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Soaring Forecast for Moriarty NM
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
0726 MDT Sunday May 17 2026
This forecast is for Sunday, May 17, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 63.5 F/17.5 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1121 ft/min (5.7 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 19409 ft MSL (13075 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 81.0 F/27.7 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0915 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................. 15190 ft MSL (8856 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 05/18....... Good
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:58:42 / 20:02:08 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 3 min 26 sec (843 min 26 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:00:25 MDT... 74.48 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 05/17/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 13613 ft MSL (7279 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 20986 ft MSL (14652 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 20801 ft MSL (14467 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +0.4
K index......................... -11.4
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 -60.2 -76.4 235 46 24 2.5 1.4 89.5 193.1 36.6 M M
45000 -56.7 -70.1 230 58 30 1.0 0.5 72.4 162.3 28.3 M M
40000 -55.3 -67.5 225 61 32 0.9 0.5 52.1 125.8 16.7 M M
38000 -52.9 -63.2 225 61 32 4.8 2.6 46.8 116.2 13.5 M M
36000 -49.7 -57.5 230 61 32 4.8 2.6 42.1 107.8 10.6 M M
34000 -46.0 -50.8 230 60 31 7.2 4.0 39.1 102.4 8.6 M M
32000 -41.7 -43.1 230 57 30 7.2 4.0 37.1 98.7 7.3 M M
30000 -37.3 -35.1 230 54 28 7.4 4.0 35.2 95.3 6.1 M M
29000 -35.1 -31.2 230 52 27 7.4 4.0 34.2 93.5 5.4 M M
28000 -32.9 -27.2 230 50 26 7.4 4.0 33.4 92.0 4.8 M M
27000 -30.6 -23.1 230 48 25 8.1 4.5 32.6 90.7 4.3 M M
26000 -28.1 -18.6 230 48 25 8.1 4.4 31.9 89.4 3.7 M M
25000 -25.7 -14.3 230 48 25 8.1 4.4 31.3 88.3 3.3 M M
24000 -23.3 -9.9 230 48 25 7.9 4.3 30.8 87.4 2.9 M M
23000 -21.0 -5.8 230 47 24 7.9 4.3 30.0 86.0 2.3 M M
22000 -18.6 -1.5 230 47 24 7.9 4.3 29.3 84.8 1.7 M M
21000 -16.3 2.7 230 46 24 7.5 4.1 28.7 83.6 1.2 M M
20000 -13.5 7.7 235 45 23 7.5 4.1 27.6 81.7 0.3 M M
19500 -12.3 9.9 235 45 23 7.5 4.1 27.3 81.1 -0.0 1120 5.7
19000 -11.2 11.8 235 44 23 7.5 4.1 26.9 80.5 -0.3 1072 5.4
18500 -10.1 13.8 235 44 23 7.6 4.2 26.5 79.8 -0.6 1023 5.2
18000 -9.0 15.8 235 44 22 7.6 4.2 26.2 79.1 -1.0 974 4.9
17500 -7.8 18.0 235 43 22 7.6 4.2 25.8 78.5 -1.3 925 4.7
17000 -6.7 19.9 240 43 22 7.6 4.2 25.4 77.8 -1.7 876 4.5
16500 -5.5 22.1 240 43 22 7.5 4.1 25.1 77.2 -2.0 827 4.2
16000 -4.5 23.9 240 42 22 7.2 3.9 24.7 76.4 -2.4 780 4.0
15500 -3.4 25.9 245 42 22 7.3 4.0 24.2 75.6 -2.8 733 3.7
15000 -2.4 27.7 245 42 22 5.9 3.3 23.7 74.7 -3.3 689 3.5
14500 -1.5 29.3 250 42 22 6.1 3.3 23.1 73.6 -3.9 647 3.3
14000 -0.6 30.9 250 42 22 5.7 3.1 22.5 72.5 -4.5 605 3.1
13500 0.2 32.4 255 42 22 5.6 3.1 21.8 71.3 -5.1 566 2.9
13000 1.1 34.0 255 42 21 5.2 2.8 21.2 70.1 -5.8 526 2.7
12500 1.8 35.2 260 40 21 4.9 2.7 20.4 68.7 -6.6 490 2.5
12000 2.5 36.5 260 39 20 5.0 2.7 19.6 67.3 -7.3 453 2.3
11500 3.2 37.8 265 36 19 5.3 2.9 18.9 66.0 -8.1 418 2.1
11000 4.0 39.2 265 32 17 7.2 3.9 18.3 64.9 -8.9 379 1.9
10500 5.1 41.2 270 29 15 8.5 4.7 18.0 64.4 -9.2 329 1.7
10250 5.7 42.3 275 27 14 7.8 4.3 17.9 64.2 -9.4 304 1.5
10000 6.3 43.3 280 26 13 8.3 4.6 17.7 63.9 -9.6 280 1.4
9750 7.0 44.6 280 25 13 9.8 5.4 17.7 63.8 -9.6 252 1.3
9500 7.7 45.9 280 25 13 9.2 5.1 17.7 63.8 -9.7 223 1.1
9250 8.4 47.1 280 24 12 10.6 5.8 17.7 63.8 -9.7 195 1.0
9000 9.2 48.6 280 23 12 10.9 6.0 17.8 64.0 -9.6 162 0.8
8750 10.0 50.0 285 22 12 9.0 4.9 17.8 64.0 -9.7 132 0.7
8500 10.6 51.1 285 22 11 8.6 4.7 17.7 63.9 -9.8 105 0.5
8250 11.3 52.3 285 21 11 8.8 4.8 17.6 63.7 -9.9 78 0.4
8000 12.0 53.6 285 20 11 8.7 4.8 17.6 63.6 -10.0 51 0.3
7750 12.6 54.7 280 20 10 7.5 4.1 17.4 63.4 -10.1 25 0.1
7500 13.1 55.6 280 19 10 7.7 4.2 17.2 63.0 -10.3 1 0.0
7250 13.7 56.7 280 19 10 5.1 2.8 17.1 62.7 -10.5 M M
7000 13.8 56.8 275 17 9 0.2 0.1 16.5 61.7 -11.1 M M
6750 13.7 56.7 275 15 8 -3.6 -2.0 15.6 60.2 -12.0 M M
6500 13.1 55.6 270 12 6 -14.9 -8.2 14.3 57.7 -13.3 M M
6250 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/17/2026 at 0900 MDT | 05/17/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.7 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.0
CINH... -0.1 K Index... -12.3 | CINH... -0.3 K Index... -11.9
|
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 -59.6 -75.3 235 55 28 1.3 0.7 | -59.2 -74.6 235 55 28 2.1 1.1
45000 -57.6 -71.7 230 62 32 1.3 0.7 | -56.4 -69.5 225 66 34 -0.1 -0.1
40000 -55.6 -68.1 230 63 32 1.3 0.7 | -56.7 -70.1 235 60 31 -0.0 -0.0
38000 -53.2 -63.8 230 61 31 4.7 2.6 | -54.7 -66.5 240 59 31 4.5 2.5
36000 -50.0 -58.0 230 59 30 4.7 2.6 | -51.6 -60.9 245 60 31 4.6 2.5
