Soaring Forecast for Moriarty NM
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
0725 MDT Wednesday July 22 2026
This forecast is for Wednesday, July 22, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 77.0 F/25.0 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1118 ft/min (5.7 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 16998 ft MSL (10672 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 89.0 F/32.1 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0945 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 14640 ft MSL (8314 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 07/23..... Excellent
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:06:30 / 20:14:30 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 8 min 0 sec (848 min 0 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:10:30 MDT... 74.99 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 07/22/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 16701 ft MSL (10375 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 13166 ft MSL (6840 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 15025 ft MSL (8699 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -3.1
K index......................... +27.9
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 -65.8 -86.4 160 18 9 3.0 1.6 74.8 166.6 25.7 M M
45000 -58.5 -73.3 170 21 11 7.3 4.0 63.4 146.1 20.3 M M
40000 -47.7 -53.9 180 20 10 7.2 3.9 58.0 136.4 18.0 M M
38000 -43.4 -46.1 175 19 10 7.2 3.9 55.7 132.2 16.8 M M
36000 -39.0 -38.2 175 18 9 8.1 4.4 53.9 129.0 15.9 M M
34000 -33.5 -28.3 180 19 10 8.2 4.5 52.2 125.9 15.1 M M
32000 -28.7 -19.7 185 19 10 7.1 3.9 51.1 123.9 14.6 M M
30000 -24.5 -12.1 180 16 8 7.1 3.9 48.8 119.8 13.2 M M
29000 -22.4 -8.3 180 15 8 7.1 3.9 47.9 118.1 12.6 M M
28000 -20.3 -4.5 175 14 7 7.4 4.1 46.9 116.5 12.0 M M
27000 -18.1 -0.6 170 13 7 7.4 4.1 46.0 114.7 11.3 M M
26000 -15.8 3.6 165 13 7 7.4 4.1 45.1 113.2 10.7 M M
25000 -13.7 7.3 165 12 6 6.1 3.4 44.3 111.8 10.1 M M
24000 -12.0 10.4 180 12 6 5.8 3.2 42.8 109.0 8.9 M M
23000 -10.4 13.3 195 13 7 5.9 3.2 41.4 106.5 7.8 M M
22000 -8.7 16.3 205 15 8 5.5 3.0 40.1 104.1 6.7 M M
21000 -7.1 19.2 195 16 8 5.4 3.0 38.4 101.2 5.4 M M
20000 -5.4 22.3 190 18 9 5.4 3.0 37.0 98.5 4.2 M M
19500 -4.6 23.7 185 19 10 5.4 3.0 36.2 97.2 3.6 M M
19000 -3.4 25.9 185 20 10 5.8 3.2 35.2 95.4 2.6 M M
18500 -2.6 27.3 180 20 10 5.8 3.2 34.5 94.2 2.0 M M
18000 -1.8 28.8 180 20 10 5.4 3.0 33.8 92.9 1.3 M M
17500 -1.1 30.0 180 20 10 5.5 3.0 33.1 91.6 0.6 M M
17000 -0.3 31.5 175 19 10 5.5 3.0 32.4 90.3 -0.1 912 4.6
16500 0.4 32.7 175 19 10 5.5 3.0 31.7 89.0 -0.8 874 4.4
16000 1.2 34.2 170 18 9 5.8 3.2 31.0 87.7 -1.5 837 4.3
15500 2.1 35.8 170 18 9 6.7 3.7 30.4 86.7 -2.1 796 4.0
15000 3.0 37.4 170 17 9 6.7 3.7 29.9 85.8 -2.7 753 3.8
14500 4.0 39.2 170 16 8 7.4 4.1 29.5 85.0 -3.2 709 3.6
14000 5.0 41.0 170 16 8 7.3 4.0 29.1 84.3 -3.6 663 3.4
13500 6.1 43.0 170 15 8 7.7 4.2 28.7 83.7 -4.0 616 3.1
13000 7.2 45.0 175 14 7 7.8 4.3 28.4 83.1 -4.4 568 2.9
12500 8.3 46.9 175 13 7 7.8 4.3 28.1 82.5 -4.8 521 2.6
12000 9.4 48.9 180 13 7 7.8 4.3 27.7 81.9 -5.2 473 2.4
11500 10.5 50.9 185 12 6 8.1 4.5 27.4 81.4 -5.6 426 2.2
11000 11.6 52.9 185 11 6 7.7 4.2 27.2 80.9 -5.9 377 1.9
10500 12.7 54.9 190 11 6 7.9 4.4 26.9 80.3 -6.3 329 1.7
10250 13.3 55.9 190 10 5 8.2 4.5 26.7 80.1 -6.4 304 1.5
10000 13.9 57.0 190 10 5 8.1 4.4 26.6 79.9 -6.6 279 1.4
9750 14.5 58.1 195 10 5 8.1 4.5 26.5 79.7 -6.7 253 1.3
9500 15.1 59.2 195 10 5 8.1 4.4 26.4 79.4 -6.9 228 1.2
9250 15.7 60.3 195 9 5 8.1 4.4 26.2 79.2 -7.0 203 1.0
9000 16.3 61.3 200 9 5 7.9 4.3 26.1 79.0 -7.2 178 0.9
8750 16.8 62.2 200 9 5 7.7 4.2 25.9 78.7 -7.4 153 0.8
8500 17.4 63.3 205 8 4 7.2 3.9 25.8 78.4 -7.6 129 0.7
8250 17.9 64.2 205 7 3 6.7 3.7 25.5 78.0 -7.8 108 0.5
8000 18.4 65.1 210 5 3 6.9 3.8 25.3 77.6 -8.1 86 0.4
7750 18.8 65.8 215 4 2 6.1 3.3 25.1 77.2 -8.4 64 0.3
7500 19.2 66.6 220 3 1 4.1 2.3 24.7 76.5 -8.8 46 0.2
7250 19.4 66.9 220 2 1 2.8 1.5 24.3 75.7 -9.3 32 0.2
7000 19.6 67.3 215 2 1 4.7 2.6 23.8 74.8 -9.8 18 0.1
6750 19.9 67.8 210 1 1 -0.6 -0.3 23.3 74.0 -10.3 3 0.0
6500 19.2 66.6 190 1 1 -15.4 -8.4 22.0 71.6 -11.7 15 0.1
6250 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
07/22/2026 at 0900 MDT | 07/22/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +278.9 LI... -1.5 | CAPE... +356.4 LI... -1.2
