diff --git a/src/Environment/environment.cxx b/src/Environment/environment.cxx
index 212e51d85..9a5755e3d 100644
--- a/src/Environment/environment.cxx
+++ b/src/Environment/environment.cxx
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ void FGEnvironment::_init()
     wind_from_down_fps = 0;
     thermal_lift_fps = 0;
     ridge_lift_fps= 0;
+    local_weather_lift_fps=0;
     altitude_half_to_sun_m = 1000;
     altitude_tropo_top_m = 10000;
 #ifdef USING_TABLES
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ FGEnvironment::copy (const FGEnvironment &env)
     wind_from_down_fps = env.wind_from_down_fps;
     thermal_lift_fps = env.thermal_lift_fps;
     ridge_lift_fps= env.ridge_lift_fps;
+    local_weather_lift_fps = env.local_weather_lift_fps;
     turbulence_magnitude_norm = env.turbulence_magnitude_norm;
     turbulence_rate_hz = env.turbulence_rate_hz;
 }
@@ -238,6 +240,7 @@ FGEnvironment::read (const SGPropertyNode * node)
 
     maybe_copy_value(this, node, "turbulence/rate-hz",
                      &FGEnvironment::set_turbulence_rate_hz);
+
     // calculate derived properties here to avoid duplicate expensive computations
     _recalc_ne();
     _recalc_alt_pt();
@@ -369,6 +372,12 @@ FGEnvironment::get_ridge_lift_fps () const
   return ridge_lift_fps;
 }
 
+double
+FGEnvironment::get_local_weather_lift_fps () const
+{
+  return local_weather_lift_fps;
+}
+
 double
 FGEnvironment::get_turbulence_magnitude_norm () const
 {
@@ -524,7 +533,16 @@ FGEnvironment::set_ridge_lift_fps (double ri)
   ridge_lift_fps = ri;
   if( live_update ) {
     _recalc_updraft();
+  }
 }
+
+void
+FGEnvironment::set_local_weather_lift_fps (double lwl)
+{
+  local_weather_lift_fps = lwl;
+  if( live_update ) {
+    _recalc_updraft();
+  }
 }
 
 void
@@ -618,7 +636,7 @@ FGEnvironment::_recalc_ne ()
 void
 FGEnvironment::_recalc_updraft ()
 {
-  wind_from_down_fps = thermal_lift_fps + ridge_lift_fps ;
+  wind_from_down_fps = thermal_lift_fps + ridge_lift_fps + local_weather_lift_fps ;
 }
 
 // Intended to help with the interpretation of METAR data,
diff --git a/src/Environment/environment.hxx b/src/Environment/environment.hxx
index d9543d5ab..c27013226 100644
--- a/src/Environment/environment.hxx
+++ b/src/Environment/environment.hxx
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ public:
   virtual double get_wind_from_down_fps () const;
   virtual double get_thermal_lift_fps () const;
   virtual double get_ridge_lift_fps () const;  
+  virtual double get_local_weather_lift_fps () const;
 
   virtual double get_turbulence_magnitude_norm () const;
   virtual double get_turbulence_rate_hz () const;
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ public:
   virtual void set_wind_from_down_fps (double d);
   virtual void set_thermal_lift_fps (double th);
   virtual void set_ridge_lift_fps (double ri);
+  virtual void set_local_weather_lift_fps (double lwl);
 
   virtual void set_turbulence_magnitude_norm (double t);
   virtual void set_turbulence_rate_hz (double t);
@@ -147,6 +149,7 @@ private:
   double wind_from_down_fps;
   double thermal_lift_fps;
   double ridge_lift_fps;
+  double local_weather_lift_fps;
 
   bool     live_update;
 
diff --git a/src/Environment/environment_mgr.cxx b/src/Environment/environment_mgr.cxx
index e15ecae20..acf20b861 100644
--- a/src/Environment/environment_mgr.cxx
+++ b/src/Environment/environment_mgr.cxx
@@ -166,9 +166,12 @@ FGEnvironmentMgr::bind ()
   fgSetArchivable("/environment/thermal-lift-fps");
   fgTie("/environment/ridge-lift-fps", _environment,
 	&FGEnvironment::get_ridge_lift_fps,
-	&FGEnvironment::set_ridge_lift_fps);
+	&FGEnvironment::set_ridge_lift_fps);	
   fgSetArchivable("/environment/ridge-lift-fps");
-
+  
+    fgTie("/environment/local-weather-lift", _environment,
+	&FGEnvironment::get_local_weather_lift_fps); //read-only
+     
   fgTie("/environment/turbulence/magnitude-norm", _environment,
         &FGEnvironment::get_turbulence_magnitude_norm,
         &FGEnvironment::set_turbulence_magnitude_norm);
@@ -255,6 +258,7 @@ FGEnvironmentMgr::unbind ()
 
   fgUntie("/environment/thermal-lift-fps");
   fgUntie("/environment/ridge-lift-fps");
+  fgUntie("/environment/local-weather-lift");
 
   fgUntie("/environment/atmosphere/altitude-half-to-sun");
   fgUntie("/environment/atmosphere/altitude-troposphere-top");
@@ -293,6 +297,7 @@ FGEnvironmentMgr::update (double dt)
 				   _environment->get_wind_from_east_fps(),
 				   _environment->get_wind_from_down_fps());
   _environment->set_elevation_ft(fgGetDouble("/position/altitude-ft"));
+  _environment->set_local_weather_lift_fps(fgGetDouble("/local-weather/current/thermal-lift"));
   osg::Vec3 windVec(-_environment->get_wind_from_north_fps(),
                     -_environment->get_wind_from_east_fps(),
                     _environment->get_wind_from_down_fps());