National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heavy rain in the lower Mississippi Valley Saturday, then heavy rain and snow in the Northeast starting Sunday

Heavy rains will bring potential flash flooding to portions of the lower Mississippi Valley early this weekend. Across the Pacific Northwest, an atmospheric river event is set to arrive by Sunday, bringing heavy coastal rains and high elevation snowfall. Above average temperatures continue for much of the country through the weekend. 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