Soaring Forecast for Moriarty NM
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
0722 MDT Thursday April 30 2026
This forecast is for Thursday, April 30, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 60.1 F/15.6 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 976 ft/min (5.0 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 16946 ft MSL (10611 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 68.0 F/20.5 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1130 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1500 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 14273 ft MSL (7939 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Friday 05/01....... Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:13:49 / 19:48:34 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 34 min 45 sec (814 min 45 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:01:11 MDT... 69.97 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 04/30/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 11683 ft MSL (5348 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 18515 ft MSL (12180 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 17995 ft MSL (11660 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +4.9
K index......................... +6.4
Height Temperature Wind Wind Spd Lapse Rate ConvectionT Thermal Lift Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft deg C deg F Index fpm m/s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -61.7 -79.1 270 67 34 0.3 0.2 88.6 191.5 40.1 M M
45000 -61.0 -77.8 265 95 49 1.6 0.9 67.0 152.6 29.3 M M
40000 -58.3 -72.9 260 128 66 1.1 0.6 47.4 117.3 18.3 M M
38000 -53.7 -64.7 260 121 62 8.5 4.7 45.3 113.5 17.4 M M
36000 -48.6 -55.5 255 111 57 8.5 4.7 44.3 111.7 17.2 M M
34000 -43.7 -46.7 255 103 53 7.8 4.3 43.0 109.4 16.7 M M
32000 -39.0 -38.2 260 96 50 7.9 4.3 41.5 106.6 15.9 M M
30000 -34.7 -30.5 260 91 47 6.3 3.5 39.5 103.1 14.8 M M
29000 -32.8 -27.0 260 89 46 6.3 3.5 38.1 100.6 14.0 M M
28000 -30.8 -23.4 260 87 45 6.4 3.5 36.9 98.3 13.2 M M
27000 -29.0 -20.2 260 84 43 4.6 2.5 35.5 95.9 12.2 M M
26000 -27.6 -17.7 260 77 40 4.8 2.6 33.5 92.3 10.8 M M
25000 -26.2 -15.2 260 70 36 4.8 2.6 31.7 89.0 9.4 M M
24000 -24.8 -12.6 265 64 33 5.1 2.8 30.0 85.9 8.1 M M
23000 -23.2 -9.8 265 58 30 5.3 2.9 28.2 82.8 6.8 M M
22000 -21.6 -6.9 260 53 27 5.4 3.0 26.7 80.0 5.5 M M
21000 -19.5 -3.1 260 48 25 6.5 3.6 25.0 76.9 4.0 M M
20000 -17.6 0.3 255 45 23 6.5 3.6 23.8 74.8 3.0 M M
19500 -16.7 1.9 255 44 23 6.5 3.6 23.2 73.8 2.5 M M
19000 -15.7 3.7 250 43 22 6.5 3.6 22.7 72.9 2.0 M M
18500 -14.8 5.4 250 41 21 6.1 3.4 22.1 71.8 1.5 M M
18000 -13.9 7.0 250 39 20 6.1 3.4 21.5 70.7 1.0 M M
17500 -12.9 8.8 245 36 19 6.4 3.5 20.9 69.7 0.5 M M
17000 -11.9 10.6 245 34 18 6.4 3.5 20.4 68.6 -0.0 976 5.0
16500 -11.0 12.2 240 32 17 6.3 3.5 19.8 67.7 -0.5 931 4.7
16000 -10.1 13.8 245 29 15 5.8 3.2 19.2 66.5 -1.0 889 4.5
15500 -9.2 15.4 245 25 13 5.8 3.2 18.5 65.4 -1.6 848 4.3
15000 -8.3 17.1 255 22 11 6.2 3.4 17.9 64.2 -2.2 807 4.1
14500 -7.4 18.7 270 19 10 6.0 3.3 17.3 63.2 -2.8 764 3.9
14000 -6.3 20.7 280 19 10 8.1 4.4 16.8 62.3 -3.2 719 3.7
13500 -5.1 22.8 290 19 10 8.3 4.5 16.6 61.9 -3.4 666 3.4
13000 -3.8 25.2 295 19 10 9.2 5.0 16.4 61.6 -3.6 612 3.1
12500 -2.3 27.9 295 18 9 9.5 5.2 16.4 61.5 -3.7 555 2.8
12000 -0.9 30.4 295 18 9 9.3 5.1 16.3 61.4 -3.7 497 2.5
11500 0.5 32.9 295 16 8 9.4 5.2 16.3 61.3 -3.8 441 2.2
11000 1.8 35.2 295 14 7 8.3 4.6 16.1 60.9 -4.0 387 2.0
10500 3.1 37.6 290 12 6 8.9 4.9 16.0 60.7 -4.2 332 1.7
10250 3.8 38.8 290 11 6 9.4 5.2 15.9 60.6 -4.2 304 1.5
10000 4.5 40.1 285 10 5 8.7 4.8 15.9 60.6 -4.3 276 1.4
9750 5.1 41.2 285 9 5 7.9 4.3 15.7 60.3 -4.4 250 1.3
9500 5.7 42.3 285 8 4 8.0 4.4 15.6 60.1 -4.6 225 1.1
9250 6.3 43.3 290 7 3 8.4 4.6 15.5 59.9 -4.7 199 1.0
9000 6.9 44.4 290 6 3 7.4 4.0 15.4 59.7 -4.8 174 0.9
8750 7.4 45.3 300 5 3 5.4 3.0 15.1 59.2 -5.1 153 0.8
8500 7.7 45.9 305 4 2 5.4 3.0 14.7 58.5 -5.5 134 0.7
8250 8.1 46.6 315 4 2 4.6 2.6 14.4 57.9 -5.8 115 0.6
8000 8.4 47.1 325 3 2 3.2 1.7 14.0 57.1 -6.3 100 0.5
7750 8.5 47.3 340 2 1 1.3 0.7 13.4 56.1 -7.0 89 0.5
7500 8.5 47.3 020 2 1 0.4 0.2 12.7 54.8 -7.7 82 0.4
7250 8.4 47.1 060 2 1 -0.5 -0.3 12.0 53.5 -8.5 76 0.4
7000 8.3 46.9 075 3 2 -1.8 -1.0 11.1 52.0 -9.5 73 0.4
6750 8.1 46.6 090 4 2 -0.7 -0.4 10.3 50.5 -10.4 71 0.4
6500 7.9 46.2 095 4 2 -6.0 -3.3 9.4 48.9 -11.3 69 0.4
6250 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