34000 -46.7 -52.1 230 57 29 6.3 3.4 | -48.0 -54.4 245 59 31 7.5 4.1
32000 -42.9 -45.2 235 55 28 6.3 3.5 | -43.5 -46.3 240 58 30 7.5 4.1
30000 -38.4 -37.1 235 52 27 8.8 4.8 | -38.7 -37.7 245 55 28 8.6 4.7
29000 -35.8 -32.4 235 51 26 8.8 4.8 | -36.1 -33.0 245 52 27 8.6 4.7
28000 -33.1 -27.6 235 50 26 8.8 4.8 | -33.6 -28.5 245 49 25 8.6 4.7
27000 -30.5 -22.9 235 49 25 8.7 4.8 | -31.0 -23.8 250 48 25 8.7 4.8
26000 -27.9 -18.2 235 49 25 8.7 4.8 | -28.4 -19.1 250 48 25 8.7 4.8
25000 -25.3 -13.5 235 50 26 8.7 4.8 | -25.7 -14.3 245 48 25 8.7 4.8
24000 -22.7 -8.9 235 50 26 8.3 4.6 | -23.2 -9.8 245 48 24 7.6 4.1
23000 -20.2 -4.4 235 49 25 8.3 4.6 | -20.9 -5.6 245 46 24 7.6 4.2
22000 -17.7 0.1 235 49 25 8.3 4.6 | -18.7 -1.7 245 44 23 7.6 4.2
21000 -15.3 4.5 235 48 25 7.2 3.9 | -16.4 2.5 250 42 22 7.8 4.3
20000 -13.1 8.4 235 46 23 7.3 4.0 | -13.4 7.9 245 40 21 7.8 4.3
19500 -11.5 11.3 235 44 23 7.3 4.0 | -12.3 9.9 245 39 20 7.8 4.3
19000 -10.4 13.3 235 43 22 7.0 3.9 | -11.1 12.0 245 39 20 7.8 4.3
18500 -9.4 15.1 235 42 22 5.9 3.2 | -10.0 14.0 245 38 20 7.7 4.2
18000 -8.6 16.5 235 42 22 5.9 3.3 | -8.8 16.2 245 38 20 7.7 4.2
17500 -7.7 18.1 235 42 22 5.6 3.1 | -7.7 18.1 245 38 19 7.3 4.0
17000 -6.9 19.6 235 42 22 5.6 3.1 | -6.6 20.1 240 38 19 7.2 3.9
16500 -6.0 21.2 235 43 22 5.7 3.1 | -5.5 22.1 240 38 19 7.0 3.8
16000 -5.1 22.8 235 43 22 6.0 3.3 | -4.5 23.9 240 37 19 6.4 3.5
15500 -4.2 24.4 240 44 22 6.0 3.3 | -3.6 25.5 240 37 19 6.9 3.8
15000 -3.3 26.1 240 44 23 6.5 3.6 | -3.0 26.6 240 36 18 1.2 0.7
14500 -2.4 27.7 240 44 23 6.4 3.5 | -2.8 27.0 245 33 17 1.7 0.9
14000 -1.4 29.5 245 44 22 6.2 3.4 | -2.4 27.7 245 31 16 5.5 3.0
13500 -0.5 31.1 245 43 22 6.1 3.4 | -1.5 29.3 245 29 15 6.1 3.3
13000 0.4 32.7 250 43 22 5.9 3.2 | -0.6 30.9 245 27 14 8.2 4.5
12500 1.3 34.3 250 42 21 5.8 3.2 | 0.8 33.4 250 27 14 9.1 5.0
12000 2.1 35.8 255 41 21 5.0 2.7 | 2.2 36.0 250 27 14 8.8 4.8
11500 2.7 36.9 255 37 19 4.4 2.4 | 3.4 38.1 250 26 14 8.7 4.8
11000 3.3 37.9 260 33 17 6.6 3.6 | 5.0 41.0 250 27 14 10.3 5.6
10500 4.5 40.1 265 31 16 8.1 4.5 | 6.3 43.3 250 27 14 9.3 5.1
10250 5.1 41.2 265 30 15 8.3 4.6 | 7.0 44.6 250 27 14 9.0 4.9
10000 5.7 42.3 265 29 15 8.8 4.8 | 7.7 45.9 250 27 14 9.2 5.0
9750 6.4 43.5 265 28 14 9.3 5.1 | 8.4 47.1 250 27 14 9.7 5.3
9500 7.1 44.8 265 28 14 8.8 4.8 | 9.1 48.4 250 27 14 9.0 4.9
9250 7.8 46.0 265 27 14 10.3 5.6 | 9.8 49.6 250 27 14 11.4 6.2
9000 8.6 47.5 270 27 14 10.7 5.8 | 10.8 51.4 250 26 14 11.2 6.1
8750 9.3 48.7 270 26 13 9.0 4.9 | 11.4 52.5 250 26 14 8.7 4.8
8500 10.0 50.0 270 26 13 8.9 4.9 | 12.1 53.8 250 26 14 9.3 5.1
8250 10.6 51.1 270 25 13 9.1 5.0 | 12.8 55.0 250 26 13 9.5 5.2
8000 11.3 52.3 270 25 13 9.6 5.3 | 13.6 56.5 255 26 13 10.4 5.7
7750 12.1 53.8 270 24 12 9.8 5.4 | 14.4 57.9 255 26 13 10.3 5.7
7500 12.8 55.0 270 24 12 9.6 5.3 | 15.1 59.2 255 26 13 9.7 5.3
7250 13.5 56.3 270 23 12 9.9 5.4 | 15.8 60.4 255 25 13 10.5 5.8
7000 14.3 57.7 270 22 11 10.4 5.7 | 16.7 62.1 255 25 13 12.1 6.6
6750 15.0 59.0 270 21 11 10.5 5.8 | 17.6 63.7 255 24 12 11.8 6.5
6500 15.9 60.6 270 19 10 15.0 8.2 | 18.7 65.7 255 22 11 19.2 10.6
6250 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
05/17/2026 at 1500 MDT | 05/17/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +3.6 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +0.2
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +5.5 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +8.1
|
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 -59.0 -74.2 235 56 29 2.2 1.2 | -59.5 -75.1 240 52 27 2.3 1.3
45000 -56.1 -69.0 225 67 35 -0.6 -0.3 | -56.5 -69.7 235 62 32 -0.5 -0.3
40000 -57.1 -70.8 230 57 29 -0.5 -0.3 | -57.4 -71.3 230 58 30 -0.4 -0.2
38000 -55.3 -67.5 240 54 28 4.5 2.5 | -55.2 -67.4 235 55 29 4.9 2.7
36000 -52.2 -62.0 250 52 27 4.5 2.5 | -52.0 -61.6 245 53 27 4.9 2.7
34000 -48.4 -55.1 250 53 27 8.2 4.5 | -48.0 -54.4 245 52 27 8.3 4.6
32000 -43.5 -46.3 245 54 28 8.2 4.5 | -43.0 -45.4 245 52 27 8.3 4.6
30000 -38.5 -37.3 245 53 27 8.5 4.7 | -38.1 -36.6 240 49 25 7.8 4.3
29000 -35.9 -32.6 245 51 26 8.5 4.7 | -35.8 -32.4 240 47 24 7.8 4.3
28000 -33.4 -28.1 245 48 25 8.5 4.7 | -33.4 -28.1 240 44 23 7.8 4.3
27000 -30.8 -23.4 245 46 24 8.6 4.7 | -31.0 -23.8 240 41 21 8.7 4.8
26000 -28.3 -18.9 245 45 23 8.6 4.7 | -28.4 -19.1 240 40 20 8.7 4.8
25000 -25.7 -14.3 240 44 23 8.6 4.7 | -25.7 -14.3 245 38 19 8.7 4.8
24000 -23.1 -9.6 240 42 22 8.4 4.6 | -23.1 -9.6 245 37 19 8.4 4.6
23000 -20.6 -5.1 240 40 20 8.4 4.6 | -20.6 -5.1 245 37 19 8.5 4.6
22000 -18.1 -0.6 245 37 19 8.4 4.6 | -18.1 -0.6 245 38 20 8.5 4.6
21000 -15.7 3.7 245 35 18 6.8 3.8 | -15.9 3.4 240 38 19 4.4 2.4
20000 -13.6 7.5 245 33 17 7.0 3.8 | -14.5 5.9 235 34 18 4.9 2.7
19500 -12.1 10.2 245 33 17 7.0 3.8 | -13.5 7.7 235 32 16 5.1 2.8
19000 -11.0 12.2 245 32 17 6.9 3.8 | -12.8 9.0 230 31 16 6.0 3.3
18500 -10.0 14.0 245 31 16 6.4 3.5 | -11.6 11.1 230 30 15 8.7 4.8
18000 -9.1 15.6 245 30 16 6.7 3.7 | -10.3 13.5 230 29 15 8.5 4.7
17500 -8.3 17.1 245 29 15 3.5 1.9 | -9.0 15.8 230 28 14 9.4 5.2