CINH... -26.4 K Index... +27.6 | CINH... -0.7 K Index... +30.4
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -65.4 -85.7 160 15 8 3.1 1.7 | -65.9 -86.6 155 16 8 3.4 1.9
45000 -58.4 -73.1 170 20 10 6.7 3.7 | -58.3 -72.9 170 19 10 7.2 4.0
40000 -48.1 -54.6 190 16 8 7.4 4.0 | -47.6 -53.7 185 15 8 6.8 3.7
38000 -43.1 -45.6 190 18 10 7.4 4.0 | -43.0 -45.4 195 18 9 6.8 3.7
36000 -38.5 -37.3 190 20 10 8.4 4.6 | -38.7 -37.7 200 21 11 8.7 4.7
34000 -33.5 -28.3 195 20 10 8.4 4.6 | -33.5 -28.3 200 20 11 8.6 4.7
32000 -28.5 -19.3 195 20 10 7.5 4.1 | -28.3 -18.9 195 20 10 7.5 4.1
30000 -24.0 -11.2 185 17 9 7.5 4.1 | -23.8 -10.8 190 19 10 7.5 4.1
29000 -21.8 -7.2 180 16 8 7.5 4.1 | -21.6 -6.9 190 19 10 7.5 4.1
28000 -19.8 -3.6 175 16 8 6.2 3.4 | -19.6 -3.3 185 18 9 5.7 3.1
27000 -17.9 -0.2 170 15 8 6.2 3.4 | -17.9 -0.2 180 17 9 5.8 3.2
26000 -16.1 3.0 165 14 7 6.3 3.4 | -16.2 2.8 175 16 8 5.9 3.2
25000 -14.2 6.4 160 14 7 6.6 3.6 | -14.5 5.9 170 15 8 6.5 3.6
24000 -12.3 9.9 165 13 7 6.6 3.6 | -12.5 9.5 175 15 8 6.6 3.6
23000 -10.3 13.5 170 13 7 6.7 3.7 | -10.5 13.1 175 14 7 6.6 3.6
22000 -8.4 16.9 175 13 6 6.1 3.3 | -8.5 16.7 175 14 7 6.6 3.6
21000 -6.7 19.9 175 15 7 5.9 3.3 | -6.6 20.1 180 15 7 6.6 3.6
20000 -4.5 23.9 180 17 9 6.0 3.3 | -4.1 24.6 185 16 8 6.7 3.7
19500 -3.7 25.3 180 18 9 4.5 2.4 | -3.2 26.2 190 16 8 5.5 3.0
19000 -3.1 26.4 175 19 10 4.2 2.3 | -2.5 27.5 190 17 9 5.4 2.9
18500 -2.6 27.3 175 19 10 4.3 2.4 | -1.8 28.8 190 17 9 5.4 3.0
18000 -1.9 28.6 175 19 10 5.3 2.9 | -1.0 30.2 190 17 9 5.2 2.8
17500 -1.2 29.8 175 19 10 5.2 2.9 | -0.3 31.5 185 18 9 5.4 2.9
17000 -0.4 31.3 175 18 10 5.5 3.0 | 0.3 32.5 185 18 9 3.2 1.7
16500 0.4 32.7 175 18 9 5.6 3.1 | 0.6 33.1 185 17 9 2.8 1.5
16000 1.1 34.0 175 17 9 5.8 3.2 | 0.9 33.6 185 17 9 3.9 2.1
15500 2.0 35.6 170 17 9 6.4 3.5 | 1.6 34.9 185 16 8 6.5 3.6
15000 2.9 37.2 165 16 8 6.4 3.5 | 2.5 36.5 180 15 8 6.5 3.5
14500 3.9 39.0 165 16 8 7.5 4.1 | 3.5 38.3 180 14 7 8.8 4.8
14000 5.0 41.0 160 16 8 7.3 4.0 | 4.7 40.5 180 14 7 8.6 4.7
13500 6.1 43.0 160 16 8 8.2 4.5 | 5.9 42.6 180 13 7 8.7 4.8
13000 7.3 45.1 160 16 8 8.3 4.6 | 7.2 45.0 180 13 7 8.7 4.8
12500 8.5 47.3 160 16 8 8.3 4.5 | 8.5 47.3 180 13 7 9.2 5.1
12000 9.6 49.3 160 14 7 8.2 4.5 | 9.9 49.8 175 13 7 9.3 5.1
11500 10.8 51.4 165 13 7 9.0 4.9 | 11.3 52.3 175 13 6 9.9 5.4
11000 11.9 53.4 170 11 6 6.9 3.8 | 12.8 55.0 175 12 6 9.4 5.2
10500 13.0 55.4 180 10 5 8.6 4.7 | 14.2 57.6 175 12 6 9.4 5.2
10250 13.6 56.5 185 9 5 9.0 4.9 | 14.9 58.8 175 12 6 9.5 5.2
10000 14.2 57.6 185 9 5 7.1 3.9 | 15.6 60.1 175 12 6 9.7 5.3
9750 14.7 58.5 190 9 5 7.2 3.9 | 16.3 61.3 175 12 6 9.6 5.3
9500 15.2 59.4 195 9 5 7.9 4.3 | 17.0 62.6 175 12 6 10.2 5.6
9250 15.8 60.4 200 9 5 8.7 4.8 | 17.8 64.0 170 12 6 10.6 5.8
9000 16.4 61.5 205 9 5 7.5 4.1 | 18.6 65.5 170 12 6 9.9 5.4
8750 16.9 62.4 205 8 4 6.7 3.7 | 19.3 66.7 170 11 6 9.5 5.2
8500 17.4 63.3 210 8 4 6.7 3.7 | 20.0 68.0 170 11 6 9.7 5.3
8250 17.9 64.2 210 7 4 6.6 3.6 | 20.7 69.3 170 11 6 9.7 5.3
8000 18.3 64.9 215 6 3 6.5 3.5 | 21.5 70.7 170 11 6 9.8 5.4
7750 18.8 65.8 220 5 2 7.3 4.0 | 22.2 72.0 170 11 6 10.3 5.7
7500 19.4 66.9 220 4 2 9.1 5.0 | 23.0 73.4 170 11 6 10.5 5.7
7250 20.1 68.2 220 4 2 9.8 5.4 | 23.8 74.8 165 10 5 11.0 6.0
7000 20.8 69.4 225 3 2 9.2 5.0 | 24.6 76.3 165 10 5 9.2 5.1
6750 21.5 70.7 225 3 1 11.5 6.3 | 25.3 77.5 165 10 5 14.4 7.9
6500 22.6 72.7 225 3 1 16.6 9.1 | 26.9 80.4 165 10 5 29.0 15.9
6250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
07/22/2026 at 1500 MDT | 07/22/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +331.0 LI... -1.2 | CAPE... +54.3 LI... -0.2
CINH... -3.2 K Index... +31.1 | CINH... -1.9 K Index... +31.9
|
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 -66.9 -88.4 175 15 8 4.0 2.2 | -67.2 -89.0 185 10 5 4.2 2.3
45000 -58.6 -73.5 190 19 10 7.5 4.1 | -58.9 -74.0 205 15 8 7.2 3.9
40000 -47.6 -53.7 195 14 7 7.1 3.9 | -47.9 -54.2 205 12 6 7.7 4.2
38000 -42.8 -45.0 200 15 8 7.1 3.9 | -42.6 -44.7 205 11 6 7.7 4.2
36000 -38.4 -37.1 205 16 8 8.3 4.6 | -37.9 -36.2 210 11 6 8.1 4.5
34000 -33.4 -28.1 200 16 8 8.3 4.6 | -33.1 -27.6 210 11 6 8.1 4.5
32000 -28.4 -19.1 200 16 8 7.5 4.1 | -28.2 -18.8 215 12 6 7.5 4.1
30000 -23.9 -11.0 205 16 8 7.5 4.1 | -23.7 -10.7 210 13 7 7.5 4.1
29000 -21.6 -6.9 205 15 8 7.5 4.1 | -21.5 -6.7 205 14 7 7.5 4.1
28000 -19.5 -3.1 200 16 8 6.7 3.7 | -19.4 -2.9 205 14 7 6.5 3.6