04/30/2026 at 0900 MDT | 04/30/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +3.3 | CAPE... +8.3 LI... +2.4
CINH... -0.6 K Index... +8.7 | CINH... -0.9 K Index... +15.3
|
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 -61.9 -79.4 275 61 31 0.6 0.3 | -62.2 -80.0 270 59 30 1.8 1.0
45000 -60.7 -77.3 270 84 43 2.3 1.3 | -59.5 -75.1 265 74 38 1.8 1.0
40000 -57.0 -70.6 260 95 49 2.0 1.1 | -56.7 -70.1 250 113 58 1.5 0.8
38000 -53.0 -63.4 265 95 49 7.0 3.9 | -52.6 -62.7 255 107 55 7.5 4.1
36000 -48.8 -55.8 265 95 49 7.0 3.9 | -48.1 -54.6 255 99 51 7.5 4.1
34000 -44.3 -47.7 265 91 47 8.1 4.5 | -43.7 -46.7 260 91 47 6.9 3.8
32000 -39.4 -38.9 260 85 44 8.1 4.5 | -39.6 -39.3 260 83 43 6.9 3.8
30000 -34.7 -30.5 260 82 42 7.5 4.1 | -35.3 -31.5 255 78 40 7.5 4.1
29000 -32.4 -26.3 260 81 42 7.5 4.1 | -33.1 -27.6 255 76 39 7.5 4.1
28000 -30.1 -22.2 260 81 42 7.5 4.1 | -30.8 -23.4 255 75 39 7.5 4.1
27000 -28.1 -18.6 260 79 41 4.1 2.3 | -28.6 -19.5 255 74 38 6.1 3.4
26000 -26.8 -16.2 260 73 38 4.5 2.5 | -26.7 -16.1 255 72 37 6.3 3.4
25000 -25.4 -13.7 260 67 35 4.5 2.5 | -24.9 -12.8 260 70 36 6.3 3.4
24000 -24.1 -11.4 265 62 32 4.2 2.3 | -23.0 -9.4 260 68 35 4.8 2.7
23000 -22.9 -9.2 265 55 28 4.0 2.2 | -21.9 -7.4 260 62 32 3.9 2.1
22000 -21.5 -6.7 260 47 24 4.2 2.3 | -20.5 -4.9 260 54 28 4.1 2.2
21000 -20.0 -4.0 260 42 22 7.0 3.9 | -19.1 -2.4 265 48 25 5.6 3.0
20000 -17.9 -0.2 260 40 21 7.0 3.8 | -17.5 0.5 265 44 23 5.5 3.0
19500 -16.9 1.6 260 40 20 7.0 3.9 | -16.7 1.9 265 42 22 5.6 3.0
19000 -15.9 3.4 260 39 20 7.1 3.9 | -15.9 3.4 265 40 21 5.6 3.1
18500 -15.0 5.0 255 37 19 4.6 2.5 | -15.2 4.6 265 38 20 4.7 2.6
18000 -14.3 6.3 255 36 19 4.8 2.6 | -14.4 6.1 270 36 19 4.8 2.6
17500 -13.6 7.5 255 35 18 5.1 2.8 | -13.8 7.2 270 34 18 3.7 2.0
17000 -12.8 9.0 250 33 17 5.3 2.9 | -13.3 8.1 270 31 16 3.1 1.7
16500 -12.0 10.4 250 31 16 5.6 3.1 | -12.9 8.8 270 27 14 3.5 1.9
16000 -11.0 12.2 245 29 15 7.2 3.9 | -12.0 10.4 265 24 13 6.9 3.8
15500 -9.9 14.2 245 27 14 7.1 3.9 | -11.0 12.2 265 22 11 6.5 3.6
15000 -8.8 16.2 245 24 12 7.5 4.1 | -9.9 14.2 265 20 10 8.8 4.8
14500 -7.7 18.1 250 21 11 7.4 4.1 | -8.6 16.5 265 18 9 8.6 4.7
14000 -6.5 20.3 255 19 10 7.8 4.3 | -7.3 18.9 260 16 8 9.1 5.0
13500 -5.3 22.5 265 18 9 7.8 4.3 | -5.9 21.4 260 14 7 9.2 5.0
13000 -4.2 24.4 270 16 8 8.4 4.6 | -4.5 23.9 255 12 6 9.4 5.2
12500 -2.9 26.8 275 16 8 8.6 4.7 | -3.1 26.4 255 11 6 9.5 5.2
12000 -1.6 29.1 280 15 8 8.6 4.7 | -1.7 28.9 250 10 5 9.8 5.4
11500 -0.3 31.5 285 14 7 8.7 4.8 | -0.2 31.6 245 9 5 10.1 5.5
11000 1.0 33.8 290 13 7 8.2 4.5 | 1.2 34.2 245 9 4 8.8 4.8
10500 2.3 36.1 290 11 6 8.4 4.6 | 2.6 36.7 235 8 4 9.6 5.3
10250 2.9 37.2 290 11 6 8.7 4.8 | 3.3 37.9 235 7 4 8.9 4.9
10000 3.5 38.3 290 10 5 7.6 4.2 | 3.9 39.0 230 7 4 8.9 4.9
9750 4.0 39.2 285 9 5 6.5 3.6 | 4.7 40.5 225 6 3 10.1 5.5
9500 4.5 40.1 285 8 4 6.9 3.8 | 5.4 41.7 220 6 3 9.1 5.0
9250 5.1 41.2 280 8 4 6.3 3.5 | 6.1 43.0 215 6 3 11.4 6.2
9000 5.4 41.7 275 6 3 3.1 1.7 | 7.0 44.6 205 5 3 11.6 6.4
8750 5.5 41.9 265 5 2 0.7 0.4 | 7.8 46.0 200 5 3 8.9 4.9
8500 5.4 41.7 255 3 2 0.5 0.3 | 8.4 47.1 190 5 3 8.5 4.6
8250 5.4 41.7 230 2 1 1.8 1.0 | 9.1 48.4 185 5 3 9.8 5.4
8000 5.6 42.1 175 2 1 3.9 2.1 | 9.9 49.8 180 5 3 11.2 6.1
7750 5.9 42.6 135 3 1 6.1 3.3 | 10.7 51.3 170 5 3 9.9 5.5
7500 6.4 43.5 125 4 2 7.6 4.2 | 11.4 52.5 165 6 3 9.0 5.0
7250 6.9 44.4 120 4 2 9.3 5.1 | 12.1 53.8 160 6 3 10.3 5.7
7000 7.7 45.9 120 5 2 11.2 6.1 | 12.9 55.2 160 6 3 11.7 6.4
6750 8.5 47.3 115 5 2 9.7 5.3 | 13.8 56.8 155 6 3 9.9 5.4
6500 9.3 48.7 115 5 3 11.8 6.5 | 14.6 58.3 150 6 3 14.2 7.8
6250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
04/30/2026 at 1500 MDT | 04/30/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +8.6 LI... -0.1 | CAPE... +4.9 LI... +0.1
CINH... -0.6 K Index... +15.3 | CINH... -3.1 K Index... +17.8
|
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 -60.8 -77.4 265 66 34 0.3 0.2 | -61.0 -77.8 255 67 34 0.5 0.3
45000 -60.2 -76.4 260 94 48 1.6 0.9 | -60.2 -76.4 255 93 48 1.8 1.0
40000 -57.8 -72.0 250 108 56 1.8 1.0 | -57.5 -71.5 240 106 54 2.0 1.1
38000 -53.3 -63.9 250 108 56 8.2 4.5 | -53.8 -64.8 240 106 54 7.6 4.2
36000 -48.4 -55.1 250 106 55 8.2 4.5 | -48.7 -55.7 245 103 53 7.6 4.2
34000 -43.8 -46.8 250 102 52 7.0 3.9 | -44.4 -47.9 245 100 52 6.8 3.7
32000 -39.6 -39.3 250 95 49 7.0 3.9 | -40.3 -40.5 245 95 49 6.8 3.7
30000 -35.6 -32.1 255 88 45 6.2 3.4 | -36.4 -33.5 250 88 45 6.0 3.3
29000 -33.7 -28.7 255 84 43 6.2 3.4 | -34.6 -30.3 250 84 43 6.0 3.3
28000 -31.8 -25.2 260 79 41 6.2 3.4 | -32.8 -27.0 255 79 41 6.0 3.3