17000 -7.9 17.8 245 27 14 3.3 1.8 | -7.6 18.3 230 28 14 9.5 5.2
16500 -7.5 18.5 240 26 13 5.3 2.9 | -6.1 21.0 230 28 14 9.6 5.3
16000 -6.2 20.8 240 25 13 9.2 5.0 | -4.7 23.5 230 28 14 9.8 5.4
15500 -4.9 23.2 240 25 13 9.1 5.0 | -3.2 26.2 230 28 14 9.8 5.4
15000 -3.5 25.7 240 25 13 9.4 5.2 | -1.8 28.8 230 28 14 9.6 5.3
14500 -2.1 28.2 240 25 13 9.4 5.2 | -0.3 31.5 230 27 14 9.6 5.3
14000 -0.7 30.7 240 25 13 9.6 5.3 | 1.1 34.0 230 27 14 9.6 5.3
13500 0.8 33.4 240 25 13 9.6 5.3 | 2.6 36.7 230 27 14 9.6 5.3
13000 2.2 36.0 240 25 13 9.6 5.3 | 4.0 39.2 230 27 14 9.7 5.3
12500 3.7 38.7 240 25 13 9.6 5.3 | 5.5 41.9 230 27 14 9.7 5.3
12000 5.1 41.2 240 25 13 8.7 4.8 | 6.9 44.4 230 28 14 9.1 5.0
11500 6.3 43.3 240 25 13 9.0 4.9 | 8.2 46.8 230 28 14 9.5 5.2
11000 7.9 46.2 240 25 13 10.6 5.8 | 9.8 49.6 230 28 14 10.2 5.6
10500 9.4 48.9 240 25 13 9.7 5.3 | 11.2 52.2 235 28 14 8.8 4.8
10250 10.1 50.2 240 25 13 9.5 5.2 | 11.9 53.4 235 28 14 10.5 5.7
10000 10.8 51.4 240 25 13 9.9 5.5 | 12.7 54.9 235 28 14 11.0 6.0
9750 11.6 52.9 240 24 13 10.3 5.6 | 13.5 56.3 235 28 14 9.4 5.2
9500 12.3 54.1 240 24 13 10.6 5.8 | 14.2 57.6 235 28 14 9.4 5.2
9250 13.1 55.6 240 24 12 9.1 5.0 | 14.9 58.8 235 28 14 9.5 5.2
9000 13.7 56.7 240 24 12 9.0 4.9 | 15.6 60.1 235 28 14 9.7 5.3
8750 14.5 58.1 245 24 12 10.5 5.8 | 16.4 61.5 235 28 14 9.7 5.3
8500 15.3 59.5 245 24 12 10.0 5.5 | 17.1 62.8 235 28 14 9.8 5.4
8250 16.0 60.8 245 23 12 10.4 5.7 | 17.8 64.0 235 28 14 9.4 5.1
8000 16.8 62.2 245 23 12 11.0 6.0 | 18.5 65.3 235 28 14 11.0 6.1
7750 17.6 63.7 245 23 12 10.4 5.7 | 19.4 66.9 235 27 14 10.9 6.0
7500 18.4 65.1 245 23 12 9.5 5.2 | 20.1 68.2 235 27 14 9.2 5.0
7250 19.1 66.4 245 22 12 10.2 5.6 | 20.9 69.6 235 27 14 9.7 5.3
7000 19.9 67.8 245 22 11 11.7 6.4 | 21.6 70.9 235 26 14 10.3 5.6
6750 21.0 69.8 245 21 11 18.3 10.1 | 22.4 72.3 235 25 13 12.0 6.6
6500 22.7 72.9 245 19 10 27.1 14.9 | 23.4 74.1 235 22 11 13.2 7.3
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
0725 MDT Sunday May 17 2026
This forecast is for Sunday, May 17, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 65.8 F/18.8 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1216 ft/min (6.2 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 19903 ft MSL (14219 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 85.0 F/29.9 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0845 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................. 16430 ft MSL (10746 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 05/18....... Good
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 06:01:04 / 20:04:46 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 3 min 42 sec (843 min 42 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:02:55 MDT... 74.41 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 05/17/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 13090 ft MSL (7406 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 20477 ft MSL (14793 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 20632 ft MSL (14948 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... -0.3
K index......................... -6.1
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 -60.3 -76.5 235 50 26 3.3 1.8 91.9 197.4 36.4 M M
45000 -55.8 -68.4 230 56 29 0.9 0.5 76.4 169.5 29.2 M M
40000 -54.4 -65.9 235 73 37 1.0 0.5 56.0 132.8 17.7 M M
38000 -52.5 -62.5 235 72 37 3.4 1.9 48.8 119.9 13.3 M M
36000 -50.5 -58.9 235 69 35 3.4 1.9 43.4 110.2 9.8 M M
34000 -47.5 -53.5 240 64 33 6.8 3.7 39.5 103.1 7.3 M M
32000 -43.4 -46.1 240 58 30 6.8 3.7 37.1 98.8 5.7 M M
30000 -38.9 -38.0 235 53 27 8.3 4.6 35.4 95.7 4.5 M M
29000 -36.4 -33.5 235 51 26 8.3 4.6 34.7 94.5 4.1 M M
28000 -34.0 -29.2 235 50 26 8.3 4.6 34.3 93.7 3.7 M M
27000 -31.4 -24.5 235 48 25 8.6 4.7 33.8 92.9 3.4 M M
26000 -28.9 -20.0 230 47 24 8.6 4.7 33.3 91.9 3.1 M M
25000 -26.3 -15.3 230 46 24 8.6 4.7 32.9 91.2 2.8 M M
24000 -23.7 -10.7 230 45 23 8.1 4.4 32.6 90.6 2.5 M M
23000 -20.8 -5.4 230 43 22 8.0 4.4 31.6 88.9 1.8 M M
22000 -18.4 -1.1 230 42 22 7.9 4.4 31.0 87.9 1.3 M M
21000 -16.1 3.0 230 42 21 7.5 4.1 30.3 86.6 0.7 M M
20000 -13.8 7.2 235 41 21 7.5 4.1 29.5 85.1 0.0 M M
19500 -12.7 9.1 235 41 21 7.5 4.1 29.2 84.5 -0.3 1171 5.9
19000 -11.6 11.1 235 41 21 7.5 4.1 28.8 83.9 -0.6 1122 5.7
18500 -10.5 13.1 235 41 21 6.6 3.6 28.4 83.0 -1.0 1076 5.5
18000 -9.5 14.9 235 41 21 6.7 3.7 27.8 82.1 -1.5 1031 5.2
17500 -8.5 16.7 240 42 21 6.6 3.6 27.3 81.2 -1.9 986 5.0
17000 -7.5 18.5 240 42 22 6.5 3.6 26.8 80.2 -2.4 942 4.8
16500 -6.6 20.1 240 42 22 6.5 3.6 26.2 79.2 -2.9 898 4.6
16000 -5.6 21.9 240 43 22 6.6 3.6 25.7 78.2 -3.4 854 4.3
15500 -4.6 23.7 245 43 22 6.6 3.6 25.2 77.3 -3.9 810 4.1
15000 -3.6 25.5 245 43 22 6.4 3.5 24.6 76.3 -4.5 767 3.9
14500 -2.7 27.1 245 42 22 6.4 3.5 24.1 75.3 -5.0 723 3.7
14000 -1.7 28.9 245 42 21 6.2 3.4 23.5 74.4 -5.5 680 3.5
13500 -0.8 30.6 250 40 21 6.0 3.3 22.9 73.2 -6.1 638 3.2
13000 0.1 32.2 250 39 20 5.8 3.2 22.3 72.2 -6.7 597 3.0