27000 -17.5 0.5 195 17 9 6.7 3.7 | -17.4 0.7 205 15 8 6.5 3.5
26000 -15.5 4.1 190 18 9 6.7 3.7 | -15.5 4.1 200 16 8 6.5 3.5
25000 -13.5 7.7 190 18 9 6.1 3.3 | -13.6 7.5 200 17 9 6.6 3.6
24000 -11.8 10.8 185 17 9 6.0 3.3 | -11.6 11.1 200 15 8 6.6 3.6
23000 -10.0 14.0 185 15 8 6.1 3.3 | -9.6 14.7 195 14 7 6.7 3.7
22000 -8.2 17.2 185 14 7 6.4 3.5 | -7.7 18.1 190 12 6 6.0 3.3
21000 -5.9 21.4 190 14 7 6.4 3.5 | -6.0 21.2 195 13 7 6.0 3.3
20000 -4.0 24.8 190 15 8 6.6 3.6 | -3.9 25.0 195 14 7 6.6 3.6
19500 -3.1 26.4 190 15 8 5.0 2.8 | -3.2 26.2 195 14 7 1.8 1.0
19000 -2.5 27.5 195 15 8 4.8 2.6 | -3.2 26.2 190 13 7 1.2 0.6
18500 -1.8 28.8 195 16 8 4.7 2.6 | -3.1 26.4 185 12 6 1.8 1.0
18000 -1.3 29.7 195 16 8 3.4 1.9 | -2.5 27.5 180 11 6 6.7 3.7
17500 -0.9 30.4 200 17 9 3.5 1.9 | -1.6 29.1 175 11 6 6.4 3.5
17000 -0.4 31.3 200 18 9 6.2 3.4 | -0.7 30.7 175 11 5 8.0 4.4
16500 0.6 33.1 205 18 9 7.0 3.8 | 0.5 32.9 180 11 6 8.4 4.6
16000 1.5 34.7 205 18 10 7.7 4.2 | 1.7 35.1 180 12 6 8.7 4.8
15500 2.8 37.0 205 18 10 9.2 5.0 | 3.0 37.4 185 13 7 9.3 5.1
15000 4.1 39.4 205 18 9 9.3 5.1 | 4.4 39.9 190 13 7 9.3 5.1
14500 5.3 41.5 205 18 9 7.6 4.2 | 5.8 42.4 190 14 7 9.7 5.3
14000 6.4 43.5 200 17 9 7.7 4.2 | 7.2 45.0 195 14 7 9.7 5.3
13500 7.6 45.7 200 16 8 8.4 4.6 | 8.7 47.7 195 15 8 9.7 5.3
13000 8.8 47.8 195 15 8 8.5 4.6 | 10.1 50.2 195 15 8 9.7 5.3
12500 10.1 50.2 190 14 7 9.1 5.0 | 11.6 52.9 200 16 8 9.6 5.3
12000 11.4 52.5 185 14 7 9.3 5.1 | 13.0 55.4 200 16 8 9.6 5.3
11500 12.8 55.0 185 13 7 9.8 5.4 | 14.4 57.9 200 17 9 9.4 5.1
11000 14.3 57.7 180 13 7 9.5 5.2 | 15.9 60.6 205 17 9 9.6 5.3
10500 15.7 60.3 180 12 6 9.0 4.9 | 17.3 63.1 205 18 9 9.2 5.0
10250 16.3 61.3 175 12 6 8.8 4.8 | 18.0 64.4 205 18 9 9.4 5.2
10000 17.0 62.6 175 12 6 9.4 5.2 | 18.7 65.7 205 18 10 10.3 5.6
9750 17.7 63.9 170 12 6 9.0 4.9 | 19.5 67.1 210 19 10 10.1 5.5
9500 18.4 65.1 170 11 6 10.1 5.6 | 20.2 68.4 210 19 10 10.0 5.5
9250 19.2 66.6 165 11 6 11.0 6.0 | 21.0 69.8 210 19 10 9.7 5.3
9000 19.9 67.8 160 11 6 8.9 4.9 | 21.7 71.1 210 20 10 9.4 5.2
8750 20.5 68.9 155 11 6 7.7 4.2 | 22.4 72.3 210 20 10 9.1 5.0
8500 21.1 70.0 155 11 6 9.2 5.1 | 23.1 73.6 210 20 10 9.5 5.2
8250 21.9 71.4 150 11 6 10.4 5.7 | 23.8 74.8 215 21 11 9.9 5.4
8000 22.6 72.7 145 11 6 9.7 5.3 | 24.5 76.1 215 21 11 9.7 5.3
7750 23.3 73.9 145 12 6 9.4 5.2 | 25.2 77.4 215 21 11 9.7 5.3
7500 24.0 75.2 140 12 6 9.9 5.4 | 26.0 78.8 215 21 11 10.1 5.5
7250 24.8 76.6 140 12 6 10.7 5.9 | 26.7 80.1 215 21 11 10.4 5.7
7000 25.6 78.1 135 12 6 9.3 5.1 | 27.5 81.5 215 21 11 10.0 5.5
6750 26.3 79.3 135 12 6 12.5 6.9 | 28.3 82.9 220 21 11 10.9 6.0
6500 27.6 81.7 130 12 6 23.8 13.0 | 29.2 84.6 220 19 10 14.5 8.0
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
0729 MDT Wednesday July 22 2026
This forecast is for Wednesday, July 22, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 79.3 F/26.3 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1039 ft/min (5.3 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 15565 ft MSL (9888 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 89.0 F/32.1 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0945 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 12779 ft MSL (7102 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 07/23..... Excellent
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:08:51 / 20:17:08 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 8 min 17 sec (848 min 17 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:13:00 MDT... 74.84 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 07/22/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 16707 ft MSL (11030 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 12432 ft MSL (6755 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 13886 ft MSL (8209 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -3.2
K index......................... +29.2
Height Temperature Wind Wind Spd Lapse Rate ConvectionT Thermal Lift Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft deg C deg F Index fpm m/s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -65.8 -86.4 165 20 10 2.4 1.3 77.1 170.7 26.9 M M
45000 -59.1 -74.4 175 24 12 7.2 3.9 64.8 148.6 21.0 M M
40000 -48.2 -54.8 185 21 11 7.7 4.2 59.5 139.1 18.8 M M
38000 -43.6 -46.5 180 18 9 7.7 4.2 57.6 135.6 18.0 M M
36000 -38.4 -37.1 180 15 8 8.1 4.4 56.0 132.7 17.3 M M
34000 -33.6 -28.5 180 16 8 8.1 4.4 54.4 129.9 16.6 M M