27000 -29.9 -21.8 260 76 39 7.7 4.2 | -31.0 -23.8 255 76 39 7.6 4.2
26000 -27.6 -17.7 260 73 38 7.6 4.2 | -28.7 -19.7 260 73 37 7.6 4.2
25000 -25.3 -13.5 260 70 36 7.6 4.2 | -26.5 -15.7 260 70 36 7.6 4.2
24000 -23.1 -9.6 265 68 35 5.2 2.9 | -24.3 -11.7 260 67 34 4.8 2.6
23000 -22.1 -7.8 265 60 31 3.4 1.9 | -23.5 -10.3 265 55 28 2.5 1.4
22000 -21.1 -6.0 270 52 27 3.5 1.9 | -22.8 -9.0 270 43 22 2.4 1.3
21000 -19.8 -3.6 270 42 22 3.9 2.1 | -21.9 -7.4 275 33 17 6.9 3.8
20000 -18.7 -1.7 270 33 17 3.9 2.1 | -19.7 -3.5 270 26 14 7.5 4.1
19500 -18.1 -0.6 270 28 15 3.9 2.1 | -18.0 -0.4 265 22 11 7.5 4.1
19000 -17.6 0.3 270 24 12 3.7 2.0 | -16.9 1.6 260 19 10 7.5 4.1
18500 -16.7 1.9 270 21 11 7.9 4.3 | -15.8 3.6 255 17 9 7.2 4.0
18000 -15.6 3.9 265 19 10 7.5 4.1 | -14.8 5.4 255 16 8 7.3 4.0
17500 -14.5 5.9 260 17 9 7.7 4.2 | -13.7 7.3 250 16 8 7.1 3.9
17000 -13.4 7.9 260 16 8 7.9 4.3 | -12.7 9.1 250 16 8 7.1 3.9
16500 -12.2 10.0 255 15 8 8.0 4.4 | -11.6 11.1 250 16 8 7.5 4.1
16000 -10.9 12.4 255 15 8 8.5 4.6 | -10.3 13.5 250 15 8 9.3 5.1
15500 -9.7 14.5 250 14 7 8.3 4.6 | -8.9 16.0 250 15 8 9.0 5.0
15000 -8.3 17.1 250 14 7 9.8 5.4 | -7.4 18.7 245 14 7 10.7 5.9
14500 -6.9 19.6 250 14 7 9.7 5.3 | -5.9 21.4 240 13 7 10.6 5.8
14000 -5.4 22.3 245 14 7 9.7 5.3 | -4.3 24.3 240 13 7 9.9 5.4
13500 -4.0 24.8 245 14 7 9.6 5.3 | -2.8 27.0 235 12 6 9.8 5.4
13000 -2.5 27.5 245 14 7 9.7 5.3 | -1.3 29.7 230 12 6 9.7 5.3
12500 -1.0 30.2 240 13 7 9.7 5.3 | 0.1 32.2 225 11 6 9.7 5.3
12000 0.4 32.7 240 13 7 9.7 5.3 | 1.6 34.9 220 11 6 9.3 5.1
11500 1.9 35.4 235 13 7 9.7 5.3 | 2.9 37.2 215 11 6 9.2 5.1
11000 3.3 37.9 235 13 7 9.6 5.2 | 4.5 40.1 205 11 6 10.7 5.9
10500 4.8 40.6 230 13 7 10.1 5.5 | 5.9 42.6 200 11 6 9.6 5.3
10250 5.5 41.9 230 13 7 9.9 5.4 | 6.7 44.1 200 11 6 9.9 5.4
10000 6.3 43.3 225 13 7 9.6 5.3 | 7.4 45.3 195 11 6 9.8 5.4
9750 7.0 44.6 225 13 6 9.9 5.4 | 8.1 46.6 190 11 6 9.5 5.2
9500 7.7 45.9 220 12 6 9.4 5.1 | 8.8 47.8 190 11 6 9.1 5.0
9250 8.5 47.3 220 12 6 11.1 6.1 | 9.5 49.1 185 12 6 11.0 6.0
9000 9.3 48.7 220 12 6 10.9 6.0 | 10.4 50.7 185 12 6 10.6 5.8
8750 10.0 50.0 215 12 6 8.8 4.8 | 11.1 52.0 180 12 6 8.4 4.6
8500 10.7 51.3 215 12 6 9.1 5.0 | 11.8 53.2 180 12 6 8.9 4.9
8250 11.4 52.5 210 12 6 9.4 5.2 | 12.4 54.3 175 13 7 9.1 5.0
8000 12.2 54.0 210 12 6 10.3 5.7 | 13.1 55.6 175 13 7 10.0 5.5
7750 12.9 55.2 205 12 6 10.1 5.5 | 13.9 57.0 170 13 7 9.9 5.4
7500 13.7 56.7 205 12 6 9.6 5.3 | 14.6 58.3 170 14 7 9.5 5.2
7250 14.4 57.9 200 12 6 10.2 5.6 | 15.3 59.5 170 14 7 9.8 5.4
7000 15.2 59.4 200 12 6 11.1 6.1 | 16.1 61.0 165 14 7 10.0 5.5
6750 16.0 60.8 200 12 6 10.4 5.7 | 16.8 62.2 165 14 7 10.2 5.6
6500 16.9 62.4 195 11 6 14.7 8.1 | 17.6 63.7 165 13 7 11.7 6.4
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
0722 MDT Thursday April 30 2026
This forecast is for Thursday, April 30, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 62.0 F/16.7 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1129 ft/min (5.7 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 18230 ft MSL (12559 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 74.0 F/23.8 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1030 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1800 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 16186 ft MSL (10515 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Friday 05/01....... Good
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:16:12 / 19:51:09 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 34 min 57 sec (814 min 57 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:03:41 MDT... 69.90 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 04/30/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 11508 ft MSL (5837 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 20960 ft MSL (15289 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 19913 ft MSL (14242 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +4.5
K index......................... +8.4
Height Temperature Wind Wind Spd Lapse Rate ConvectionT Thermal Lift Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft deg C deg F Index fpm m/s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -60.7 -77.3 270 67 34 -0.4 -0.2 92.9 199.3 40.4 M M
45000 -61.0 -77.8 265 93 48 1.6 0.9 69.4 156.9 28.5 M M
40000 -58.5 -73.3 255 125 64 0.8 0.4 49.4 120.8 17.3 M M
38000 -53.8 -64.8 255 119 61 8.7 4.8 47.4 117.3 16.5 M M
36000 -48.5 -55.3 255 110 57 8.7 4.8 46.6 116.0 16.4 M M