12500 0.9 33.6 250 37 19 5.5 3.0 21.6 70.9 -7.4 558 2.8
12000 1.7 35.1 255 34 18 5.6 3.1 21.0 69.7 -8.1 519 2.6
11500 2.5 36.5 255 30 16 6.0 3.3 20.3 68.6 -8.8 480 2.4
11000 3.3 37.9 260 26 14 6.7 3.7 19.7 67.5 -9.5 441 2.2
10500 4.4 39.9 265 23 12 8.8 4.8 19.5 67.1 -9.9 392 2.0
10250 5.1 41.2 270 22 11 8.5 4.7 19.4 66.9 -10.0 366 1.9
10000 5.7 42.3 270 21 11 8.9 4.9 19.3 66.8 -10.1 340 1.7
9750 6.4 43.5 275 20 10 9.6 5.3 19.3 66.7 -10.2 312 1.6
9500 7.1 44.8 275 20 10 9.8 5.4 19.3 66.7 -10.2 282 1.4
9250 7.8 46.0 275 19 10 9.2 5.1 19.3 66.7 -10.3 254 1.3
9000 9.2 48.6 275 18 9 9.5 5.2 19.2 66.5 -10.4 198 1.0
8750 9.9 49.8 280 17 9 9.5 5.2 19.2 66.5 -10.5 169 0.9
8500 10.6 51.1 280 17 9 9.7 5.3 19.2 66.5 -10.5 140 0.7
8250 11.3 52.3 280 16 8 9.0 4.9 19.2 66.5 -10.5 111 0.6
8000 12.0 53.6 275 16 8 8.2 4.5 19.0 66.3 -10.6 85 0.4
7750 12.6 54.7 275 15 8 8.6 4.7 18.9 66.1 -10.8 58 0.3
7500 13.2 55.8 275 15 8 7.9 4.3 18.8 65.9 -10.9 32 0.2
7250 13.8 56.8 275 13 7 6.0 3.3 18.6 65.5 -11.1 9 0.0
7000 14.2 57.6 270 12 6 5.2 2.9 18.3 64.9 -11.5 M M
6750 14.6 58.3 265 12 6 5.6 3.1 18.0 64.3 -11.8 M M
6500 15.0 59.0 265 12 6 5.0 2.7 17.6 63.8 -12.2 M M
6250 15.1 59.2 255 11 6 -4.0 -2.2 17.0 62.7 -12.8 M M
6000 14.3 57.7 250 9 4 -17.0 -9.3 15.5 59.9 -14.4 M M
5750 13.5 56.3 235 6 3 5.5 3.0 13.9 57.1 -16.0 M M
5500 M M M M M M M M M M M M
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/17/2026 at 0900 MDT | 05/17/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.5 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +5.6
CINH... -0.1 K Index... -16.9 | CINH... -0.3 K Index... -12.8
|
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 -59.0 -74.2 235 52 27 2.6 1.4 | -59.0 -74.2 235 55 28 3.3 1.8
45000 -55.5 -67.9 225 59 30 -0.0 -0.0 | -54.9 -66.8 225 62 32 -1.9 -1.0
40000 -55.7 -68.3 240 70 36 0.0 0.0 | -57.9 -72.2 240 56 29 -1.8 -1.0
38000 -53.8 -64.8 240 70 36 3.7 2.0 | -55.8 -68.4 245 55 28 4.8 2.6
36000 -51.6 -60.9 235 68 35 3.7 2.0 | -52.9 -63.2 250 53 27 4.8 2.6
34000 -48.4 -55.1 235 65 34 7.3 4.0 | -49.0 -56.2 250 52 27 8.5 4.7
32000 -44.0 -47.2 230 61 31 7.3 4.0 | -43.9 -47.0 245 50 26 8.5 4.7
30000 -39.2 -38.6 230 57 29 8.7 4.8 | -38.8 -37.8 245 48 25 8.7 4.7
29000 -36.6 -33.9 230 56 29 8.7 4.8 | -36.2 -33.2 245 48 25 8.7 4.7
28000 -34.0 -29.2 230 55 28 8.7 4.8 | -33.6 -28.5 245 48 25 8.6 4.7
27000 -31.4 -24.5 235 54 28 8.7 4.8 | -31.0 -23.8 250 47 24 8.4 4.6
26000 -28.8 -19.8 235 53 27 8.7 4.8 | -28.5 -19.3 250 45 23 8.4 4.6
25000 -26.2 -15.2 235 52 27 8.7 4.8 | -26.0 -14.8 255 43 22 8.4 4.6
24000 -23.6 -10.5 235 51 26 8.3 4.6 | -23.5 -10.3 260 41 21 7.9 4.3
23000 -20.6 -5.1 240 49 25 8.2 4.5 | -20.6 -5.1 255 41 21 7.8 4.3
22000 -18.1 -0.6 240 47 24 8.2 4.5 | -18.2 -0.8 250 41 21 7.8 4.3
21000 -15.8 3.6 240 45 23 7.4 4.1 | -16.0 3.2 250 40 21 7.3 4.0
20000 -13.6 7.5 235 42 22 7.4 4.1 | -13.8 7.2 250 38 20 7.2 4.0
19500 -12.4 9.7 235 41 21 7.4 4.1 | -12.7 9.1 250 37 19 7.2 4.0
19000 -11.3 11.7 235 40 20 7.4 4.1 | -11.6 11.1 255 35 18 7.3 4.0
18500 -10.3 13.5 235 39 20 6.6 3.6 | -10.5 13.1 255 35 18 8.1 4.4
18000 -9.3 15.3 235 38 20 6.6 3.6 | -9.3 15.3 255 34 18 8.0 4.4
17500 -8.3 17.1 235 38 19 6.3 3.4 | -8.1 17.4 250 34 17 7.6 4.1
17000 -7.4 18.7 240 38 19 6.0 3.3 | -7.0 19.4 250 33 17 7.3 4.0
16500 -6.5 20.3 240 38 19 6.0 3.3 | -5.9 21.4 250 33 17 7.2 3.9
16000 -5.6 21.9 240 37 19 5.7 3.1 | -4.9 23.2 250 32 17 6.3 3.5
15500 -4.8 23.4 245 37 19 5.7 3.1 | -3.9 25.0 250 32 16 6.6 3.6
15000 -3.9 25.0 245 36 19 5.8 3.2 | -3.1 26.4 250 31 16 4.0 2.2
14500 -3.1 26.4 245 36 18 5.8 3.2 | -2.6 27.3 250 29 15 4.0 2.2
14000 -2.2 28.0 250 35 18 5.9 3.2 | -2.0 28.4 250 28 14 3.4 1.9
13500 -1.3 29.7 250 34 18 5.9 3.2 | -1.6 29.1 250 26 13 3.4 1.9
13000 -0.4 31.3 250 33 17 6.1 3.3 | -1.2 29.8 245 24 12 5.9 3.2
12500 0.5 32.9 250 32 17 6.3 3.4 | 0.0 32.0 245 23 12 8.6 4.7
12000 1.4 34.5 255 31 16 6.4 3.5 | 1.3 34.3 245 23 12 8.9 4.9
11500 2.4 36.3 255 30 15 6.7 3.7 | 2.7 36.9 245 23 12 9.3 5.1
11000 3.3 37.9 255 28 15 6.9 3.8 | 4.1 39.4 245 23 12 9.4 5.1
10500 4.4 39.9 255 26 14 7.2 4.0 | 5.5 41.9 245 23 12 9.5 5.2
10250 4.9 40.8 255 25 13 7.1 3.9 | 6.2 43.2 245 23 12 9.3 5.1
10000 5.4 41.7 260 24 12 7.4 4.1 | 6.9 44.4 245 22 12 9.5 5.2
9750 5.9 42.6 260 23 12 7.9 4.3 | 7.6 45.7 245 22 12 9.8 5.4
9500 6.5 43.7 260 22 11 8.0 4.4 | 8.4 47.1 245 22 11 9.7 5.3
9250 7.0 44.6 260 21 11 8.3 4.5 | 9.1 48.4 245 22 11 9.5 5.2
9000 7.6 45.7 260 20 10 8.5 4.7 | 9.8 49.6 245 22 11 9.4 5.1
8750 8.3 46.9 260 20 10 8.8 4.8 | 10.5 50.9 245 22 11 9.4 5.2
8500 8.9 48.0 260 20 10 8.4 4.6 | 11.2 52.2 245 22 11 9.1 5.0
8250 10.3 50.5 260 20 10 10.2 5.6 | 12.7 54.9 245 22 11 10.5 5.8
8000 11.0 51.8 260 20 10 8.8 4.8 | 13.4 56.1 245 21 11 9.7 5.3
7750 11.7 53.1 260 20 10 9.3 5.1 | 14.2 57.6 245 21 11 9.7 5.3
7500 12.4 54.3 260 20 10 8.7 4.8 | 14.9 58.8 245 21 11 10.5 5.8
7250 13.0 55.4 260 21 11 9.3 5.1 | 15.7 60.3 245 21 11 11.0 6.0
7000 13.8 56.8 260 21 11 10.2 5.6 | 16.5 61.7 245 20 10 10.4 5.7
