National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heavy Rainfall Continues in Hawaii; Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rainfall in the Plains and Southern Appalachians

Areas of gusty winds, heavy rain leading to flash flooding, and high surf continue across portions of Hawaii as Tropical Storm Lala continues to move away from the islands. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall will shift into the southern Appalachians today. Strong to severe thunderstorms may produce large hail, scattered wind gusts, and heavy rain today across the northern and central Plains. Read More >

Automatically generated image showing areas of convective available potential energy.

 

Thumbnail of an automatically generated image showing areas of convective available potential energy. Thumbnail of an automatically generated image showing areas of convective available potential energy. Thumbnail of an automatically generated image showing areas of convective available potential energy.
Hour - 1 Hour - 2 Hour -3

4 Panel Display | Animated Loop

CAPE 

This is a surface based Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) measurement only.  In the cool season, elevated instability may be much higher than surface based cape.

On average, CAPE of 1000 J/Kg is usually sufficient for strong to severe storms. CAPE of 3,000 to 4,000 J/Kg or higher is usually a signal of a very volatile atmosphere that could produce severe storms if other environmental parameters are in place.

Back to Convective Parameters Home