diff --git a/src/physics/large_scale_condensation.jl b/src/physics/large_scale_condensation.jl
index 46480764b..73895b852 100644
--- a/src/physics/large_scale_condensation.jl
+++ b/src/physics/large_scale_condensation.jl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Base.@kwdef struct ImplicitCondensation{NF<:AbstractFloat} <: AbstractCondensati
     relative_humidity_threshold::NF = 1
     
     "Flux limiter for latent heat release [W/m²] per timestep"
-    max_heating::NF = 1
+    max_heating::NF = 10           # currently not needed? maybe too high?
 
     "Time scale in multiples of time step Δt, the larger the less immediate"
     time_scale::NF = 3
diff --git a/src/physics/surface_fluxes.jl b/src/physics/surface_fluxes.jl
index 230443812..634d1ef7d 100644
--- a/src/physics/surface_fluxes.jl
+++ b/src/physics/surface_fluxes.jl
@@ -27,9 +27,10 @@ function surface_thermodynamics!(   column::ColumnVariables,
                                     ::SurfaceThermodynamicsConstant,
                                     model::PrimitiveWet)
 
-    # surface value is same as lowest model level
-    column.surface_temp = column.temp[end]      # todo use constant POTENTIAL temperature
-    column.surface_humid = column.humid[end]    # humidity at surface is the same as 
+    # surface value is same as lowest model level, use previous time step
+    # for numerical stability
+    column.surface_temp = column.temp_prev[end]      # todo use constant POTENTIAL temperature
+    column.surface_humid = column.humid_prev[end]    # humidity at surface is the same as 
 
     # surface air density via virtual temperature
     (; R_dry) = model.atmosphere
@@ -41,8 +42,9 @@ function surface_thermodynamics!(   column::ColumnVariables,
                                     ::SurfaceThermodynamicsConstant,
                                     model::PrimitiveDry)
     (; R_dry) = model.atmosphere
-    # surface value is same as lowest model level
-    column.surface_temp = column.temp[end]   # todo use constant POTENTIAL temperature
+    # surface value is same as lowest model level, but use previous
+    # time step for numerical stability
+    column.surface_temp = column.temp_prev[end]   # todo use constant POTENTIAL temperature
     column.surface_air_density = column.pres[end]/(R_dry*column.surface_temp)
 end
 
@@ -71,7 +73,7 @@ Base.@kwdef struct SurfaceWind{NF<:AbstractFloat} <: AbstractSurfaceWind
     drag_sea::NF = 1.8e-3
 
     "Flux limiter to cap the max of surface momentum fluxes [kg/m/s²]"
-    max_flux::NF = 0.1
+    max_flux::NF = 10       # currently not needed? maybe too high?
 end
 
 SurfaceWind(SG::SpectralGrid; kwargs...) = SurfaceWind{SG.NF}(; kwargs...)
@@ -85,9 +87,9 @@ function surface_wind_stress!(  column::ColumnVariables,
     (; f_wind, V_gust, drag_land, drag_sea) = surface_wind
     (; max_flux) = surface_wind
 
-    # SPEEDY documentation eq. 49
-    column.surface_u = f_wind*column.u[end] 
-    column.surface_v = f_wind*column.v[end]
+    # SPEEDY documentation eq. 49, but use previous time step for numerical stability
+    column.surface_u = f_wind*column.u_prev[end] 
+    column.surface_v = f_wind*column.v_prev[end]
     (; surface_u, surface_v) = column
 
     # SPEEDY documentation eq. 50
@@ -136,7 +138,7 @@ Base.@kwdef struct SurfaceHeatFlux{NF<:AbstractFloat} <: AbstractSurfaceHeatFlux
     heat_exchange_sea::NF = 0.9e-3
 
     "Flux limiter for surface heat fluxes [W/m²]"
-    max_flux::NF = 100
+    max_flux::NF = 100          # currently not needed? maybe too high?
 end
 
 SurfaceHeatFlux(SG::SpectralGrid; kwargs...) = SurfaceHeatFlux{SG.NF}(; kwargs...)