Meteo e Volo
Thermal & Updraft Risk Calculator
CAPE-based thermal turbulence risk for fixed-wing and glider pilots.
Solo un ausilio di pianificazione — non è un software certificato di pianificazione del volo né un'autorizzazione dello spazio aereo. Verifica sempre i risultati con il manuale del tuo velivolo e controlla le normative vigenti prima di volare. Disclaimer completo.
Atmospheric Instability Parameters
Thermal / Updraft Risk
weakLow instability — thermal lift/sink should be minor and easy to correct for.
Pilot Action Items:
- Normal flight operations — thermal activity unlikely to be a factor today.
Why this is separate from the main flyability rating
This app's core go/caution/no-go rating is built around multirotor drones, where thermal lift is a minor factor next to wind and gusts. Fixed-wing and glider airframes are affected very differently by atmospheric instability, so this is a dedicated calculator rather than another card on the main dashboard.
What CAPE actually measures
Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) is a standard meteorological measure of how much energy is available for an air parcel to rise once it starts — higher CAPE means stronger, more turbulent updrafts and downdrafts are possible, and very high values are the same instability that produces thunderstorms.
Reading the result alongside cloud cover and wind
Heavy cloud cover can cap surface heating and hold CAPE in reserve rather than actively releasing it as lift, while strong surface wind tends to mechanically shear thermals apart instead of letting them organize. This tool factors both in rather than judging CAPE alone.