Differences between Observed Sounding and NUCAPS

Compared KBIS observed 19z Skew-T to NUCAPS 20z Skew-T

Key points:
Lapse rate differences: Between 1-1.5C/km difference through all levels
SFC and MU CAPE was 500J/kg higher on the NUCAPS

Vertical profile is markedly different and is a much more saturated on the observed Skew-T

To further confuse matters the NUCAPS forecasted SFC CAPE values for the same location and time is 400J/kg…which is closer to the observed sounding than to the NUCAPS sounding.

—Desmond—