diff --git a/physics/CONV/SAMF/samfdeepcnv.f b/physics/CONV/SAMF/samfdeepcnv.f
index 5853254c0..beeafcd14 100644
--- a/physics/CONV/SAMF/samfdeepcnv.f
+++ b/physics/CONV/SAMF/samfdeepcnv.f
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ subroutine samfdeepcnv_run (im,km,first_time_step,restart,        &
      &    clam,c0s,c1,betal,betas,evef,pgcon,asolfac,                   &
      &    do_ca, ca_closure, ca_entr, ca_trigger, nthresh,ca_deep,      &
      &    rainevap,sigmain,sigmaout,betadcu,betamcu,betascu,            &
-     &    maxMF, do_mynnedmf,errmsg,errflg)
+     &    maxMF, do_mynnedmf,sigmab_coldstart,errmsg,errflg)
 !
       use machine , only : kind_phys
       use funcphys , only : fpvs
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ subroutine samfdeepcnv_run (im,km,first_time_step,restart,        &
      &   prslp(:,:),  garea(:), hpbl(:), dot(:,:), phil(:,:)
       real(kind=kind_phys), dimension(:), intent(in) :: fscav
       logical, intent(in)  :: first_time_step,restart,hwrf_samfdeep,    &
-     &     progsigma,do_mynnedmf
+     &     progsigma,do_mynnedmf,sigmab_coldstart
       real(kind=kind_phys), intent(in) :: nthresh,betadcu,betamcu,      &
      &                                    betascu
       real(kind=kind_phys), intent(in) :: ca_deep(:)
@@ -2915,7 +2915,8 @@ subroutine samfdeepcnv_run (im,km,first_time_step,restart,        &
       if(progsigma)then
 
 !Initial computations, dynamic q-tendency                                                                                                                                               
-         if(first_time_step .and. .not.restart)then
+         if(first_time_step .and. (.not.restart 
+     &           .or. sigmab_coldstart))then
             do k = 1,km
                do i = 1,im
                   qadv(i,k)=0.
diff --git a/physics/CONV/SAMF/samfdeepcnv.meta b/physics/CONV/SAMF/samfdeepcnv.meta
index 2dbd4407c..f015de39e 100644
--- a/physics/CONV/SAMF/samfdeepcnv.meta
+++ b/physics/CONV/SAMF/samfdeepcnv.meta
@@ -488,6 +488,13 @@
   dimensions = ()
   type = logical
   intent = in
+[sigmab_coldstart]
+  standard_name = flag_to_cold_start_for_sigmab_init
+  long_name = flag to cold start for sigmab initialization
+  units = flag
+  dimensions = ()
+  type = logical 
+  intent = in
 [qlcn]
   standard_name = mass_fraction_of_convective_cloud_liquid_water
   long_name = mass fraction of convective cloud liquid water
diff --git a/physics/CONV/progsigma_calc.f90 b/physics/CONV/progsigma_calc.f90
index 469df49f6..f1415e89f 100644
--- a/physics/CONV/progsigma_calc.f90
+++ b/physics/CONV/progsigma_calc.f90
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ subroutine progsigma_calc (im,km,flag_init,flag_restart,flag_shallow,&
 
       real(kind=kind_phys) :: gcvalmx,epsilon,ZZ,cvg,mcon,buy2,   &
                           fdqb,dtdyn,dxlim,rmulacvg,tem,     &
-                          DEN,dp1,invdelt
+                          DEN,dp1,invdelt,sigmind_new
 
      !Parameters
       gcvalmx = 0.1
@@ -63,6 +63,12 @@ subroutine progsigma_calc (im,km,flag_init,flag_restart,flag_shallow,&
       km1=km-1
       invdelt = 1./delt
 
+      if (flag_init) then
+           sigmind_new=0.0
+      else
+           sigmind_new=sigmind
+      end if
+
      !Initialization 2D
       do k = 1,km
          do i = 1,im
@@ -168,13 +174,6 @@ subroutine progsigma_calc (im,km,flag_init,flag_restart,flag_shallow,&
       enddo
 
       !sigmab
-      if(flag_init .and. .not. flag_restart)then
-         do i = 1,im
-            if(cnvflg(i))then
-               sigmab(i)=0.03
-            endif
-         enddo
-      else
          do i = 1,im
             if(cnvflg(i))then
                DEN=MIN(termC(i)+termB(i),1.E8)
@@ -186,11 +185,10 @@ subroutine progsigma_calc (im,km,flag_init,flag_restart,flag_shallow,&
                sigmab(i)=(ZZ*(termA(i)+cvg))/(DEN+(1.0-ZZ))
                if(sigmab(i)>0.)then
                   sigmab(i)=MIN(sigmab(i),0.95)  
-                  sigmab(i)=MAX(sigmab(i),0.01)
+                  sigmab(i)=MAX(sigmab(i),sigmind_new)
                endif
             endif!cnvflg
          enddo
-      endif
 
       do k=1,km
          do i=1,im
@@ -219,7 +217,7 @@ subroutine progsigma_calc (im,km,flag_init,flag_restart,flag_shallow,&
          do i= 1, im
             if(cnvflg(i)) then
                sigmab(i)=sigmab(i)/betadcu
-               sigmab(i)=MAX(sigmind,sigmab(i))
+               sigmab(i)=MAX(sigmind_new,sigmab(i))
             endif
          enddo
       endif