34000 -43.5 -46.3 255 102 53 7.9 4.3 45.5 113.9 16.0 M M
32000 -38.8 -37.8 260 95 49 7.9 4.3 44.0 111.2 15.3 M M
30000 -34.6 -30.3 260 90 46 5.7 3.1 41.9 107.4 14.0 M M
29000 -32.9 -27.2 260 88 45 5.7 3.1 40.2 104.4 13.0 M M
28000 -31.1 -24.0 255 86 44 5.7 3.1 38.7 101.7 11.9 M M
27000 -29.5 -21.1 255 83 43 5.1 2.8 37.3 99.1 10.9 M M
26000 -27.9 -18.2 260 76 39 5.1 2.8 35.4 95.7 9.5 M M
25000 -26.4 -15.5 260 68 35 5.1 2.8 33.6 92.6 8.3 M M
24000 -24.5 -12.1 265 60 31 5.6 3.1 31.6 89.0 6.7 M M
23000 -22.9 -9.2 265 54 28 5.6 3.1 30.0 86.0 5.4 M M
22000 -21.2 -6.2 265 49 25 5.7 3.1 28.6 83.4 4.2 M M
21000 -19.5 -3.1 260 45 23 6.5 3.6 27.2 81.0 3.0 M M
20000 -17.6 0.3 260 43 22 6.5 3.6 26.0 78.9 2.0 M M
19500 -16.7 1.9 260 43 22 6.5 3.6 25.5 77.9 1.5 M M
19000 -15.7 3.7 260 42 22 6.8 3.8 25.0 77.0 1.1 M M
18500 -14.9 5.2 255 41 21 3.8 2.1 24.2 75.6 0.4 M M
18000 -14.3 6.3 255 38 20 4.1 2.2 23.3 73.9 -0.4 1112 5.6
17500 -13.7 7.3 250 36 19 4.6 2.5 22.3 72.1 -1.3 1079 5.5
17000 -12.9 8.8 250 33 17 5.1 2.8 21.5 70.7 -2.0 1041 5.3
16500 -12.1 10.2 250 30 15 5.3 2.9 20.7 69.3 -2.7 1002 5.1
16000 -11.1 12.0 245 27 14 7.7 4.2 20.2 68.4 -3.1 957 4.9
15500 -10.0 14.0 245 24 12 7.5 4.1 19.8 67.7 -3.5 908 4.6
15000 -8.8 16.2 250 21 11 7.7 4.2 19.5 67.1 -3.8 859 4.4
14500 -7.7 18.1 260 19 10 7.7 4.2 19.2 66.5 -4.1 810 4.1
14000 -6.5 20.3 270 17 9 7.8 4.3 18.8 65.9 -4.4 760 3.9
13500 -5.4 22.3 280 16 8 7.8 4.3 18.5 65.3 -4.8 710 3.6
13000 -4.2 24.4 290 16 8 8.2 4.5 18.2 64.8 -5.1 660 3.4
12500 -2.9 26.8 290 16 8 8.6 4.7 18.0 64.4 -5.3 607 3.1
12000 -1.6 29.1 295 15 8 8.9 4.9 17.8 64.1 -5.5 553 2.8
11500 -0.2 31.6 295 14 7 9.2 5.1 17.7 63.9 -5.6 497 2.5
11000 1.2 34.2 295 13 7 8.8 4.8 17.7 63.8 -5.7 440 2.2
10500 2.4 36.3 295 12 6 8.3 4.6 17.4 63.4 -5.9 388 2.0
10250 3.1 37.6 295 11 6 8.7 4.8 17.3 63.2 -6.0 362 1.8
10000 3.7 38.7 295 10 5 8.4 4.6 17.3 63.1 -6.1 335 1.7
9750 4.3 39.7 300 10 5 8.1 4.4 17.1 62.8 -6.3 309 1.6
9500 4.9 40.8 300 9 5 8.0 4.4 17.0 62.6 -6.4 284 1.4
9250 5.5 41.9 305 8 4 8.7 4.8 16.9 62.4 -6.5 258 1.3
9000 6.2 43.2 305 7 4 8.5 4.7 16.8 62.3 -6.6 230 1.2
8750 6.8 44.2 310 7 4 7.8 4.3 16.7 62.0 -6.8 205 1.0
8500 8.0 46.4 315 7 4 8.3 4.6 16.4 61.5 -7.1 155 0.8
8250 8.6 47.5 315 7 3 8.3 4.6 16.3 61.3 -7.2 128 0.7
8000 9.2 48.6 315 6 3 7.7 4.2 16.2 61.1 -7.3 103 0.5
7750 9.8 49.6 315 6 3 8.0 4.4 16.0 60.8 -7.5 78 0.4
7500 10.4 50.7 315 6 3 7.6 4.2 15.9 60.6 -7.7 53 0.3
7250 11.0 51.8 310 6 3 7.2 4.0 15.7 60.2 -7.9 29 0.1
7000 11.5 52.7 305 5 3 7.4 4.1 15.5 59.9 -8.1 5 0.0
6750 12.1 53.8 305 5 3 6.9 3.8 15.3 59.6 -8.3 M M
6500 12.5 54.5 300 5 2 6.3 3.4 15.1 59.1 -8.5 M M
6250 12.8 55.0 300 4 2 -0.2 -0.1 14.6 58.4 -9.0 M M
6000 12.4 54.3 300 3 1 -11.1 -6.1 13.5 56.2 -10.2 M M
5750 11.9 53.4 295 2 1 8.4 4.6 12.3 54.1 -11.4 M M
5500 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
04/30/2026 at 0900 MDT | 04/30/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +4.4 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +4.0
CINH... -0.6 K Index... +10.1 | CINH... -0.0 K Index... +8.5
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -61.8 -79.2 275 62 32 0.2 0.1 | -61.9 -79.4 270 60 31 1.4 0.7
45000 -61.1 -78.0 270 83 43 2.6 1.4 | -59.8 -75.6 265 76 39 1.9 1.0
40000 -57.1 -70.8 260 95 49 2.0 1.1 | -56.7 -70.1 250 109 56 1.2 0.7
38000 -53.1 -63.6 260 95 49 7.1 3.9 | -52.8 -63.0 250 104 53 7.1 3.9
36000 -48.8 -55.8 260 95 49 7.1 3.9 | -48.6 -55.5 255 96 49 7.1 3.9
34000 -44.3 -47.7 260 92 48 8.1 4.4 | -44.3 -47.7 260 89 46 7.1 3.9
32000 -39.4 -38.9 260 86 44 8.1 4.4 | -40.0 -40.0 260 83 42 7.1 3.9
30000 -34.8 -30.6 260 82 42 7.3 4.0 | -35.7 -32.3 255 77 40 7.5 4.1
29000 -32.6 -26.7 260 81 41 7.3 4.0 | -33.4 -28.1 255 75 39 7.5 4.1
28000 -30.4 -22.7 255 80 41 7.3 4.0 | -31.2 -24.2 255 74 38 7.5 4.1
27000 -28.3 -18.9 255 78 40 5.4 3.0 | -29.0 -20.2 255 71 37 6.2 3.4
26000 -26.7 -16.1 260 73 38 5.4 3.0 | -27.1 -16.8 255 68 35 6.3 3.4
25000 -24.6 -12.3 260 67 34 5.4 3.0 | -24.7 -12.5 260 63 33 6.3 3.5
24000 -23.2 -9.8 265 62 32 2.9 1.6 | -23.0 -9.4 260 60 31 4.4 2.4
23000 -22.3 -8.1 265 55 28 3.2 1.8 | -21.6 -6.9 260 55 28 4.6 2.5
22000 -21.4 -6.5 265 48 24 3.4 1.9 | -20.3 -4.5 260 50 26 4.7 2.6
21000 -20.1 -4.2 265 42 22 6.7 3.7 | -18.9 -2.0 260 46 23 5.1 2.8
20000 -18.2 -0.8 265 40 20 6.5 3.6 | -17.4 0.7 260 41 21 5.1 2.8
19500 -17.2 1.0 265 38 20 6.5 3.6 | -16.6 2.1 260 38 20 5.1 2.8
19000 -16.3 2.7 265 37 19 6.7 3.7 | -15.9 3.4 265 36 19 4.9 2.7
18500 -15.4 4.3 265 36 18 5.3 2.9 | -15.0 5.0 265 34 18 6.7 3.7
