National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heavy Rainfall Threat Continues in the Southwest on Monday; Record Warmth in the Plains and Midwest

Remnant moisture from Tropical Storm Rachel will persist over portions of the Great Basin and Southwest on Monday, bringing a potential heavy to excessive rainfall risk. Well above average and potentially record breaking temperatures will develop across the Plains and Midwest early this week, spreading into the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast midweek. 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.
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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.

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