6750 14.5 58.1 260 20 11 10.0 5.5 | 17.3 63.1 245 20 10 10.6 5.8
6500 15.2 59.4 260 20 10 9.9 5.5 | 18.1 64.6 245 20 10 10.4 5.7
6250 16.1 61.0 260 20 10 14.2 7.8 | 19.0 66.2 245 19 10 18.0 9.9
6000 17.4 63.3 260 18 9 21.4 11.7 | 20.9 69.6 245 18 9 30.4 16.7
5750 18.8 65.8 260 17 9 8.6 4.7 | 22.7 72.9 245 16 8 8.4 4.6
5500 M M M M M M M | M M M M M M M
05/17/2026 at 1500 MDT | 05/17/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +3.6 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... -0.1
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +5.8 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +8.3
|
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 -58.5 -73.3 235 55 28 3.1 1.7 | -58.6 -73.5 240 53 27 2.1 1.1
45000 -54.8 -66.6 230 64 33 -2.2 -1.2 | -56.0 -68.8 235 61 32 -1.1 -0.6
40000 -58.4 -73.1 240 58 30 -2.2 -1.2 | -57.8 -72.0 240 58 30 -1.0 -0.6
38000 -56.1 -69.0 245 57 29 5.3 2.9 | -55.8 -68.4 245 56 29 5.1 2.8
36000 -52.9 -63.2 250 55 28 5.4 2.9 | -52.4 -62.3 245 54 28 5.1 2.8
34000 -48.7 -55.7 250 55 28 8.7 4.8 | -48.3 -54.9 245 53 27 8.6 4.7
32000 -43.5 -46.3 245 55 28 8.7 4.8 | -43.2 -45.8 245 51 26 8.6 4.7
30000 -38.4 -37.1 245 53 27 8.1 4.5 | -38.4 -37.1 240 48 25 7.1 3.9
29000 -36.0 -32.8 245 51 26 8.1 4.5 | -36.3 -33.3 240 46 23 7.1 3.9
28000 -33.6 -28.5 250 49 25 8.1 4.5 | -34.1 -29.4 235 43 22 7.2 3.9
27000 -31.1 -24.0 250 47 24 8.4 4.6 | -31.8 -25.2 235 41 21 9.2 5.0
26000 -28.6 -19.5 245 44 23 8.4 4.6 | -29.1 -20.4 240 39 20 9.0 5.0
25000 -26.0 -14.8 245 42 22 8.4 4.6 | -26.4 -15.5 245 38 19 9.0 5.0
24000 -23.5 -10.3 240 39 20 8.5 4.6 | -23.7 -10.7 245 36 19 8.8 4.8
23000 -20.3 -4.5 245 36 18 8.5 4.7 | -20.4 -4.7 245 36 19 8.7 4.8
22000 -17.8 -0.0 245 33 17 8.4 4.6 | -17.8 -0.0 245 36 18 8.6 4.7
21000 -15.5 4.1 245 31 16 6.9 3.8 | -15.8 3.6 245 34 17 4.8 2.6
20000 -13.4 7.9 245 32 17 6.9 3.8 | -14.5 5.9 240 29 15 4.8 2.6
19500 -12.4 9.7 245 33 17 6.9 3.8 | -13.8 7.2 235 27 14 4.9 2.7
19000 -11.4 11.5 245 33 17 6.8 3.7 | -13.1 8.4 235 25 13 5.2 2.9
18500 -10.7 12.7 245 32 17 4.0 2.2 | -12.0 10.4 230 24 12 9.5 5.2
18000 -10.1 13.8 245 30 16 4.2 2.3 | -10.6 12.9 230 23 12 9.2 5.0
17500 -9.4 15.1 245 28 15 4.9 2.7 | -9.3 15.3 230 22 12 9.5 5.2
17000 -8.7 16.3 240 26 14 5.3 2.9 | -7.8 18.0 230 22 11 9.6 5.3
16500 -7.9 17.8 235 25 13 5.9 3.2 | -6.4 20.5 230 22 11 9.6 5.3
16000 -6.8 19.8 235 24 12 9.2 5.0 | -4.9 23.2 230 22 11 9.6 5.3
15500 -5.4 22.3 235 23 12 8.9 4.9 | -3.5 25.7 230 22 11 9.6 5.3
15000 -4.0 24.8 235 23 12 9.7 5.3 | -2.1 28.2 230 22 11 9.6 5.3
14500 -2.6 27.3 235 23 12 9.7 5.3 | -0.6 30.9 230 22 11 9.6 5.3
14000 -1.1 30.0 235 23 12 9.5 5.2 | 0.8 33.4 230 22 11 9.7 5.3
13500 0.3 32.5 235 23 12 9.5 5.2 | 2.3 36.1 230 22 11 9.8 5.4
13000 1.7 35.1 235 23 12 9.6 5.2 | 3.7 38.7 230 22 11 9.7 5.3
12500 3.1 37.6 235 22 12 9.6 5.3 | 5.2 41.4 230 22 11 9.6 5.3
12000 4.6 40.3 235 22 11 9.6 5.3 | 6.6 43.9 230 22 11 9.6 5.3
11500 6.0 42.8 235 22 11 9.6 5.3 | 8.1 46.6 230 22 11 9.7 5.3
11000 7.5 45.5 235 22 11 9.7 5.3 | 9.5 49.1 230 22 11 10.3 5.7
10500 8.9 48.0 235 21 11 9.8 5.4 | 11.1 52.0 230 22 11 9.6 5.3
10250 9.7 49.5 235 21 11 9.7 5.3 | 11.8 53.2 230 22 11 9.0 4.9
10000 10.4 50.7 235 21 11 9.8 5.4 | 12.5 54.5 230 22 11 9.3 5.1
9750 11.1 52.0 235 20 11 10.0 5.5 | 13.2 55.8 230 22 11 10.2 5.6
9500 11.9 53.4 235 20 10 9.9 5.4 | 14.0 57.2 230 22 11 9.9 5.5
9250 12.6 54.7 235 20 10 9.4 5.1 | 14.7 58.5 230 22 11 8.8 4.8
9000 13.3 55.9 235 20 10 9.4 5.2 | 15.3 59.5 230 22 11 9.0 5.0
8750 14.0 57.2 235 19 10 9.7 5.3 | 16.7 62.1 230 22 11 9.8 5.4
8500 14.7 58.5 235 19 10 9.5 5.2 | 17.5 63.5 230 22 11 9.7 5.3
8250 16.3 61.3 235 19 10 10.5 5.8 | 18.2 64.8 230 22 11 9.7 5.3
8000 17.0 62.6 240 18 9 9.7 5.3 | 18.9 66.0 230 22 11 9.8 5.4
7750 17.7 63.9 240 18 9 9.6 5.3 | 19.7 67.5 230 22 11 9.8 5.4
7500 18.5 65.3 240 18 9 10.3 5.6 | 20.4 68.7 230 22 11 9.8 5.4
7250 19.3 66.7 240 17 9 10.7 5.9 | 21.1 70.0 230 22 11 10.1 5.5
7000 20.1 68.2 240 17 9 10.3 5.7 | 21.9 71.4 230 21 11 10.2 5.6
6750 20.8 69.4 240 16 8 10.4 5.7 | 22.7 72.9 230 21 11 10.3 5.6
6500 21.6 70.9 240 16 8 10.5 5.8 | 23.4 74.1 230 21 11 9.8 5.4
6250 22.6 72.7 240 15 8 17.5 9.6 | 24.2 75.6 230 20 10 11.6 6.4
6000 24.3 75.7 240 14 7 28.2 15.5 | 25.2 77.4 230 18 9 15.8 8.7
5750 26.0 78.8 240 13 7 9.5 5.2 | 26.2 79.2 230 16 8 7.9 4.3
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
0726 MDT Sunday May 17 2026
This forecast is for Sunday, May 17, 2026:
If the trigger temperature of 62.6 F/17.0 C is reached...then
Thermal Soaring Index....................... Excellent
Maximum rate of lift........................ 1125 ft/min (5.7 m/s)
Maximum height of thermals.................. 19508 ft MSL (13044 ft AGL)
Forecast maximum temperature................... 80.0 F/27.1 C
Time of trigger temperature.................... 0900 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................. 16119 ft MSL (9654 ft AGL)
Thermal soaring outlook for Monday 05/18....... Good
Remarks...