18000 -14.6 5.7 265 34 18 5.3 2.9 | -14.0 6.8 265 33 17 6.5 3.6
17500 -13.8 7.2 265 33 17 4.6 2.5 | -13.1 8.4 265 31 16 6.1 3.4
17000 -13.2 8.2 260 31 16 3.8 2.1 | -12.2 10.0 265 30 15 5.8 3.2
16500 -12.7 9.1 260 29 15 3.8 2.1 | -11.4 11.5 265 28 14 5.7 3.1
16000 -12.0 10.4 255 26 14 5.4 3.0 | -10.6 12.9 265 25 13 4.9 2.7
15500 -11.2 11.8 255 24 12 5.0 2.7 | -9.9 14.2 265 22 11 4.9 2.7
15000 -10.2 13.6 250 22 11 8.9 4.9 | -9.0 15.8 260 19 10 6.6 3.6
14500 -8.8 16.2 250 20 10 9.1 5.0 | -8.0 17.6 260 16 8 6.7 3.7
14000 -7.4 18.7 250 18 9 9.1 5.0 | -7.0 19.4 255 13 7 8.2 4.5
13500 -6.1 21.0 250 16 8 9.1 5.0 | -5.7 21.7 250 12 6 8.9 4.9
13000 -4.7 23.5 250 14 7 9.0 5.0 | -4.3 24.3 250 11 6 9.1 5.0
12500 -3.3 26.1 255 13 6 9.0 4.9 | -2.9 26.8 250 10 5 9.2 5.1
12000 -2.0 28.4 255 11 6 8.9 4.9 | -1.6 29.1 245 9 5 9.4 5.1
11500 -0.6 30.9 255 10 5 8.9 4.9 | -0.1 31.8 245 9 5 9.5 5.2
11000 0.7 33.3 255 9 4 8.4 4.6 | 1.3 34.3 245 9 4 9.5 5.2
10500 1.9 35.4 255 8 4 8.0 4.4 | 2.7 36.9 240 8 4 9.5 5.2
10250 2.5 36.5 255 7 4 8.8 4.8 | 3.4 38.1 240 8 4 9.8 5.4
10000 3.1 37.6 255 6 3 8.4 4.6 | 4.2 39.6 240 8 4 9.7 5.3
9750 3.7 38.7 255 6 3 7.9 4.3 | 4.9 40.8 240 8 4 9.6 5.3
9500 4.3 39.7 255 5 3 8.1 4.4 | 5.6 42.1 240 8 4 9.7 5.3
9250 4.9 40.8 255 5 3 7.7 4.2 | 6.3 43.3 240 8 4 9.6 5.3
9000 5.5 41.9 250 4 2 7.7 4.2 | 7.1 44.8 240 8 4 9.5 5.2
8750 6.1 43.0 250 4 2 8.1 4.4 | 8.5 47.3 240 7 4 9.3 5.1
8500 7.3 45.1 250 3 2 9.3 5.1 | 9.2 48.6 240 7 4 10.4 5.7
8250 8.0 46.4 245 3 1 9.6 5.3 | 10.0 50.0 240 7 4 10.7 5.9
8000 8.7 47.7 245 2 1 7.8 4.3 | 10.8 51.4 240 7 4 9.8 5.4
7750 9.3 48.7 245 2 1 8.8 4.8 | 11.5 52.7 240 7 4 10.2 5.6
7500 9.9 49.8 245 2 1 6.6 3.6 | 12.3 54.1 240 7 3 9.5 5.2
7250 10.4 50.7 245 2 1 7.7 4.2 | 13.0 55.4 240 7 3 9.9 5.4
7000 11.1 52.0 245 2 1 10.4 5.7 | 13.8 56.8 240 6 3 10.7 5.9
6750 11.8 53.2 245 2 1 9.8 5.4 | 14.5 58.1 240 6 3 10.7 5.9
6500 12.6 54.7 245 2 1 9.7 5.3 | 15.3 59.5 240 6 3 10.0 5.5
6250 13.3 55.9 245 3 1 11.8 6.5 | 16.2 61.2 240 6 3 14.7 8.0
6000 14.4 57.9 245 3 1 16.5 9.1 | 17.6 63.7 240 6 3 24.5 13.5
5750 15.5 59.9 245 3 1 7.8 4.3 | 19.1 66.4 240 6 3 6.4 3.5
5500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
04/30/2026 at 1500 MDT | 04/30/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +1.6 LI... +0.1 | CAPE... +4.7 LI... +0.2
CINH... -0.5 K Index... +11.3 | CINH... -6.2 K Index... +15.2
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -62.5 -80.5 260 66 34 1.4 0.8 | -61.5 -78.7 255 63 33 1.7 0.9
45000 -60.3 -76.5 255 85 44 1.9 1.1 | -59.1 -74.4 250 89 46 1.5 0.8
40000 -57.3 -71.1 245 94 48 1.2 0.7 | -56.9 -70.4 240 99 51 1.6 0.9
38000 -53.1 -63.6 245 95 49 7.7 4.2 | -53.1 -63.6 240 101 52 7.1 3.9
36000 -48.5 -55.3 245 95 49 7.7 4.2 | -48.8 -55.8 240 103 53 7.1 3.9
34000 -43.9 -47.0 250 93 48 7.4 4.1 | -44.7 -48.5 245 101 52 6.3 3.5
32000 -39.5 -39.1 250 89 46 7.4 4.1 | -40.9 -41.6 245 97 50 6.3 3.5
30000 -35.3 -31.5 250 85 44 6.3 3.5 | -37.3 -35.1 245 89 46 5.8 3.2
29000 -33.4 -28.1 250 82 42 6.3 3.5 | -35.5 -31.9 250 83 43 5.8 3.2
28000 -31.5 -24.7 250 80 41 6.3 3.5 | -33.8 -28.8 250 77 40 5.8 3.2
27000 -29.5 -21.1 255 77 40 7.3 4.0 | -32.0 -25.6 255 72 37 7.4 4.1
26000 -27.3 -17.1 255 73 38 7.3 4.0 | -29.7 -21.5 255 67 34 7.6 4.2
25000 -25.1 -13.2 260 69 35 7.3 4.0 | -27.4 -17.3 255 62 32 7.6 4.2
24000 -22.6 -8.7 260 63 33 3.8 2.1 | -24.8 -12.6 260 54 28 3.0 1.6
23000 -21.4 -6.5 265 58 30 4.1 2.3 | -23.9 -11.0 260 42 22 3.1 1.7
22000 -20.2 -4.4 265 53 27 4.2 2.3 | -23.1 -9.6 260 30 16 3.2 1.8
21000 -19.1 -2.4 265 46 24 2.3 1.2 | -21.6 -6.9 260 22 11 8.4 4.6
20000 -18.5 -1.3 265 37 19 2.5 1.4 | -19.3 -2.7 260 20 10 8.1 4.4
19500 -18.1 -0.6 265 32 17 2.5 1.4 | -18.1 -0.6 255 19 10 8.1 4.4
19000 -17.8 -0.0 265 28 14 2.0 1.1 | -16.9 1.6 255 19 10 8.1 4.5
18500 -17.1 1.2 260 24 13 8.1 4.4 | -15.7 3.7 255 18 9 7.6 4.2
18000 -15.9 3.4 260 22 11 7.8 4.3 | -14.6 5.7 250 18 9 7.7 4.2
17500 -14.8 5.4 255 20 10 8.2 4.5 | -13.5 7.7 250 17 9 8.1 4.4
17000 -13.5 7.7 255 19 10 8.6 4.7 | -12.2 10.0 250 17 9 8.5 4.7
16500 -12.2 10.0 250 18 9 8.7 4.8 | -10.9 12.4 250 17 9 8.6 4.7
16000 -10.9 12.4 250 17 9 9.3 5.1 | -9.5 14.9 250 16 8 9.8 5.4
15500 -9.5 14.9 250 16 8 9.2 5.1 | -8.1 17.4 250 16 8 9.6 5.3
15000 -8.1 17.4 250 16 8 9.7 5.3 | -6.6 20.1 245 16 8 10.1 5.5
14500 -6.6 20.1 245 15 8 9.8 5.4 | -5.1 22.8 245 15 8 10.1 5.5
14000 -5.1 22.8 245 15 8 9.7 5.3 | -3.6 25.5 245 15 8 9.9 5.4
13500 -3.7 25.3 245 14 7 9.6 5.3 | -2.1 28.2 245 14 7 9.8 5.4
13000 -2.2 28.0 245 14 7 9.6 5.3 | -0.6 30.9 240 14 7 9.8 5.4