32000 -28.8 -19.8 180 16 8 7.5 4.1 53.3 127.9 16.1 M M
30000 -24.5 -12.1 175 16 8 7.3 4.0 51.2 124.1 14.9 M M
29000 -22.3 -8.1 175 16 8 7.4 4.0 50.3 122.6 14.3 M M
28000 -20.2 -4.4 175 15 8 7.0 3.9 49.4 121.0 13.7 M M
27000 -18.1 -0.6 175 14 7 7.1 3.9 48.3 119.0 13.0 M M
26000 -16.1 3.0 170 14 7 7.1 3.9 47.3 117.2 12.3 M M
25000 -14.0 6.8 170 13 7 6.3 3.4 46.4 115.6 11.6 M M
24000 -12.3 9.9 180 14 7 5.8 3.2 44.9 112.7 10.4 M M
23000 -10.2 13.6 190 15 8 5.8 3.2 43.1 109.5 9.0 M M
22000 -8.6 16.5 190 17 9 5.7 3.1 41.7 107.0 7.9 M M
21000 -6.9 19.6 185 18 9 5.7 3.1 40.2 104.4 6.7 M M
20000 -5.2 22.6 185 20 10 5.7 3.1 38.8 101.9 5.6 M M
19500 -4.4 24.1 180 21 11 5.5 3.0 38.2 100.7 5.0 M M
19000 -3.6 25.5 180 20 10 5.3 2.9 37.4 99.3 4.4 M M
18500 -2.8 27.0 180 19 10 5.3 2.9 36.6 97.9 3.7 M M
18000 -2.1 28.2 175 19 10 5.5 3.0 35.9 96.6 3.0 M M
17500 -1.3 29.7 175 18 9 5.5 3.0 35.2 95.3 2.4 M M
17000 -0.5 31.1 170 17 9 5.8 3.2 34.5 94.0 1.7 M M
16500 0.4 32.7 170 16 8 6.0 3.3 33.8 92.9 1.1 M M
16000 1.2 34.2 165 16 8 6.1 3.3 33.2 91.8 0.5 M M
15500 2.1 35.8 165 15 8 6.7 3.7 32.7 90.8 -0.1 834 4.2
15000 3.0 37.4 165 15 8 6.7 3.7 32.1 89.9 -0.6 791 4.0
14500 4.0 39.2 165 14 7 6.6 3.6 31.6 89.0 -1.1 749 3.8
14000 4.9 40.8 165 14 7 6.7 3.7 31.1 88.0 -1.7 707 3.6
13500 5.8 42.4 170 15 7 6.8 3.8 30.7 87.2 -2.2 664 3.4
13000 6.8 44.2 170 15 8 7.0 3.8 30.2 86.3 -2.7 620 3.2
12500 7.7 45.9 170 15 8 7.4 4.0 29.7 85.5 -3.2 577 2.9
12000 8.8 47.8 175 15 8 7.9 4.3 29.4 85.0 -3.6 529 2.7
11500 10.0 50.0 175 16 8 7.9 4.3 29.1 84.5 -3.9 480 2.4
11000 11.1 52.0 175 16 8 8.5 4.4 28.9 83.9 -4.3 431 2.2
10500 12.3 54.1 180 16 8 8.1 4.5 28.6 83.5 -4.6 382 1.9
10250 12.8 55.0 180 15 8 8.0 4.4 28.5 83.2 -4.7 357 1.8
10000 13.4 56.1 180 15 8 7.7 4.2 28.3 83.0 -4.9 333 1.7
9750 14.0 57.2 180 14 7 8.2 4.5 28.2 82.7 -5.1 308 1.6
9500 14.6 58.3 180 14 7 6.5 3.6 28.0 82.4 -5.2 284 1.4
9250 15.0 59.0 180 13 7 6.3 3.5 27.7 81.9 -5.6 264 1.3
9000 15.5 59.9 180 12 6 7.7 4.2 27.5 81.6 -5.8 240 1.2
8750 16.1 61.0 180 12 6 7.7 4.2 27.4 81.2 -6.0 216 1.1
8500 17.0 62.6 180 9 5 5.7 3.1 26.9 80.3 -6.5 174 0.9
8250 17.4 63.3 175 8 4 6.9 3.8 26.6 79.9 -6.8 153 0.8
8000 17.9 64.2 170 6 3 7.1 3.9 26.4 79.5 -7.1 132 0.7
7750 18.4 65.1 165 5 3 5.3 2.9 26.2 79.1 -7.3 110 0.6
7500 18.6 65.5 150 3 2 3.8 2.1 25.7 78.3 -7.8 95 0.5
7250 18.9 66.0 115 2 1 4.4 2.4 25.3 77.5 -8.3 80 0.4
7000 19.2 66.6 085 2 1 4.6 2.5 24.9 76.8 -8.8 64 0.3
6750 19.5 67.1 065 2 1 5.6 3.1 24.6 76.2 -9.2 47 0.2
6500 19.9 67.8 055 2 1 5.8 3.2 24.3 75.7 -9.5 26 0.1
6250 20.4 68.7 040 2 1 6.7 3.6 24.0 75.2 -9.8 6 0.0
6000 20.8 69.4 040 2 1 4.0 2.2 23.7 74.7 -10.2 M M
5750 20.2 68.4 035 1 0 -25.8 -14.2 22.4 72.4 -11.5 M M
5500 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
07/22/2026 at 0900 MDT | 07/22/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +393.5 LI... -1.9 | CAPE... +260.1 LI... -1.2
CINH... -32.2 K Index... +29.5 | CINH... -2.9 K Index... +29.6
|
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 -65.4 -85.7 170 17 9 3.1 1.7 | -65.9 -86.6 165 15 8 3.6 2.0
45000 -58.6 -73.5 175 22 12 6.6 3.6 | -58.3 -72.9 180 19 10 6.9 3.8
40000 -47.7 -53.9 185 18 9 7.7 4.2 | -47.3 -53.1 195 15 8 7.4 4.0
38000 -43.1 -45.6 190 18 10 7.7 4.2 | -42.9 -45.2 200 16 8 7.4 4.0
36000 -38.4 -37.1 195 19 10 8.3 4.5 | -38.4 -37.1 200 17 9 8.2 4.5
34000 -33.4 -28.1 190 19 10 8.3 4.5 | -33.5 -28.3 200 18 9 8.2 4.5
32000 -28.5 -19.3 190 19 10 7.5 4.1 | -28.6 -19.5 195 19 10 7.7 4.2
30000 -24.2 -11.6 185 17 9 7.4 4.0 | -24.1 -11.4 195 17 9 7.6 4.2
29000 -22.0 -7.6 185 17 9 7.4 4.1 | -21.9 -7.4 190 16 8 7.6 4.1
28000 -19.9 -3.8 180 16 8 6.7 3.7 | -19.8 -3.6 185 16 8 5.9 3.2
27000 -17.9 -0.2 170 17 9 6.7 3.7 | -18.0 -0.4 180 17 9 6.0 3.3
26000 -15.9 3.4 160 17 9 6.8 3.7 | -16.3 2.7 175 19 10 6.0 3.3
25000 -13.9 7.0 155 19 10 6.2 3.4 | -14.5 5.9 170 20 10 6.5 3.6
24000 -11.8 10.8 165 17 9 5.8 3.2 | -12.0 10.4 170 19 10 6.8 3.8
23000 -10.1 13.8 170 16 8 5.9 3.2 | -10.0 14.0 170 18 9 6.9 3.8
22000 -8.3 17.1 180 17 8 6.1 3.4 | -8.1 17.4 175 17 9 6.2 3.4
21000 -6.5 20.3 180 18 9 6.1 3.3 | -6.3 20.7 180 17 9 6.2 3.4
20000 -4.8 23.4 180 19 10 6.1 3.3 | -4.4 24.1 185 16 8 6.3 3.4
19500 -3.9 25.0 185 19 10 4.8 2.6 | -3.5 25.7 185 16 8 5.8 3.2
19000 -3.4 25.9 180 19 10 3.9 2.2 | -2.7 27.1 185 17 9 5.6 3.1
18500 -2.9 26.8 180 20 10 3.9 2.1 | -1.9 28.6 185 17 9 5.6 3.1
