -2.4 290 11 5 8.1 4.4
26000 -17.3 0.9 265 6 3 7.4 4.0 | -16.7 1.9 285 9 5 8.1 4.5
25000 -15.1 4.8 260 6 3 5.9 3.3 | -14.4 6.1 280 8 4 5.0 2.7
24000 -13.4 7.9 285 7 4 6.2 3.4 | -13.0 8.6 300 6 3 5.2 2.8
23000 -11.6 11.1 300 8 4 6.6 3.6 | -11.5 11.3 330 6 3 5.6 3.1
22000 -9.8 14.4 310 10 5 6.9 3.8 | -9.9 14.2 350 7 3 7.6 4.2
21000 -7.8 18.0 310 10 5 6.9 3.8 | -7.7 18.1 345 8 4 7.6 4.1
20000 -5.9 21.4 310 10 5 7.0 3.9 | -5.6 21.9 340 10 5 7.6 4.2
19500 -4.9 23.2 310 10 5 7.6 4.2 | -4.5 23.9 335 10 5 8.4 4.6
19000 -3.7 25.3 310 10 5 8.1 4.5 | -3.1 26.4 335 11 6 9.3 5.1
18500 -2.5 27.5 310 10 5 8.1 4.4 | -1.7 28.9 330 11 6 9.3 5.1
18000 -1.2 29.8 310 10 5 9.2 5.1 | -0.3 31.5 330 11 6 9.6 5.2
17500 0.2 32.4 310 10 5 9.2 5.0 | 1.1 34.0 325 11 6 9.6 5.2
17000 1.5 34.7 310 9 5 9.4 5.1 | 2.6 36.7 325 11 6 9.6 5.3
16500 3.0 37.4 310 9 5 9.7 5.3 | 4.0 39.2 325 11 6 9.7 5.3
16000 4.4 39.9 310 9 5 9.7 5.3 | 5.5 41.9 320 11 6 9.7 5.3
15500 5.9 42.6 305 9 5 9.7 5.3 | 6.9 44.4 320 11 6 9.6 5.3
15000 7.3 45.1 305 9 5 9.7 5.3 | 8.4 47.1 320 11 6 9.6 5.3
14500 8.8 47.8 305 9 5 9.7 5.3 | 9.8 49.6 315 11 6 9.7 5.3
14000 10.2 50.4 305 9 5 9.7 5.3 | 11.3 52.3 315 12 6 9.7 5.3
13500 11.7 53.1 305 9 5 9.7 5.3 | 12.7 54.9 315 12 6 9.8 5.4
13000 13.1 55.6 305 9 4 9.7 5.3 | 14.2 57.6 310 12 6 9.8 5.4
12500 14.6 58.3 305 8 4 9.7 5.3 | 15.6 60.1 310 12 6 9.8 5.4
12000 16.0 60.8 300 8 4 9.8 5.4 | 17.8 64.0 310 12 6 9.7 5.3
11500 18.2 64.8 300 8 4 9.6 5.3 | 19.3 66.7 310 12 6 9.6 5.3
11000 19.7 67.5 300 8 4 9.7 5.3 | 20.7 69.3 305 12 6 9.7 5.3
10500 21.1 70.0 295 7 4 9.8 5.4 | 22.2 72.0 305 12 6 9.5 5.2
10250 21.9 71.4 295 7 4 10.0 5.5 | 22.9 73.2 305 12 6 9.6 5.3
10000 22.6 72.7 295 7 4 10.0 5.5 | 23.6 74.5 305 12 6 9.7 5.3
9750 23.4 74.1 295 7 4 10.0 5.5 | 24.3 75.7 305 12 6 9.5 5.2
9500 24.1 75.4 295 7 3 10.2 5.6 | 25.0 77.0 305 13 6 10.2 5.6
9250 24.9 76.8 295 6 3 10.2 5.6 | 25.8 78.4 305 13 7 10.2 5.6
9000 25.6 78.1 295 6 3 9.9 5.4 | 26.6 79.9 300 13 7 9.5 5.2
8750 26.4 79.5 290 6 3 10.0 5.5 | 27.3 81.1 300 13 7 9.6 5.3
8500 27.1 80.8 290 6 3 9.9 5.4 | 28.0 82.4 300 13 7 10.0 5.5
8250 27.9 82.2 290 6 3 10.0 5.5 | 28.8 83.8 300 13 7 10.2 5.6
8000 28.6 83.5 290 6 3 10.3 5.7 | 29.5 85.1 300 13 7 9.9 5.4
7750 29.4 84.9 290 6 3 10.3 5.7 | 30.3 86.5 300 13 6 9.8 5.4
7500 30.2 86.4 290 5 3 10.2 5.6 | 31.0 87.8 300 12 6 10.2 5.6
7250 30.9 87.6 285 5 3 10.5 5.8 | 31.8 89.2 300 12 6 10.7 5.9
7000 31.7 89.1 285 5 3 9.1 5.0 | 32.5 90.5 300 12 6 9.0 4.9
6750 32.4 90.3 285 5 3 13.6 7.5 | 33.2 91.8 295 12 6 10.9 6.0
6500 34.7 94.5 280 4 2 59.0 32.4 | 34.8 94.6 295 10 5 40.2 22.1
________________________________________________________________________________
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
Follow us on X
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on YouTube
ABQ RSS Feed