12500 -0.8 30.6 245 14 7 9.6 5.2 | 0.8 33.4 240 14 7 9.7 5.3
12000 0.6 33.1 240 13 7 9.6 5.3 | 2.3 36.1 240 13 7 9.7 5.3
11500 2.1 35.8 240 12 6 9.8 5.4 | 3.7 38.7 235 13 7 9.6 5.3
11000 3.6 38.5 240 12 6 9.7 5.3 | 5.1 41.2 235 13 7 9.6 5.3
10500 5.0 41.0 235 11 6 9.7 5.3 | 6.6 43.9 230 13 7 9.8 5.4
10250 5.7 42.3 235 11 6 9.8 5.3 | 7.3 45.1 230 12 6 9.9 5.4
10000 6.5 43.7 235 11 5 9.8 5.4 | 8.1 46.6 230 12 6 9.8 5.4
9750 7.2 45.0 235 10 5 9.9 5.5 | 8.8 47.8 230 12 6 9.8 5.4
9500 7.9 46.2 235 10 5 9.9 5.4 | 9.6 49.3 230 12 6 9.7 5.3
9250 8.7 47.7 230 9 5 9.8 5.4 | 10.3 50.5 225 12 6 9.3 5.1
9000 9.4 48.9 230 9 5 9.5 5.2 | 11.0 51.8 225 12 6 9.3 5.1
8750 10.1 50.2 230 9 4 9.5 5.2 | 11.7 53.1 225 12 6 9.6 5.3
8500 11.5 52.7 225 8 4 10.1 5.5 | 13.1 55.6 220 12 6 10.1 5.6
8250 12.3 54.1 225 7 4 10.5 5.8 | 13.9 57.0 220 12 6 10.1 5.5
8000 13.1 55.6 225 7 4 10.0 5.5 | 14.6 58.3 220 12 6 9.4 5.1
7750 13.8 56.8 220 7 3 10.2 5.6 | 15.3 59.5 220 12 6 9.3 5.1
7500 14.6 58.3 220 6 3 9.7 5.3 | 16.0 60.8 220 12 6 10.3 5.7
7250 15.3 59.5 220 6 3 9.8 5.4 | 16.8 62.2 215 11 6 10.4 5.7
7000 16.1 61.0 215 6 3 10.4 5.7 | 17.5 63.5 215 11 6 9.4 5.2
6750 16.8 62.2 215 5 3 10.3 5.7 | 18.2 64.8 215 11 6 9.5 5.2
6500 17.6 63.7 210 5 3 10.2 5.6 | 19.0 66.2 215 11 6 10.2 5.6
6250 18.5 65.3 210 5 2 15.2 8.4 | 19.8 67.6 210 11 5 12.7 7.0
6000 20.0 68.0 205 4 2 24.0 13.2 | 20.8 69.4 210 9 5 14.4 7.9
5750 21.5 70.7 200 4 2 8.3 4.6 | 21.9 71.4 210 8 4 12.2 6.7
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
0723 MDT Thursday April 30 2026
This forecast is for Thursday, April 30, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 58.1 F/14.5 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1095 ft/min (5.6 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 18274 ft MSL (11822 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 68.0 F/20.5 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 1045 MDT
Time of overdevelopment........................ 1800 MDT
Middle/high clouds during soaring window....... None
Surface winds during soaring window............ 20 mph or less
Height of the -3 thermal index................. 16254 ft MSL (9801 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Friday 05/01....... Poor
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:13:08 / 19:50:01 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 13 hr 36 min 53 sec (816 min 53 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:01:34 MDT... 69.34 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 04/30/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 11442 ft MSL (4990 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 19761 ft MSL (13309 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 19218 ft MSL (12765 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +3.9
K index......................... +12.6
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 -61.3 -78.3 280 65 34 -0.3 -0.2 88.8 191.9 40.3 M M
45000 -61.5 -78.7 270 87 45 2.4 1.3 66.0 150.7 28.7 M M
40000 -58.1 -72.6 260 116 60 2.4 1.3 48.6 119.5 19.1 M M
38000 -53.5 -64.3 255 116 60 8.3 4.6 45.5 113.9 17.6 M M
36000 -48.5 -55.3 260 112 57 8.3 4.6 44.4 111.9 17.3 M M
34000 -43.8 -46.8 260 106 54 7.2 3.9 42.9 109.2 16.6 M M
32000 -39.5 -39.1 260 98 50 7.2 3.9 40.8 105.4 15.5 M M
30000 -35.6 -32.1 260 90 46 5.2 2.9 38.3 100.9 13.9 M M
29000 -34.1 -29.4 260 85 44 5.2 2.9 36.4 97.6 12.7 M M
28000 -32.5 -26.5 260 81 42 5.3 2.9 34.8 94.6 11.5 M M
27000 -30.9 -23.6 255 76 39 4.8 2.7 33.2 91.7 10.4 M M
26000 -29.5 -21.1 260 70 36 4.8 2.6 31.1 88.1 8.9 M M
25000 -27.8 -18.0 260 62 32 4.8 2.7 28.9 84.0 7.1 M M
24000 -26.3 -15.3 260 56 29 6.5 3.6 27.3 81.1 5.9 M M
23000 -24.3 -11.7 260 53 27 6.6 3.6 26.1 78.9 4.9 M M
22000 -22.4 -8.3 260 49 25 6.6 3.6 25.0 77.0 4.0 M M
21000 -20.5 -4.9 260 45 23 6.2 3.4 23.9 75.0 3.1 M M
20000 -18.6 -1.5 260 43 22 6.2 3.4 22.6 72.6 1.9 M M
19500 -17.7 0.1 260 42 22 6.2 3.4 22.0 71.6 1.4 M M
19000 -16.8 1.8 260 41 21 6.4 3.5 21.4 70.5 0.9 M M
18500 -16.0 3.2 260 40 20 5.0 2.8 20.8 69.4 0.3 M M
18000 -15.2 4.6 260 38 20 5.0 2.7 19.9 67.9 -0.4 1075 5.5
17500 -14.5 5.9 255 37 19 5.0 2.7 19.1 66.5 -1.1 1038 5.3
17000 -13.8 7.2 255 35 18 4.9 2.7 18.3 65.0 -1.9 1002 5.1
16500 -13.1 8.4 255 34 17 4.8 2.6 17.5 63.5 -2.6 965 4.9
16000 -12.2 10.0 255 31 16 6.5 3.6 16.8 62.3 -3.2 925 4.7
15500 -11.3 11.7 255 29 15 6.2 3.4 16.3 61.3 -3.8 882 4.5
15000 -10.2 13.6 260 27 14 8.4 4.6 15.8 60.5 -4.2 836 4.2
14500 -8.9 16.0 270 24 13 8.7 4.8 15.7 60.2 -4.4 781 4.0