18000 -2.3 27.9 175 20 10 4.7 2.6 | -1.1 30.0 180 17 9 5.2 2.8
17500 -1.7 28.9 170 20 10 4.7 2.6 | -0.4 31.3 180 18 9 5.2 2.9
17000 -1.1 30.0 170 21 11 5.6 3.1 | 0.3 32.5 175 18 9 5.0 2.8
16500 -0.2 31.6 170 21 11 6.3 3.5 | 1.0 33.8 175 19 10 4.9 2.7
16000 0.7 33.3 165 21 11 6.4 3.5 | 1.6 34.9 170 19 10 5.1 2.8
15500 1.7 35.1 165 21 11 7.1 3.9 | 2.4 36.3 170 19 10 6.2 3.4
15000 2.7 36.9 165 21 11 7.1 3.9 | 3.2 37.8 165 20 10 6.1 3.3
14500 3.8 38.8 165 21 11 7.3 4.0 | 4.1 39.4 165 20 10 7.0 3.8
14000 4.8 40.6 165 20 10 7.3 4.0 | 5.1 41.2 165 19 10 7.0 3.8
13500 5.9 42.6 160 20 10 7.3 4.0 | 6.1 43.0 160 19 10 7.5 4.1
13000 7.0 44.6 165 19 10 7.3 4.0 | 7.2 45.0 160 18 9 7.8 4.3
12500 8.0 46.4 165 19 10 7.4 4.0 | 8.3 46.9 160 18 9 7.9 4.3
12000 9.1 48.4 165 18 9 7.5 4.1 | 9.5 49.1 160 17 9 8.0 4.4
11500 10.2 50.4 170 18 9 7.6 4.2 | 10.6 51.1 160 16 8 8.1 4.5
11000 11.2 52.2 170 17 9 7.8 4.3 | 11.8 53.2 165 15 8 8.3 4.5
10500 12.3 54.1 175 16 8 7.7 4.2 | 13.0 55.4 165 14 7 9.5 5.2
10250 12.9 55.2 175 15 8 8.2 4.5 | 13.8 56.8 165 13 7 9.7 5.3
10000 13.5 56.3 175 14 7 8.3 4.5 | 14.5 58.1 170 13 7 9.5 5.2
9750 14.1 57.4 175 14 7 8.5 4.7 | 15.2 59.4 170 13 7 9.8 5.4
9500 14.6 58.3 175 13 7 7.6 4.2 | 15.9 60.6 170 13 7 8.8 4.8
9250 15.1 59.2 175 12 6 7.4 4.1 | 16.5 61.7 170 12 6 9.0 4.9
9000 16.2 61.2 170 10 5 8.4 4.6 | 17.2 63.0 175 12 6 9.9 5.4
8750 16.8 62.2 170 9 5 5.7 3.1 | 18.7 65.7 175 12 6 8.4 4.6
8500 17.1 62.8 165 8 4 4.8 2.7 | 19.2 66.6 180 12 6 8.8 4.8
8250 17.6 63.7 160 7 4 7.2 4.0 | 20.0 68.0 180 11 6 10.8 5.9
8000 18.0 64.4 155 6 3 7.0 3.8 | 20.8 69.4 180 11 6 10.3 5.7
7750 18.5 65.3 150 5 3 5.4 3.0 | 21.5 70.7 185 11 6 9.6 5.2
7500 18.8 65.8 145 4 2 5.1 2.8 | 22.2 72.0 185 11 6 9.3 5.1
7250 19.2 66.6 135 3 1 8.5 4.7 | 22.9 73.2 190 11 5 10.7 5.9
7000 19.9 67.8 130 2 1 9.8 5.4 | 23.7 74.7 190 10 5 10.9 6.0
6750 20.6 69.1 120 2 1 9.3 5.1 | 24.5 76.1 195 10 5 10.2 5.6
6500 21.3 70.3 120 2 1 9.5 5.2 | 25.3 77.5 195 10 5 10.3 5.7
6250 22.0 71.6 115 1 1 9.1 5.0 | 26.0 78.8 195 10 5 9.5 5.2
6000 22.7 72.9 110 1 1 11.2 6.1 | 26.8 80.2 200 9 5 15.2 8.3
5750 24.0 75.2 110 1 0 28.9 15.9 | 29.3 84.7 205 9 4 61.3 33.7
5500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
07/22/2026 at 1500 MDT | 07/22/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +129.2 LI... -0.5 | CAPE... +383.8 LI... -1.3
CINH... -1.1 K Index... +33.2 | CINH... -6.1 K Index... +33.3
|
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 -66.8 -88.2 170 16 8 3.7 2.0 | -67.0 -88.6 180 11 5 4.1 2.2
45000 -58.9 -74.0 190 20 10 7.3 4.0 | -58.8 -73.8 205 16 8 7.3 4.0
40000 -47.3 -53.1 200 13 7 7.5 4.1 | -47.3 -53.1 205 10 5 7.5 4.1
38000 -42.8 -45.0 205 12 6 7.5 4.1 | -42.8 -45.0 220 8 4 7.5 4.1
36000 -38.2 -36.8 210 12 6 8.1 4.5 | -38.2 -36.8 235 7 4 8.2 4.5
34000 -33.4 -28.1 205 14 7 8.1 4.4 | -33.3 -27.9 220 11 5 8.2 4.5
32000 -28.5 -19.3 200 16 8 7.8 4.3 | -28.4 -19.1 215 14 7 7.6 4.2
30000 -23.9 -11.0 195 15 8 7.8 4.3 | -23.9 -11.0 210 14 7 7.5 4.1
29000 -21.5 -6.7 195 15 8 7.8 4.3 | -21.7 -7.1 210 14 7 7.5 4.1
28000 -19.4 -2.9 195 15 8 5.9 3.3 | -19.5 -3.1 205 14 7 6.7 3.7
27000 -17.6 0.3 195 17 9 6.0 3.3 | -17.6 0.3 210 13 7 6.8 3.7
26000 -15.9 3.4 195 18 9 6.0 3.3 | -15.6 3.9 210 13 7 6.9 3.8
25000 -14.1 6.6 200 19 10 6.5 3.6 | -13.6 7.5 210 13 7 6.9 3.8
24000 -11.6 11.1 195 19 10 6.7 3.7 | -11.0 12.2 205 15 8 6.8 3.7
23000 -9.7 14.5 190 18 10 6.8 3.7 | -9.2 15.4 200 16 8 6.8 3.7
22000 -7.8 18.0 190 18 9 6.3 3.5 | -7.0 19.4 195 16 8 5.7 3.1
21000 -5.9 21.4 185 18 9 6.4 3.5 | -5.4 22.3 190 15 8 6.0 3.3
20000 -4.1 24.6 185 18 9 6.4 3.5 | -3.7 25.3 185 14 7 6.1 3.3
19500 -3.2 26.2 185 18 9 4.8 2.6 | -2.9 26.8 185 14 7 4.6 2.5
19000 -2.6 27.3 185 18 9 4.2 2.3 | -2.4 27.7 185 13 7 3.8 2.1
18500 -2.1 28.2 180 18 9 4.3 2.4 | -2.0 28.4 185 13 6 3.8 2.1
18000 -1.7 28.9 180 18 9 2.2 1.2 | -1.5 29.3 185 12 6 3.8 2.1
17500 -1.4 29.5 175 18 9 2.6 1.4 | -1.0 30.2 185 12 6 3.9 2.2
17000 -1.1 30.0 170 17 9 5.6 3.1 | -0.5 31.1 185 12 6 5.4 3.0
16500 -0.1 31.8 170 17 9 7.4 4.1 | 0.5 32.9 175 12 6 6.7 3.7
16000 1.0 33.8 165 17 9 7.7 4.2 | 1.5 34.7 170 13 7 6.8 3.8
15500 2.1 35.8 165 17 9 8.4 4.6 | 2.6 36.7 170 14 7 8.5 4.6
15000 3.3 37.9 165 17 9 8.3 4.5 | 3.8 38.8 170 14 7 8.4 4.6
14500 4.6 40.3 165 17 9 9.5 5.2 | 4.9 40.8 170 14 7 8.3 4.5
14000 6.0 42.8 170 16 8 9.4 5.2 | 6.1 43.0 175 15 7 8.3 4.5
13500 7.4 45.3 170 16 8 9.4 5.2 | 7.3 45.1 180 15 8 8.8 4.8