Sunrise/Sunset.................... 05:57:40 / 20:03:57 MDT
Total possible sunshine........... 14 hr 6 min 18 sec (846 min 18 sec)
Altitude of sun at 13:00:48 MDT... 73.85 degrees
Upper air data from numerical model forecast valid on 05/17/2026 at 0600 MDT
Freezing level.................. 12825 ft MSL (6361 ft AGL)
Convective condensation level... 21027 ft MSL (14563 ft AGL)
Lifted condensation level....... 20833 ft MSL (14369 ft AGL)
Lifted index.................... +0.4
K index......................... -8.9
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 -60.1 -76.2 230 48 25 2.4 1.3 89.3 192.8 36.8 M M
45000 -56.6 -69.9 230 59 30 1.3 0.7 72.3 162.2 28.6 M M
40000 -54.8 -66.6 225 66 34 1.3 0.7 52.7 126.9 17.5 M M
38000 -52.5 -62.5 225 65 34 4.1 2.3 46.2 115.2 13.5 M M
36000 -50.0 -58.0 230 64 33 4.1 2.3 41.5 106.7 10.5 M M
34000 -46.7 -52.1 230 62 32 7.2 3.9 38.1 100.5 8.3 M M
32000 -42.4 -44.3 235 60 31 7.2 3.9 36.0 96.7 6.9 M M
30000 -38.0 -36.4 235 58 30 7.5 4.1 34.1 93.4 5.7 M M
29000 -35.8 -32.4 235 56 29 7.5 4.1 33.2 91.7 5.0 M M
28000 -33.6 -28.5 235 54 28 7.5 4.1 32.4 90.3 4.5 M M
27000 -31.2 -24.2 235 53 27 8.6 4.7 31.7 89.1 4.0 M M
26000 -28.7 -19.7 230 52 27 8.5 4.6 31.1 88.1 3.6 M M
25000 -25.5 -13.9 230 51 26 8.5 4.7 30.6 87.1 3.2 M M
24000 -23.1 -9.6 230 50 26 7.8 4.3 30.1 86.2 2.8 M M
23000 -20.7 -5.3 230 48 25 7.9 4.3 29.4 84.9 2.2 M M
22000 -18.4 -1.1 230 47 24 7.9 4.3 28.7 83.7 1.7 M M
21000 -16.1 3.0 230 46 23 7.2 4.0 28.0 82.4 1.1 M M
20000 -13.9 7.0 235 44 23 7.3 4.0 27.1 80.8 0.3 M M
19500 -12.8 9.0 235 43 22 7.3 4.0 26.7 80.0 -0.0 1122 5.7
19000 -11.7 10.9 235 43 22 7.3 4.0 26.3 79.4 -0.4 1075 5.5
18500 -10.7 12.7 235 42 22 6.9 3.8 25.9 78.6 -0.8 1028 5.2
18000 -9.7 14.5 240 42 22 6.9 3.8 25.4 77.7 -1.2 983 5.0
17500 -8.6 16.5 240 42 22 6.8 3.7 24.9 76.9 -1.6 937 4.8
17000 -7.6 18.3 240 42 21 6.6 3.6 24.4 75.9 -2.1 893 4.5
16500 -6.7 19.9 245 42 21 6.6 3.6 23.9 75.0 -2.6 848 4.3
16000 -5.7 21.7 245 41 21 6.5 3.5 23.3 74.0 -3.1 804 4.1
15500 -4.7 23.5 250 41 21 6.5 3.6 22.8 73.0 -3.6 761 3.9
15000 -3.8 25.2 250 40 21 6.3 3.4 22.2 72.0 -4.1 717 3.6
14500 -2.8 27.0 250 39 20 6.2 3.4 21.7 71.0 -4.7 675 3.4
14000 -1.9 28.6 255 37 19 5.7 3.1 21.1 70.0 -5.2 633 3.2
13500 -1.2 29.8 255 35 18 5.1 2.8 20.3 68.6 -6.0 596 3.0
13000 -0.4 31.3 255 33 17 5.3 2.9 19.6 67.3 -6.8 559 2.8
12500 0.4 32.7 260 32 16 6.1 3.4 19.0 66.1 -7.4 519 2.6
12000 1.2 34.2 265 30 15 6.4 3.5 18.4 65.1 -8.1 479 2.4
11500 2.3 36.1 265 28 15 7.7 4.2 18.0 64.4 -8.6 434 2.2
11000 4.0 39.2 270 27 14 8.6 4.7 17.6 63.6 -9.1 361 1.8
10500 5.3 41.5 275 27 14 8.9 4.9 17.4 63.4 -9.3 306 1.6
10250 5.9 42.6 275 26 14 8.9 4.9 17.4 63.3 -9.4 279 1.4
10000 6.6 43.9 275 26 13 9.3 5.1 17.3 63.1 -9.5 252 1.3
9750 7.3 45.1 275 25 13 9.5 5.2 17.3 63.1 -9.5 223 1.1
9500 8.0 46.4 275 25 13 9.7 5.3 17.3 63.1 -9.6 194 1.0
9250 8.7 47.7 275 25 13 8.6 4.7 17.2 63.0 -9.6 166 0.8
9000 9.3 48.7 275 23 12 7.4 4.1 17.1 62.8 -9.8 141 0.7
8750 9.9 49.8 275 22 11 7.5 4.1 16.9 62.4 -10.0 117 0.6
8500 10.4 50.7 275 20 10 7.5 4.1 16.7 62.1 -10.2 93 0.5
8250 11.0 51.8 275 19 10 7.4 4.1 16.6 61.8 -10.4 68 0.3
8000 11.5 52.7 270 17 9 6.2 3.4 16.4 61.4 -10.6 45 0.2
7750 12.0 53.6 270 15 8 5.5 3.0 16.0 60.9 -10.9 25 0.1
7500 12.4 54.3 265 13 7 5.6 3.1 15.7 60.3 -11.3 5 0.0
7250 12.8 55.0 260 12 6 5.6 3.1 15.4 59.8 -11.6 M M
7000 12.9 55.2 255 10 5 -8.0 -4.4 14.8 58.6 -12.3 M M
6750 11.4 52.5 245 7 4 -30.8 -16.9 12.5 54.5 -14.5 13 0.1
6500 9.9 49.8 230 4 2 9.8 5.3 10.3 50.5 -16.8 51 0.3
* * * * * * Numerical weather prediction model forecast data valid * * * * * *
05/17/2026 at 0900 MDT | 05/17/2026 at 1200 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +6.7 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +5.0
CINH... -0.1 K Index... -13.6 | CINH... -0.3 K Index... -12.1
|
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 -59.3 -74.7 235 55 28 1.9 1.1 | -58.8 -73.8 235 57 29 2.4 1.3
45000 -56.6 -69.9 225 61 31 0.7 0.4 | -55.8 -68.4 225 64 33 -0.9 -0.5
40000 -55.6 -68.1 235 65 34 0.8 0.4 | -57.2 -71.0 235 56 29 -0.8 -0.5
38000 -53.5 -64.3 235 66 34 4.4 2.4 | -55.5 -67.9 240 55 28 4.2 2.3
36000 -50.6 -59.1 235 65 33 4.4 2.4 | -52.7 -62.9 245 56 29 4.2 2.3
34000 -47.4 -53.3 230 64 33 6.3 3.5 | -49.0 -56.2 245 56 29 8.5 4.7
32000 -43.6 -46.5 230 61 31 6.4 3.5 | -44.0 -47.2 245 53 27 8.5 4.7
30000 -39.1 -38.4 225 58 30 8.9 4.9 | -38.8 -37.8 245 52 27 8.6 4.7
29000 -36.5 -33.7 225 57 29 8.9 4.9 | -36.3 -33.3 250 53 27 8.6 4.7
28000 -33.8 -28.8 225 55 29 8.9 4.9 | -33.7 -28.7 250 54 28 8.6 4.7
27000 -31.2 -24.2 225 54 28 8.5 4.7 | -31.1 -24.0 250 54 28 8.2 4.5
26000 -28.7 -19.7 230 54 28 8.6 4.7 | -28.7 -19.7 250 52 27 8.3 4.5
25000 -26.1 -15.0 230 53 27 8.6 4.7 | -26.2 -15.2 250 49 25 8.3 4.5
24000 -22.9 -9.2 230 52 27 8.2 4.5 | -23.7 -10.7 250 47 24 7.5 4.1
23000 -20.5 -4.9 235 50 26 8.2 4.5 | -21.1 -6.0 250 45 23 7.2 3.9
22000 -18.0 -0.4 235 49 25 8.2 4.5 | -18.9 -2.0 245 44 23 7.2 4.0
21000 -15.6 3.9 235 47 24 7.5 4.1 | -16.7 1.9 245 43 22 7.9 4.3
20000 -13.4 7.9 240 45 23 7.5 4.1 | -14.3 6.3 250 41 21 7.9 4.3
19500 -12.2 10.0 240 44 23 7.6 4.1 | -13.1 8.4 250 40 20 7.9 4.3
19000 -11.1 12.0 240 43 22 7.7 4.2 | -12.0 10.4 250 39 20 7.9 4.3
18500 -10.1 13.8 240 42 22 6.5 3.5 | -10.8 12.6 250 38 20 7.6 4.1
18000 -9.1 15.6 240 42 21 6.6 3.6 | -9.7 14.5 250 38 19 7.6 4.2
17500 -8.1 17.4 240 41 21 6.2 3.4 | -8.5 16.7 250 37 19 7.1 3.9
17000 -7.2 19.0 240 41 21 5.8 3.2 | -7.5 18.5 250 36 19 6.8 3.7
16500 -6.4 20.5 245 40 21 5.8 3.2 | -6.5 20.3 250 35 18 6.7 3.7
16000 -5.6 21.9 245 40 20 5.0 2.7 | -5.7 21.7 250 33 17 4.7 2.6