14000 -7.5 18.5 275 22 12 9.2 5.1 15.5 59.9 -4.5 726 3.7
13500 -6.1 21.0 280 21 11 9.5 5.2 15.5 59.8 -4.5 668 3.4
13000 -4.6 23.7 290 20 10 9.6 5.2 15.4 59.8 -4.5 610 3.1
12500 -3.2 26.2 295 18 10 9.5 5.2 15.4 59.7 -4.6 552 2.8
12000 -1.8 28.8 295 17 9 9.2 5.1 15.4 59.7 -4.6 494 2.5
11500 -0.5 31.1 300 16 8 8.6 4.7 15.2 59.4 -4.8 440 2.2
11000 0.9 33.6 300 14 7 9.3 5.1 15.2 59.3 -4.9 384 1.9
10500 2.8 37.0 290 12 6 8.4 4.6 14.8 58.6 -5.3 306 1.6
10250 3.4 38.1 290 11 6 8.6 4.7 14.7 58.5 -5.4 280 1.4
10000 4.0 39.2 290 10 5 8.3 4.6 14.6 58.3 -5.5 254 1.3
9750 4.6 40.3 290 9 5 8.3 4.5 14.5 58.1 -5.7 228 1.2
9500 5.3 41.5 285 8 4 8.2 4.5 14.4 57.9 -5.8 202 1.0
9250 5.9 42.6 285 7 4 8.6 4.7 14.3 57.7 -5.9 176 0.9
9000 6.5 43.7 285 6 3 8.4 4.6 14.2 57.5 -6.0 149 0.8
8750 7.1 44.8 285 5 3 7.9 4.3 14.0 57.3 -6.2 124 0.6
8500 7.7 45.9 280 4 2 8.1 4.5 13.9 57.1 -6.3 99 0.5
8250 8.3 46.9 280 3 2 8.2 4.5 13.8 56.8 -6.4 73 0.4
8000 8.9 48.0 280 3 1 7.1 3.9 13.7 56.6 -6.6 48 0.2
7750 9.4 48.9 265 2 1 6.6 3.6 13.4 56.1 -6.9 26 0.1
7500 9.9 49.8 230 1 1 6.2 3.4 13.2 55.7 -7.1 4 0.0
7250 10.3 50.5 200 1 1 4.8 2.6 12.8 55.1 -7.5 M M
7000 10.6 51.1 180 2 1 5.8 3.2 12.5 54.5 -7.9 M M
6750 11.0 51.8 170 2 1 1.8 1.0 12.1 53.8 -8.3 M M
6500 10.0 50.0 155 2 1 -38.1 -20.9 10.4 50.7 -10.0 M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
04/30/2026 at 0900 MDT | 04/30/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +2.5 | CAPE... +10.1 LI... +1.0
CINH... -5.4 K Index... +11.1 | CINH... -0.1 K Index... +13.2
|
Height Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate | Temperature Wnd WndSpd Lapse Rate
ft MSL deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft | deg C deg F Dir kt m/s C/km F/kft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50000 -62.4 -80.3 280 61 32 0.4 0.2 | -62.5 -80.5 275 56 29 1.3 0.7
45000 -61.5 -78.7 275 81 42 2.8 1.5 | -60.5 -76.9 270 70 36 2.2 1.2
40000 -57.2 -71.0 260 100 52 2.3 1.2 | -57.0 -70.6 255 99 51 1.8 1.0
38000 -53.2 -63.8 260 100 51 7.4 4.1 | -53.0 -63.4 255 100 51 7.6 4.2
36000 -48.8 -55.8 260 98 50 7.4 4.1 | -48.4 -55.1 255 98 51 7.6 4.2
34000 -44.2 -47.6 265 96 49 8.0 4.4 | -44.1 -47.4 260 95 49 6.9 3.8
32000 -39.4 -38.9 265 93 48 8.0 4.4 | -39.9 -39.8 260 90 47 6.9 3.8
30000 -35.2 -31.4 265 89 46 5.6 3.1 | -35.9 -32.6 260 85 44 6.4 3.5
29000 -33.5 -28.3 260 86 44 5.6 3.1 | -34.0 -29.2 260 82 42 6.4 3.5
28000 -31.8 -25.2 260 82 42 5.6 3.1 | -32.1 -25.8 260 79 41 6.4 3.5
27000 -30.1 -22.2 260 78 40 6.0 3.3 | -30.2 -22.4 255 76 39 5.9 3.2
26000 -28.3 -18.9 260 72 37 6.1 3.4 | -28.0 -18.4 260 69 36 5.8 3.2
25000 -26.0 -14.8 260 65 33 6.1 3.4 | -26.3 -15.3 260 64 33 5.8 3.2
24000 -24.3 -11.7 260 59 30 3.7 2.0 | -24.7 -12.5 260 59 30 3.9 2.1
23000 -23.3 -9.9 260 55 28 3.4 1.9 | -23.5 -10.3 260 55 28 3.7 2.0
22000 -22.3 -8.1 265 51 26 3.5 1.9 | -22.4 -8.3 265 50 26 3.7 2.1
21000 -21.1 -6.0 265 47 24 5.9 3.2 | -21.2 -6.2 265 46 24 5.3 2.9
20000 -19.4 -2.9 265 43 22 5.6 3.1 | -19.7 -3.5 270 40 21 5.2 2.9
19500 -18.6 -1.5 265 40 21 5.6 3.1 | -18.9 -2.0 270 37 19 5.2 2.9
19000 -17.8 -0.0 265 38 20 5.7 3.1 | -18.2 -0.8 270 35 18 5.2 2.8
18500 -17.0 1.4 265 36 19 5.1 2.8 | -17.3 0.9 270 32 16 6.3 3.4
18000 -16.3 2.7 265 35 18 5.2 2.9 | -16.4 2.5 270 30 15 6.4 3.5
17500 -15.5 4.1 265 33 17 5.7 3.1 | -15.5 4.1 270 27 14 6.4 3.5
17000 -14.6 5.7 265 31 16 6.3 3.4 | -14.6 5.7 270 24 12 6.5 3.6
16500 -13.7 7.3 265 28 15 6.2 3.4 | -13.6 7.5 265 21 11 6.4 3.5
16000 -12.7 9.1 265 26 13 8.0 4.4 | -12.5 9.5 265 19 10 8.8 4.8
15500 -11.5 11.3 265 22 12 7.8 4.3 | -11.3 11.7 260 17 9 8.5 4.7
15000 -10.3 13.5 265 19 10 7.9 4.3 | -9.9 14.2 260 16 8 9.3 5.1
14500 -9.1 15.6 270 17 8 7.9 4.3 | -8.5 16.7 260 15 8 9.4 5.2
14000 -7.9 17.8 270 14 7 8.5 4.7 | -7.1 19.2 255 15 8 9.5 5.2
13500 -6.6 20.1 275 12 6 8.9 4.9 | -5.7 21.7 255 14 7 9.5 5.2
13000 -5.2 22.6 280 11 6 9.0 5.0 | -4.3 24.3 255 14 7 9.5 5.2
12500 -3.8 25.2 280 10 5 9.2 5.0 | -2.8 27.0 250 14 7 9.5 5.2
12000 -2.5 27.5 280 9 5 9.1 5.0 | -1.4 29.5 250 13 7 9.6 5.3
11500 -1.1 30.0 280 8 4 9.1 5.0 | 0.0 32.0 245 13 7 9.7 5.3
11000 0.3 32.5 275 8 4 8.8 4.9 | 2.2 36.0 240 12 6 9.7 5.3
10500 2.1 35.8 260 7 4 8.1 4.5 | 3.6 38.5 240 12 6 9.6 5.2
10250 2.7 36.9 255 6 3 8.2 4.5 | 4.3 39.7 235 12 6 9.6 5.3
10000 3.3 37.9 245 6 3 8.1 4.4 | 5.1 41.2 230 12 6 10.0 5.5
9750 3.9 39.0 240 6 3 8.0 4.4 | 5.8 42.4 230 12 6 10.0 5.5
9500 4.5 40.1 235 6 3 8.1 4.5 | 6.6 43.9 230 12 6 10.2 5.6
9250 5.1 41.2 225 6 3 6.6 3.6 | 7.3 45.1 225 11 6 9.4 5.1