13000 8.8 47.8 170 16 8 9.4 5.2 | 8.6 47.5 180 15 8 9.1 5.0
12500 10.2 50.4 170 16 8 9.4 5.2 | 9.9 49.8 185 16 8 9.2 5.1
12000 11.6 52.9 170 16 8 9.4 5.2 | 11.3 52.3 190 16 8 9.4 5.2
11500 13.0 55.4 175 16 8 9.4 5.1 | 12.7 54.9 195 17 9 9.4 5.2
11000 14.4 57.9 175 16 8 9.2 5.1 | 14.1 57.4 195 17 9 9.3 5.1
10500 15.8 60.4 175 16 8 9.8 5.4 | 15.5 59.9 200 18 9 9.4 5.2
10250 16.5 61.7 180 16 8 9.3 5.1 | 16.2 61.2 200 18 9 9.2 5.1
10000 17.2 63.0 180 16 8 9.3 5.1 | 16.9 62.4 200 18 9 9.2 5.0
9750 17.9 64.2 180 16 8 9.1 5.0 | 17.5 63.5 200 18 9 9.1 5.0
9500 18.6 65.5 180 16 8 10.0 5.5 | 18.2 64.8 205 19 10 9.4 5.2
9250 19.4 66.9 185 16 8 10.2 5.6 | 19.6 67.3 205 19 10 9.0 4.9
9000 20.1 68.2 185 16 8 9.4 5.2 | 20.3 68.5 210 19 10 9.4 5.2
8750 20.8 69.4 185 16 8 9.9 5.4 | 21.0 69.8 210 20 10 8.1 4.5
8500 22.2 72.0 190 16 8 9.2 5.1 | 21.5 70.7 210 20 10 8.7 4.8
8250 22.9 73.2 190 16 8 10.6 5.8 | 22.3 72.1 215 20 10 10.2 5.6
8000 23.7 74.7 190 16 8 10.4 5.7 | 23.0 73.4 215 20 10 10.1 5.5
7750 24.5 76.1 195 16 8 9.8 5.4 | 23.7 74.7 215 21 11 9.0 4.9
7500 25.2 77.4 195 16 8 9.5 5.2 | 24.4 75.9 215 21 11 8.4 4.6
7250 25.9 78.6 195 16 8 10.4 5.7 | 25.0 77.0 220 21 11 9.9 5.4
7000 26.7 80.1 195 16 8 10.5 5.8 | 25.8 78.4 220 21 11 10.2 5.6
6750 27.5 81.5 200 15 8 10.3 5.6 | 26.5 79.7 220 21 11 9.8 5.4
6500 28.2 82.8 200 15 8 10.6 5.8 | 27.3 81.1 220 21 11 9.7 5.3
6250 29.0 84.2 200 15 8 9.5 5.2 | 28.0 82.4 225 21 11 9.1 5.0
6000 29.8 85.6 200 15 7 15.2 8.4 | 28.7 83.7 225 20 10 11.5 6.3
5750 32.3 90.1 205 13 7 63.3 34.7 | 30.2 86.4 225 17 9 36.6 20.1
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
0729 MDT Wednesday July 22 2026
This forecast is for Wednesday, July 22, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 77.0 F/25.0 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 913 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 17033 ft MSL (10585 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 89.0 F/32.1 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0945 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ None
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 14809 ft MSL (8361 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Thursday 07/23..... Excellent
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:05:24 / 20:16:23 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 10 min 59 sec (850 min 59 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:10:53 MDT... 74.36 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 07/22/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 16862 ft MSL (10414 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 13165 ft MSL (6717 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 15092 ft MSL (8644 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -3.6
K index......................... +22.8
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 -65.7 -86.3 165 17 8 2.7 1.5 74.7 166.4 25.7 M M
45000 -58.6 -73.5 175 21 11 7.3 4.0 63.0 145.4 20.0 M M
40000 -47.7 -53.9 185 22 11 7.1 3.9 57.8 136.0 17.8 M M
38000 -42.9 -45.2 180 20 10 7.1 3.9 55.1 131.2 16.4 M M
36000 -38.6 -37.5 180 19 10 8.0 4.4 53.3 127.9 15.5 M M
34000 -33.9 -29.0 185 19 10 8.0 4.4 51.6 124.9 14.7 M M
32000 -29.1 -20.4 185 19 10 7.4 4.1 50.4 122.8 14.1 M M
30000 -24.8 -12.6 185 16 8 7.3 4.0 48.3 118.9 12.8 M M
29000 -22.7 -8.9 185 15 8 7.3 4.0 47.4 117.3 12.2 M M
28000 -20.5 -4.9 185 14 7 7.3 4.0 46.5 115.7 11.6 M M
27000 -18.4 -1.1 180 13 7 7.3 4.0 45.5 113.9 10.9 M M
26000 -16.2 2.8 175 13 6 7.3 4.0 44.6 112.3 10.3 M M
25000 -14.1 6.6 170 12 6 6.6 3.6 43.8 110.9 9.7 M M
24000 -11.9 10.6 185 12 6 6.0 3.3 42.0 107.6 8.3 M M
23000 -10.1 13.8 195 13 7 6.1 3.3 40.7 105.3 7.3 M M
22000 -8.3 17.1 200 15 8 5.6 3.1 39.4 103.0 6.2 M M
21000 -6.6 20.1 195 17 9 5.7 3.1 37.9 100.3 5.0 M M
20000 -4.9 23.2 195 19 10 5.7 3.1 36.6 97.8 3.9 M M
19500 -4.1 24.6 195 20 10 5.5 3.0 35.9 96.7 3.4 M M
19000 -3.3 26.1 190 20 10 5.4 2.9 35.2 95.3 2.7 M M
18500 -2.5 27.5 190 20 10 5.4 3.0 34.4 94.0 2.1 M M
18000 -1.7 28.9 185 20 10 5.1 2.8 33.7 92.6 1.4 M M
17500 -1.0 30.2 180 20 10 5.2 2.8 32.9 91.2 0.7 M M
17000 -0.2 31.6 180 19 10 5.3 2.9 32.1 89.8 -0.0 912 4.6
16500 0.5 32.9 175 19 10 5.6 3.1 31.4 88.5 -0.8 875 4.4
16000 1.2 34.2 170 18 9 5.7 3.1 30.7 87.3 -1.5 838 4.3
15500 2.1 35.8 170 18 9 6.7 3.7 30.2 86.3 -2.1 798 4.1
