AllSkyLAP Layer CAPE

The AllSkyLAP Layer CAPE product is also useful today, but comparisons with SPC ML CAPE values show that the AllSkyLAP Layer CAPE values are quite a bit lower than SPC's values. Likewise, a NUCAPS sounding from N VA shows ML CAPE values that are way lower that both SPC's and AllSkyLAP Layer CAPE values at the same time.

Going back to the AllSkyLAP Layer CAPE product, despite it's apparent "lower CAPE" bias, it is still useful, as storms across the Mid-Atlantic region today are beginning to fire along some CAPE gradients. One would expect that storms moving into a more favorable CAPE environment shown on this product would have a good potential to intensify. Seems like that is the case, especially across western VA and cntrl MD.

A challenge with AllSkyLAP products is that they are only available every 30 mins. It would be helpful to get these images every 5 minutes, to see environmental changes a bit quicker.

- Thomas Bell