4. Forecast Applications

Convection » Severe Thunderstorms Severe Weather Sounding Types - Type I

Type 1 conceptual sounding for predicting severe weather; Loaded Gun

This sounding is characterized by a moist, fairly well-mixed layer of at least 100-150 hPa depth, separated from a dry layer above by a capping inversion. Lapse rates above the cap are typically nearly dry adiabatic. Often referred to as "loaded gun" soundings, they usually have surface Td>10°C and 850 hPa Td>8°C. Type I soundings usually exhibit high values for CAPE and TT, low values for LI and SSI, and are commonly observed in the Great Plains of the U.S. during the spring severe weather season.