15000 3.0 37.4 165 17 9 6.7 3.7 29.6 85.4 -2.7 757 3.8
14500 3.9 39.0 165 17 9 7.5 4.1 29.2 84.6 -3.3 714 3.6
14000 5.0 41.0 165 16 8 7.6 4.2 28.8 83.9 -3.7 668 3.4
13500 6.0 42.8 165 16 8 7.9 4.3 28.5 83.3 -4.1 621 3.2
13000 7.1 44.8 165 15 8 8.0 4.4 28.2 82.8 -4.5 573 2.9
12500 8.3 46.9 170 15 8 7.9 4.3 28.0 82.3 -4.8 524 2.7
12000 9.4 48.9 175 14 7 7.7 4.2 27.6 81.7 -5.2 477 2.4
11500 10.4 50.7 180 13 7 8.5 4.7 27.3 81.2 -5.6 429 2.2
11000 11.6 52.9 185 13 6 7.7 4.2 27.1 80.8 -5.9 379 1.9
10500 13.3 55.9 185 10 5 7.7 4.2 26.7 80.0 -6.4 307 1.6
10250 13.9 57.0 185 9 5 7.8 4.3 26.5 79.7 -6.6 283 1.4
10000 14.4 57.9 185 8 4 7.9 4.3 26.4 79.5 -6.8 258 1.3
9750 15.0 59.0 185 8 4 7.7 4.2 26.2 79.2 -7.0 234 1.2
9500 15.5 59.9 185 6 3 7.2 3.9 26.0 78.9 -7.2 211 1.1
9250 16.0 60.8 180 5 3 6.7 3.7 25.8 78.5 -7.5 189 1.0
9000 16.5 61.7 175 4 2 6.8 3.7 25.6 78.1 -7.7 168 0.9
8750 16.9 62.4 165 4 2 6.0 3.3 25.4 77.6 -8.0 147 0.7
8500 17.3 63.1 155 3 2 4.5 2.5 25.0 77.0 -8.4 129 0.7
8250 17.6 63.7 140 3 1 4.6 2.5 24.6 76.3 -8.9 113 0.6
8000 17.9 64.2 120 2 1 5.3 2.9 24.2 75.6 -9.3 95 0.5
7750 18.3 64.9 095 2 1 4.8 2.6 23.9 75.0 -9.7 77 0.4
7500 18.6 65.5 085 2 1 4.0 2.2 23.5 74.3 -10.1 61 0.3
7250 18.9 66.0 070 2 1 4.5 2.5 23.1 73.5 -10.6 44 0.2
7000 19.2 66.6 055 2 1 3.5 1.9 22.7 72.8 -11.0 28 0.1
6750 19.2 66.6 040 2 1 -2.2 -1.2 22.0 71.6 -11.7 19 0.1
6500 18.6 65.5 030 2 1 -13.2 -7.3 20.7 69.3 -13.1 30 0.2
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
07/22/2026 at 0900 MDT | 07/22/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... +343.0 LI... -1.6 | CAPE... +268.1 LI... -1.0
CINH... -22.0 K Index... +28.6 | CINH... -0.7 K Index... +28.4
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -65.5 -85.9 165 15 8 3.3 1.8 | -65.9 -86.6 165 16 8 3.4 1.9
45000 -58.3 -72.9 175 21 11 6.8 3.7 | -58.5 -73.3 180 21 11 7.0 3.8
40000 -47.4 -53.3 195 19 10 7.5 4.1 | -47.4 -53.3 195 14 7 7.3 4.0
38000 -42.9 -45.2 200 19 10 7.5 4.1 | -43.0 -45.4 200 16 8 7.3 4.0
36000 -38.4 -37.1 200 20 10 8.3 4.6 | -38.5 -37.3 205 17 9 8.2 4.5
34000 -33.4 -28.1 195 20 10 8.3 4.6 | -33.6 -28.5 205 19 10 8.2 4.5
32000 -28.5 -19.3 195 19 10 7.2 4.0 | -28.7 -19.7 200 20 10 7.8 4.3
30000 -24.4 -11.9 190 18 9 6.9 3.8 | -24.1 -11.4 200 18 9 7.7 4.3
29000 -22.4 -8.3 185 17 9 6.9 3.8 | -21.8 -7.2 200 18 9 7.7 4.2
28000 -20.4 -4.7 180 16 8 6.3 3.4 | -19.7 -3.5 195 17 9 5.8 3.2
27000 -18.5 -1.3 175 16 8 6.3 3.5 | -18.0 -0.4 185 17 9 5.9 3.2
26000 -16.2 2.8 165 15 8 6.4 3.5 | -15.8 3.6 175 17 9 5.9 3.2
25000 -14.3 6.3 160 14 7 6.6 3.6 | -14.1 6.6 175 17 9 6.2 3.4
24000 -12.4 9.7 165 12 6 6.6 3.6 | -12.3 9.9 175 16 8 6.2 3.4
23000 -10.5 13.1 170 11 6 6.7 3.7 | -10.5 13.1 175 14 7 6.3 3.5
22000 -8.6 16.5 175 10 5 6.6 3.6 | -8.6 16.5 180 13 7 6.9 3.8
21000 -6.6 20.1 180 12 6 6.6 3.6 | -6.5 20.3 185 14 7 6.8 3.7
20000 -4.6 23.7 185 14 7 6.6 3.6 | -4.5 23.9 190 14 7 6.8 3.7
19500 -3.6 25.5 185 15 8 5.9 3.2 | -3.5 25.7 190 14 7 6.0 3.3
19000 -2.8 27.0 190 15 8 5.4 2.9 | -2.7 27.1 185 15 8 5.5 3.0
18500 -2.1 28.2 190 16 8 5.4 3.0 | -2.0 28.4 185 15 8 5.5 3.0
18000 -1.4 29.5 190 17 9 4.7 2.6 | -1.3 29.7 185 16 8 5.0 2.8
17500 -0.7 30.7 190 17 9 4.8 2.6 | -0.6 30.9 180 16 8 5.1 2.8
17000 -0.1 31.8 195 17 9 4.7 2.6 | 0.1 32.2 180 16 8 4.8 2.6
16500 0.5 32.9 190 18 9 4.6 2.5 | 0.7 33.3 180 16 8 4.5 2.4
16000 1.1 34.0 185 18 9 4.6 2.5 | 1.3 34.3 180 16 8 4.5 2.5
15500 1.9 35.4 185 18 9 6.0 3.3 | 1.9 35.4 180 16 8 4.9 2.7
15000 2.7 36.9 180 18 9 5.8 3.2 | 2.5 36.5 175 15 8 4.7 2.6
14500 3.6 38.5 175 18 9 7.3 4.0 | 3.4 38.1 175 14 7 8.3 4.6
14000 4.7 40.5 175 17 9 7.5 4.1 | 4.6 40.3 175 14 7 8.6 4.7
13500 5.7 42.3 170 17 9 7.7 4.2 | 5.8 42.4 170 13 7 8.9 4.9
13000 6.8 44.2 175 16 8 7.8 4.3 | 7.1 44.8 170 13 7 9.0 5.0
12500 8.0 46.4 175 15 8 7.8 4.3 | 8.4 47.1 170 13 7 9.2 5.1
12000 9.0 48.2 175 14 7 7.8 4.3 | 9.8 49.6 170 12 6 9.4 5.2
11500 10.1 50.2 180 12 6 7.9 4.3 | 11.2 52.2 170 12 6 9.2 5.1
11000 11.9 53.4 185 10 5 7.9 4.4 | 13.3 55.9 170 12 6 9.2 5.0
10500 13.0 55.4 185 9 5 8.3 4.6 | 14.7 58.5 170 11 6 10.1 5.5
10250 13.6 56.5 190 9 4 7.9 4.3 | 15.4 59.7 170 11 6 9.4 5.1
10000 14.2 57.6 190 8 4 7.9 4.3 | 16.1 61.0 170 11 6 9.5 5.2
9750 14.8 58.6 190 8 4 8.0 4.4 | 16.8 62.2 170 11 6 9.8 5.4
9500 15.4 59.7 190 7 4 8.1 4.5 | 17.6 63.7 170 11 6 10.4 5.7
9250 15.9 60.6 185 6 3 7.8 4.3 | 18.3 64.9 170 11 5 9.9 5.4
9000 16.5 61.7 185 6 3 7.9 4.3 | 19.0 66.2 175 10 5 9.3 5.1