9000 5.5 41.9 215 6 3 6.6 3.6 | 8.0 46.4 225 11 6 9.3 5.1
8750 6.0 42.8 210 6 3 8.0 4.4 | 8.7 47.7 220 11 6 10.1 5.5
8500 6.6 43.9 200 6 3 7.6 4.2 | 9.5 49.1 220 11 6 9.9 5.5
8250 7.1 44.8 190 6 3 8.2 4.5 | 10.2 50.4 220 11 6 10.6 5.8
8000 7.8 46.0 185 6 3 9.2 5.0 | 11.0 51.8 215 11 6 10.7 5.9
7750 8.5 47.3 180 6 3 9.5 5.2 | 11.8 53.2 215 11 6 10.4 5.7
7500 9.2 48.6 175 6 3 9.6 5.2 | 12.6 54.7 215 11 6 10.7 5.8
7250 9.9 49.8 175 6 3 10.2 5.6 | 13.4 56.1 210 11 6 10.4 5.7
7000 10.6 51.1 170 6 3 9.1 5.0 | 14.3 57.7 210 11 6 17.1 9.4
6750 11.4 52.5 170 6 3 11.8 6.5 | 16.1 61.0 210 10 5 28.9 15.8
6500 13.1 55.6 170 6 3 41.9 23.0 | 17.8 64.0 205 10 5 7.8 4.3
04/30/2026 at 1500 MDT | 04/30/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... +15.8 LI... -0.2 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +0.3
CINH... -0.0 K Index... +9.5 | CINH... -0.9 K Index... +13.8
|
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 -61.4 -78.5 265 63 32 0.1 0.0 | -60.7 -77.3 260 64 33 0.4 0.2
45000 -61.1 -78.0 260 89 46 2.2 1.2 | -59.9 -75.8 255 91 47 1.6 0.9
40000 -57.9 -72.2 250 101 52 2.2 1.2 | -57.6 -71.7 240 104 54 1.6 0.9
38000 -53.7 -64.7 250 101 52 7.6 4.2 | -54.4 -65.9 240 105 54 7.0 3.8
36000 -49.2 -56.6 250 100 51 7.6 4.2 | -49.7 -57.5 245 103 53 7.0 3.8
34000 -44.7 -48.5 250 97 50 7.2 4.0 | -45.7 -50.3 250 99 51 6.4 3.5
32000 -40.4 -40.7 255 93 48 7.2 4.0 | -41.8 -43.2 250 92 48 6.4 3.5
30000 -36.2 -33.2 255 87 45 6.6 3.6 | -37.8 -36.0 250 85 44 7.4 4.0
29000 -34.3 -29.7 255 83 43 6.6 3.6 | -35.6 -32.1 255 80 41 7.4 4.0
28000 -32.3 -26.1 255 78 40 6.6 3.6 | -33.4 -28.1 255 76 39 7.4 4.1
27000 -30.4 -22.7 260 74 38 6.4 3.5 | -31.2 -24.2 255 72 37 7.0 3.9
26000 -28.5 -19.3 260 68 35 6.4 3.5 | -29.2 -20.6 255 68 35 7.0 3.8
25000 -26.6 -15.9 260 63 32 6.4 3.5 | -27.1 -16.8 260 64 33 7.0 3.8
24000 -24.4 -11.9 260 56 29 3.3 1.8 | -25.0 -13.0 260 60 31 5.5 3.0
23000 -23.4 -10.1 265 49 25 3.2 1.7 | -24.0 -11.2 255 45 23 2.4 1.3
22000 -22.5 -8.5 270 43 22 3.2 1.8 | -23.4 -10.1 255 32 16 2.5 1.4
21000 -21.4 -6.5 275 37 19 5.1 2.8 | -22.2 -8.0 250 22 11 8.1 4.5
20000 -20.0 -4.0 280 28 14 5.0 2.8 | -19.9 -3.8 250 17 9 7.7 4.2
19500 -19.2 -2.6 280 24 12 5.1 2.8 | -18.8 -1.8 250 14 7 7.7 4.2
19000 -18.5 -1.3 280 19 10 4.8 2.6 | -17.6 0.3 250 12 6 7.7 4.2
18500 -17.6 0.3 280 16 8 8.8 4.9 | -16.5 2.3 250 10 5 7.7 4.2
18000 -16.3 2.7 275 15 8 8.9 4.9 | -15.3 4.5 245 8 4 7.7 4.2
17500 -14.9 5.2 275 14 7 9.1 5.0 | -14.2 6.4 235 7 4 8.1 4.5
17000 -13.6 7.5 270 13 7 9.3 5.1 | -12.9 8.8 230 7 3 8.6 4.7
16500 -12.2 10.0 270 13 7 9.3 5.1 | -11.6 11.1 220 7 3 8.6 4.7
16000 -10.7 12.7 265 12 6 9.7 5.3 | -10.3 13.5 215 7 3 9.6 5.3
15500 -9.3 15.3 265 12 6 9.7 5.3 | -8.8 16.2 215 7 4 9.5 5.2
15000 -7.8 18.0 260 12 6 9.5 5.2 | -7.4 18.7 210 7 4 9.7 5.3
14500 -6.4 20.5 260 12 6 9.5 5.2 | -5.9 21.4 210 7 4 9.7 5.3
14000 -5.0 23.0 260 12 6 9.6 5.3 | -4.5 23.9 210 8 4 9.7 5.3
13500 -3.6 25.5 255 12 6 9.6 5.3 | -3.0 26.6 210 8 4 9.8 5.4
13000 -2.1 28.2 255 12 6 9.6 5.2 | -1.6 29.1 210 8 4 9.8 5.4
12500 -0.7 30.7 250 12 6 9.4 5.2 | -0.1 31.8 210 9 4 9.7 5.3
12000 0.7 33.3 250 12 6 9.4 5.2 | 1.3 34.3 210 9 5 9.7 5.3
11500 2.1 35.8 250 12 6 9.5 5.2 | 2.8 37.0 210 9 5 9.6 5.3
11000 3.5 38.3 245 13 7 9.6 5.3 | 4.3 39.7 210 10 5 9.9 5.5
10500 5.7 42.3 245 13 7 9.8 5.4 | 5.7 42.3 215 10 5 9.2 5.0
10250 6.5 43.7 240 13 7 10.1 5.5 | 6.4 43.5 215 10 5 9.9 5.4
10000 7.2 45.0 240 13 7 10.0 5.5 | 7.1 44.8 215 10 5 10.3 5.7
9750 8.0 46.4 240 14 7 10.0 5.5 | 8.6 47.5 215 10 5 9.5 5.2
9500 8.7 47.7 240 14 7 10.0 5.5 | 9.3 48.7 215 10 5 9.6 5.3
9250 9.4 48.9 240 14 7 9.4 5.2 | 10.0 50.0 215 11 5 10.0 5.5
9000 10.1 50.2 240 14 7 9.6 5.3 | 10.8 51.4 215 11 6 10.0 5.5
8750 10.9 51.6 235 14 7 10.1 5.6 | 11.5 52.7 215 11 6 9.7 5.3
8500 11.6 52.9 235 14 7 9.9 5.4 | 12.3 54.1 215 11 6 9.8 5.4
8250 12.4 54.3 235 15 7 10.3 5.6 | 13.0 55.4 215 11 6 9.7 5.3
8000 13.2 55.8 235 15 7 10.6 5.8 | 13.7 56.7 215 11 6 9.8 5.4
7750 13.9 57.0 235 14 7 10.4 5.7 | 14.5 58.1 215 11 6 9.9 5.4
7500 14.7 58.5 235 14 7 10.5 5.8 | 15.2 59.4 215 11 6 9.9 5.4
7250 15.5 59.9 235 14 7 10.8 5.9 | 15.9 60.6 220 11 6 10.1 5.5
7000 16.5 61.7 235 14 7 17.4 9.5 | 16.8 62.2 220 11 6 12.8 7.0
6750 18.2 64.8 235 14 7 27.9 15.3 | 17.9 64.2 220 10 5 16.9 9.3
6500 19.9 67.8 235 13 7 9.4 5.2 | 19.0 66.2 220 10 5 9.7 5.3
________________________________________________________________________________
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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