15500 -4.8 23.4 250 39 20 5.1 2.8 | -5.0 23.0 255 31 16 5.0 2.7
15000 -4.1 24.6 250 37 19 4.8 2.6 | -4.4 24.1 255 29 15 3.6 2.0
14500 -3.4 25.9 250 36 18 4.7 2.6 | -3.9 25.0 255 26 13 3.7 2.0
14000 -2.7 27.1 255 34 18 4.6 2.5 | -3.4 25.9 255 23 12 6.4 3.5
13500 -2.0 28.4 255 32 17 4.5 2.5 | -2.2 28.0 255 23 12 8.4 4.6
13000 -1.4 29.5 260 30 16 4.8 2.6 | -0.9 30.4 255 22 11 8.7 4.8
12500 -0.7 30.7 260 28 14 5.7 3.1 | 0.4 32.7 255 21 11 9.2 5.1
12000 0.1 32.2 260 25 13 6.2 3.4 | 1.8 35.2 255 21 11 9.2 5.1
11500 1.2 34.2 265 24 12 8.5 4.7 | 3.2 37.8 255 21 11 9.3 5.1
11000 2.4 36.3 265 23 12 9.1 5.0 | 4.6 40.3 250 21 11 9.7 5.3
10500 3.8 38.8 265 22 11 9.1 5.0 | 6.0 42.8 250 21 11 9.2 5.0
10250 5.2 41.4 265 22 11 9.7 5.3 | 7.4 45.3 250 21 11 9.9 5.4
10000 5.9 42.6 265 21 11 9.6 5.3 | 8.1 46.6 250 21 11 9.8 5.4
9750 6.6 43.9 265 21 11 9.5 5.2 | 8.9 48.0 250 21 11 9.7 5.3
9500 7.3 45.1 265 21 11 9.6 5.2 | 9.6 49.3 250 22 11 9.7 5.3
9250 8.0 46.4 265 21 11 9.5 5.2 | 10.3 50.5 250 22 11 9.9 5.4
9000 8.7 47.7 265 20 10 9.7 5.3 | 11.1 52.0 250 22 11 10.2 5.6
8750 9.4 48.9 265 20 10 9.8 5.4 | 11.8 53.2 250 22 11 10.2 5.6
8500 10.2 50.4 265 20 10 9.7 5.3 | 12.6 54.7 250 22 11 10.2 5.6
8250 10.9 51.6 265 19 10 9.8 5.4 | 13.3 55.9 245 22 11 10.2 5.6
8000 11.6 52.9 265 19 10 10.0 5.5 | 14.1 57.4 245 22 11 10.6 5.8
7750 12.4 54.3 265 18 9 10.2 5.6 | 14.9 58.8 245 21 11 10.9 6.0
7500 13.1 55.6 265 18 9 10.2 5.6 | 15.7 60.3 245 21 11 10.8 5.9
7250 13.9 57.0 265 17 9 9.7 5.3 | 16.5 61.7 245 21 11 11.2 6.1
7000 14.7 58.5 265 17 9 14.2 7.8 | 17.6 63.7 245 21 11 19.3 10.6
6750 16.1 61.0 265 15 8 23.0 12.6 | 19.5 67.1 245 19 10 31.6 17.3
6500 17.5 63.5 260 13 7 7.1 3.9 | 21.4 70.5 245 18 9 10.2 5.6
05/17/2026 at 1500 MDT | 05/17/2026 at 1800 MDT
|
CAPE... 0.0 LI... +3.9 | CAPE... 0.0 LI... +1.6
CINH... 0.0 K Index... +13.7 | CINH... 0.0 K Index... +10.2
|
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 -58.4 -73.1 235 57 29 3.0 1.7 | -58.1 -72.6 235 52 27 1.4 0.8
45000 -54.7 -66.5 230 67 34 -2.0 -1.1 | -56.3 -69.3 235 63 33 -0.7 -0.4
40000 -57.9 -72.2 240 63 32 -2.0 -1.1 | -57.4 -71.3 240 58 30 -0.5 -0.3
38000 -56.3 -69.3 240 61 32 4.9 2.7 | -55.4 -67.7 240 57 30 4.6 2.6
36000 -53.0 -63.4 245 60 31 4.9 2.7 | -52.6 -62.7 235 57 29 4.7 2.6
34000 -49.0 -56.2 245 59 30 8.6 4.7 | -49.0 -56.2 240 54 28 8.2 4.5
32000 -43.9 -47.0 245 58 30 8.6 4.7 | -44.1 -47.4 240 48 25 8.2 4.5
30000 -38.9 -38.0 250 56 29 8.1 4.4 | -38.7 -37.7 245 44 23 7.8 4.3
29000 -36.5 -33.7 250 53 27 8.1 4.4 | -36.3 -33.3 245 43 22 7.8 4.3
28000 -34.1 -29.4 250 51 26 8.1 4.4 | -34.0 -29.2 245 43 22 7.9 4.3
27000 -31.6 -24.9 250 48 25 8.5 4.7 | -31.5 -24.7 240 42 22 8.6 4.7
26000 -29.1 -20.4 250 45 23 8.4 4.6 | -29.0 -20.2 240 41 21 8.6 4.7
25000 -26.6 -15.9 245 41 21 8.4 4.6 | -26.4 -15.5 240 40 21 8.6 4.7
24000 -23.4 -10.1 245 37 19 8.8 4.8 | -23.8 -10.8 240 40 20 8.7 4.8
23000 -20.7 -5.3 245 35 18 8.8 4.8 | -21.2 -6.2 245 39 20 8.7 4.8
22000 -18.1 -0.6 250 32 16 8.7 4.8 | -18.5 -1.3 245 39 20 8.7 4.8
21000 -15.7 3.7 250 31 16 7.2 4.0 | -16.2 2.8 245 39 20 6.0 3.3
20000 -13.5 7.7 245 32 16 7.2 4.0 | -14.4 6.1 245 37 19 6.2 3.4
19500 -12.4 9.7 245 32 16 7.3 4.0 | -13.5 7.7 240 36 19 6.3 3.4
19000 -11.4 11.5 245 32 17 7.6 4.2 | -12.6 9.3 240 36 18 6.4 3.5
18500 -10.6 12.9 245 31 16 3.0 1.6 | -11.7 10.9 235 34 18 5.6 3.1
18000 -10.1 13.8 245 29 15 3.6 2.0 | -10.9 12.4 235 32 17 5.7 3.2
17500 -9.7 14.5 245 27 14 4.3 2.3 | -10.1 13.8 230 31 16 6.9 3.8
17000 -9.0 15.8 245 25 13 4.6 2.6 | -8.8 16.2 230 29 15 8.7 4.8
16500 -8.4 16.9 245 23 12 4.8 2.6 | -7.5 18.5 230 28 14 8.6 4.7
16000 -7.3 18.9 245 22 11 9.6 5.3 | -6.1 21.0 230 27 14 9.8 5.4
15500 -5.9 21.4 245 21 11 9.2 5.1 | -4.7 23.5 230 26 13 9.7 5.3
15000 -4.5 23.9 245 21 11 9.5 5.2 | -3.2 26.2 230 26 13 9.7 5.3
14500 -3.1 26.4 245 21 11 9.5 5.2 | -1.8 28.8 230 25 13 9.6 5.3
14000 -1.7 28.9 245 21 11 9.5 5.2 | -0.3 31.5 230 25 13 9.6 5.3
13500 -0.2 31.6 245 21 11 9.6 5.2 | 1.1 34.0 230 24 13 9.7 5.3
13000 1.2 34.2 245 21 11 9.6 5.2 | 2.6 36.7 235 24 12 9.7 5.3
12500 2.6 36.7 245 21 11 9.6 5.2 | 4.8 40.6 235 24 12 9.7 5.3
12000 4.0 39.2 245 21 11 9.5 5.2 | 6.2 43.2 235 23 12 9.7 5.3
11500 5.4 41.7 245 21 11 9.4 5.2 | 7.7 45.9 235 23 12 9.8 5.3
11000 6.9 44.4 245 21 11 9.7 5.3 | 9.1 48.4 235 23 12 9.7 5.3
10500 9.0 48.2 240 21 11 9.7 5.3 | 10.6 51.1 235 23 12 9.7 5.3
10250 9.8 49.6 240 21 11 9.7 5.3 | 11.3 52.3 235 23 12 9.6 5.3
10000 10.5 50.9 240 21 11 9.9 5.5 | 12.0 53.6 235 22 12 9.7 5.3
9750 11.3 52.3 240 21 11 10.1 5.5 | 12.8 55.0 240 22 11 9.8 5.4
9500 12.0 53.6 240 21 11 10.0 5.5 | 13.5 56.3 240 22 11 9.8 5.4
9250 12.7 54.9 240 21 11 9.8 5.4 | 14.3 57.7 240 22 11 9.6 5.3
9000 13.5 56.3 240 21 11 10.1 5.5 | 15.0 59.0 240 22 11 9.8 5.4
8750 14.3 57.7 240 21 11 10.4 5.7 | 15.7 60.3 240 22 11 10.0 5.5
8500 15.0 59.0 240 21 11 10.4 5.7 | 16.5 61.7 240 22 11 10.2 5.6
8250 15.8 60.4 235 21 11 10.1 5.6 | 17.2 63.0 240 21 11 9.4 5.2
8000 16.6 61.9 235 21 11 10.4 5.7 | 17.9 64.2 240 21 11 9.3 5.1
7750 17.4 63.3 235 21 11 10.9 6.0 | 18.7 65.7 240 20 11 10.2 5.6
7500 18.2 64.8 235 21 11 10.7 5.9 | 19.4 66.9 240 20 10 9.8 5.4
7250 19.0 66.2 235 20 10 11.1 6.1 | 20.2 68.4 240 19 10 10.5 5.8
7000 20.0 68.0 235 20 10 18.7 10.3 | 21.0 69.8 245 19 10 13.1 7.2
6750 21.8 71.2 235 19 10 30.1 16.5 | 22.1 71.8 245 17 9 15.4 8.4
6500 23.7 74.7 235 17 9 10.3 5.6 | 23.2 73.8 245 15 8 12.0 6.6
________________________________________________________________________________
This product is issued once per day, at approximately 730 AM local
time. It is not continuously monitored nor updated after its initial
issuance.