8750 17.0 62.6 185 5 3 7.0 3.8 | 19.8 67.6 175 10 5 9.7 5.3
8500 17.4 63.3 180 4 2 5.3 2.9 | 20.5 68.9 175 10 5 10.0 5.5
8250 17.8 64.0 175 4 2 6.4 3.5 | 21.2 70.2 175 10 5 10.1 5.6
8000 18.3 64.9 170 3 2 8.5 4.7 | 22.0 71.6 175 10 5 10.3 5.6
7750 19.0 66.2 170 3 1 9.0 4.9 | 22.8 73.0 180 9 5 10.4 5.7
7500 19.6 67.3 170 2 1 8.9 4.9 | 23.6 74.5 180 9 5 10.7 5.9
7250 20.3 68.5 175 2 1 8.6 4.7 | 24.3 75.7 180 9 5 10.2 5.6
7000 21.0 69.8 175 2 1 10.7 5.9 | 25.1 77.2 180 9 4 12.1 6.6
6750 21.9 71.4 180 2 1 16.1 8.8 | 26.3 79.3 180 8 4 21.4 11.7
6500 23.1 73.6 190 1 1 15.0 8.2 | 28.4 83.1 185 7 4 36.9 20.3
07/22/2026 at 1500 MDT | 07/22/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +426.8 LI... -1.4 | CAPE... +136.2 LI... -1.1
CINH... -5.8 K Index... +31.3 | CINH... -4.1 K Index... +33.0
|
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 -66.9 -88.4 180 17 9 4.0 2.2 | -67.0 -88.6 200 11 6 4.4 2.4
45000 -58.8 -73.8 195 21 11 7.3 4.0 | -58.6 -73.5 215 15 8 7.1 3.9
40000 -47.3 -53.1 200 13 7 7.3 4.0 | -47.3 -53.1 210 11 6 7.4 4.0
38000 -42.9 -45.2 210 13 6 7.3 4.0 | -42.9 -45.2 215 9 5 7.4 4.0
36000 -38.4 -37.1 220 13 7 8.3 4.5 | -38.3 -36.9 215 9 5 8.4 4.6
34000 -33.5 -28.3 215 16 8 8.2 4.5 | -33.4 -28.1 220 12 6 8.3 4.6
32000 -28.6 -19.5 210 18 9 7.7 4.2 | -28.4 -19.1 220 14 7 7.8 4.3
30000 -24.1 -11.4 205 17 9 7.5 4.1 | -23.8 -10.8 220 14 7 7.7 4.2
29000 -21.8 -7.2 200 17 9 7.5 4.1 | -21.5 -6.7 215 13 7 7.6 4.2
28000 -19.7 -3.5 200 17 9 6.0 3.3 | -19.4 -2.9 215 13 7 6.3 3.5
27000 -17.5 0.5 195 18 9 6.1 3.4 | -17.5 0.5 215 14 7 6.4 3.5
26000 -15.7 3.7 195 18 9 6.2 3.4 | -15.6 3.9 215 15 8 6.4 3.5
25000 -13.8 7.2 190 18 9 6.6 3.6 | -13.2 8.2 210 16 8 6.6 3.6
24000 -11.9 10.6 190 17 9 6.6 3.6 | -11.2 11.8 205 15 8 6.6 3.6
23000 -10.0 14.0 190 16 8 6.6 3.6 | -9.3 15.3 200 14 7 6.7 3.7
22000 -8.0 17.6 190 15 8 6.7 3.7 | -7.4 18.7 195 14 7 5.5 3.0
21000 -6.1 21.0 190 14 7 6.7 3.7 | -5.8 21.6 195 14 7 5.7 3.1
20000 -4.1 24.6 195 13 7 6.8 3.7 | -4.2 24.4 190 15 8 5.8 3.2
19500 -3.1 26.4 195 13 7 6.0 3.3 | -3.5 25.7 190 15 8 4.3 2.3
19000 -2.3 27.9 195 13 7 5.6 3.1 | -3.1 26.4 195 16 8 3.3 1.8
18500 -1.6 29.1 195 14 7 5.8 3.2 | -2.8 27.0 195 17 9 3.1 1.7
18000 -1.0 30.2 195 14 7 3.1 1.7 | -2.1 28.2 195 18 9 7.5 4.1
17500 -0.6 30.9 185 14 7 3.5 1.9 | -1.1 30.0 195 18 9 7.1 3.9
17000 -0.2 31.6 180 14 7 4.9 2.7 | -0.1 31.8 195 19 10 7.2 4.0
16500 0.7 33.3 180 14 7 6.1 3.4 | 0.9 33.6 190 19 10 7.3 4.0
16000 1.5 34.7 175 14 7 6.3 3.5 | 1.9 35.4 190 19 10 7.4 4.0
15500 2.6 36.7 175 15 8 8.7 4.8 | 3.0 37.4 190 18 9 7.3 4.0
15000 3.8 38.8 170 15 8 8.5 4.7 | 4.1 39.4 190 18 9 7.2 4.0
14500 5.0 41.0 170 15 8 8.3 4.5 | 5.2 41.4 190 17 9 8.9 4.9
14000 6.2 43.2 170 15 8 8.3 4.5 | 6.6 43.9 190 17 9 9.0 5.0
13500 7.3 45.1 170 16 8 8.6 4.7 | 7.9 46.2 190 16 8 9.2 5.1
13000 8.6 47.5 175 16 8 8.8 4.8 | 9.3 48.7 195 16 8 9.3 5.1
12500 9.9 49.8 175 16 8 8.9 4.9 | 10.7 51.3 195 15 8 9.5 5.2
12000 11.2 52.2 180 16 8 9.1 5.0 | 12.1 53.8 195 15 8 9.7 5.3
11500 13.2 55.8 185 16 8 8.9 4.9 | 13.6 56.5 195 15 8 9.9 5.4
11000 14.5 58.1 190 16 8 9.0 4.9 | 15.0 59.0 195 15 8 9.4 5.2
10500 16.0 60.8 190 16 8 9.6 5.3 | 17.1 62.8 195 14 7 9.4 5.2
10250 16.6 61.9 195 16 8 8.9 4.9 | 17.8 64.0 195 14 7 9.9 5.4
10000 17.3 63.1 195 16 8 9.0 5.0 | 18.6 65.5 195 14 7 9.8 5.4
9750 18.0 64.4 200 16 8 9.3 5.1 | 19.3 66.7 195 14 7 9.7 5.3
9500 18.7 65.7 200 16 8 9.8 5.4 | 20.0 68.0 195 14 7 9.6 5.3
9250 19.4 66.9 200 16 8 9.3 5.1 | 20.7 69.3 195 14 7 9.6 5.3
9000 20.1 68.2 205 16 8 8.8 4.8 | 21.4 70.5 195 13 7 9.7 5.3
8750 20.7 69.3 205 16 8 9.2 5.1 | 22.2 72.0 200 13 7 9.7 5.3
8500 21.4 70.5 210 15 8 9.9 5.5 | 22.9 73.2 200 13 7 9.8 5.4
8250 22.2 72.0 210 15 8 9.8 5.4 | 23.6 74.5 200 13 7 9.8 5.4
8000 22.8 73.0 210 15 8 9.0 4.9 | 24.3 75.7 200 13 6 9.6 5.3
7750 23.5 74.3 215 14 7 9.6 5.3 | 25.1 77.2 200 12 6 9.8 5.4
7500 24.3 75.7 215 14 7 10.5 5.7 | 25.8 78.4 200 12 6 9.9 5.5
7250 25.0 77.0 220 14 7 10.4 5.7 | 26.5 79.7 200 11 6 10.1 5.5
7000 25.8 78.4 220 13 7 9.8 5.4 | 27.3 81.1 200 11 6 9.5 5.2
6750 26.6 79.9 220 12 6 14.6 8.0 | 28.0 82.4 200 10 5 11.1 6.1
6500 28.6 83.5 225 11 6 45.3 24.8 | 29.2 84.6 205 9 4 26.8 14.7
________________________________________________________________________________
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.
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