The information contained herein is based on numerical weather prediction
model data for the Santa Fe County Municipal Airport site in Santa Fe, New Mexico at
North Latitude: 35.61097 deg
West Longitude: 106.61097 deg
Elevation: 6279.5 feet (1936.0 meters)
and may not be representative of other areas along and east of the Sandia
and Manzano Mountains. Note that some elevations in numerical weather
prediction models differ from actual station elevations, which can lead to
data which appear to be below ground. Erroneous data such as these should
not be used.
The content and format of this report as well as the issuance times are subject
to change without prior notice. Comments are welcome and should be directed
to one of the addresses or phone numbers shown at the bottom of this page.
DEFINITIONS:
CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) - An integrated measure of the
energy available for convective development, also known as the positive
area on a thermodynamic diagram. Units are Joules per kilogram. Larger
values are indicative of greater instability and the possibility of
stronger convective activity, including thunderstorms. Values around or
greater than 1000 suggest the possibility of severe weather should
convective activity develop.
CINH (Convective Inhibition) - An integrated measure of the amount of energy
needed to initiate convective activity, also known as the negative area on
a thermodynamic diagram. Units are Joules per kilogram. The more negative
this number, the more energy is required to initiate convection. This
inhibitive energy can be overcome through surface heating, cooling aloft,
lifting mechanisms (orographic, frontal, gravity waves, etc.)
Convective Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the
average saturation mixing ratio in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass,
if heated sufficiently from below, will rise dry adiabatically until it
just becomes saturated. It estimates the base of cumulus clouds that are
produced by surface heating only.
Convection Temperature (ConvectionT) - The surface temperature required to make
the airmass dry adiabatic up to the given level. It can be considered a
"trigger temperature" for that level.
Freezing Level - The height where the temperature is zero degrees Celsius.
Height of Stable Layer - The height (between 12,000 and 18,000 feet above
mean sea level) where the smallest lapse rate exists. The location and
existence of this feature is important in the generation of mountain
waves.
K Index - A measure of stability which combines the temperature difference
between approximately 5,000 and 18,000 feet above the surface, the amount
of moisture at approximately 5,000 feet above the surface, and a measure
of the dryness at approximately 10,000 feet above the surface. Larger
positive numbers indicate more instability and a greater likelihood of
thunderstorm development. One interpretation of K index values regarding
soaring in the western United States is given in WMO Technical Note 158
and is reproduced in the following table:
below -10 no or weak thermals
-10 to 5 dry thermals or 1/8 cumulus with moderate thermals
5 to 15 good soaring conditions
15 to 20 good soaring conditions with occasional showers
20 to 30 excellent soaring conditions, but increasing
probability of showers and thunderstorms
above 30 more than 60 percent probability of thunderstorms
Lapse Rate - The change with height of the temperature. Negative values indicate
inversions.
Lifted Condensation Level - The height to which an air parcel possessing the
average dew point in the lowest 4000 feet of the airmass and the forecast
maximum temperature must be lifted dry adiabatically to attain saturation.
Lifted Index (LI) - The difference between the environmental temperature at a
level approximately 18,000 feet above the surface and the temperature of
an air parcel lifted dry adiabatically from the surface to its lifted
condensation level and then pseudoadiabatically thereafter to this same
level. The parcel's initial temperature is the forecast maximum
temperature and its dew point is the average dew point in the lowest 4000
feet of the airmass. Negative values are indicative of instability with
positive values showing stable conditions.
Lift Rate - An experimental estimate of the strength of thermals. It is
computed the same way as the maximum rate of lift but uses the actual
level rather than the maximum height of thermals in the calculation.
Also, none of the empirical adjustments based on cloudiness and K-index
are applied to these calculations.
Maximum Height of Thermals - The height where the dry adiabat through the
forecast maximum temperature intersects the environmental temperature.
Maximum Rate of Lift - An estimate of the maximum strength of thermals. It
is computed from an empirical formula which combines the expected maximum
height of thermals with the difference in the environmental temperatures
between the maximum height of thermals and the temperature 4,000 feet
above the ground. After this computation, further empirical adjustments
are made based on the value of the K-index and the amount and opacity of
middle and high level cloudiness expected between the time of trigger
temperature and the time of overdevelopment.
Middle/High Clouds - The amount and opacity of middle (altostratus, altocumulus)
or high (cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus) clouds. Broken means that
between 60% and 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud, with overcast
conditions occurring when more than 90% of the sky is covered by the cloud.
Thin implies that the clouds are predominantly transparent, meaning that
some sunlight is reaching the ground, in contrast to opaque which suggests
that little sunlight is reaching the ground.
Potential Height of Wave - The minimum of the following two heights:
1. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists)
where the wind direction changes by 30 degrees or more
2. Level above the height of stable layer (or 14,000 feet if none exists)
where the wind speed no longer increases with height
PVA/NVA - Positive vorticity advection (PVA)/negative vorticity advection (NVA)
on the 500 millibar isobaric surface (approximately 18,000 feet above mean
sea level). Weak PVA has been shown to assist in mountain wave soaring.
Soaring Window - The time between the time the trigger temperature is reached
and the time of overdevelopment.
Thermal Index - The difference between the environmental temperature and the
temperature at a particular level determined by following the dry adiabat
through the forecast maximum temperature up to that level. Negative values
are indicative of thermal lift.
Thermal Soaring Index - An adjective rating (for sailplanes) based on the
computed maximum rate of lift, and the wind speed and middle and high
cloud cover expected during the soaring window (the time of the trigger
temperature and the time of overdevelopment) according to the following:
Maximum rate of lift Adjective Rating
>= 800 fpm Excellent
>= 400 and < 800 fpm Good
>= 200 and < 400 fpm Fair
< 200 fpm Poor
Time of Overdevelopment - The time one or more of the following phenomena,
which essentially shut off thermal lift, is expected to occur:
1. formation of broken to overcast convective cloud cover
2. formation of scattered to numerous downbursts
3. initiation of widespread precipitation
Time of Trigger Temperature - The time the surface temperature is expected to
reach the trigger temperature.
Trigger Temperature - The surface temperature required to make the first 4000
feet of the atmosphere dry adiabatic.
Wave Soaring Index - An empirical, adjective rating (for sailplanes) which
attempts to combine a variety of phenomena important in mountain wave
soaring into a single index number. Objective points are assigned to
these phenomena: wind speed and direction at 14,000 ft MSL, the static
stability in the 12,000-18,000 ft MSL layer, the wind speed gradient above
the stable layer, jet stream location and frontal and upper trough
movements.
042613
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