Decoding Weather Map Symbols

• Weather maps present large amounts of weather data in a simplified format.
• Meteorologists use weather maps to forecast and display current and future weather conditions.
• Weather maps use specific symbols to represent weather events and their characteristics.

Analyzing Weather with Weather Symbols

• Meteorology studies Earth's atmosphere and weather.
• Meteorologists analyze atmospheric conditions to make weather predictions, known as forecasting.
• Forecasting involves analyzing radar and satellite data.
• Weather conditions like temperature and visibility can impact forecasting accuracy.
• Weather station model symbols are used to display weather information derived from forecasts.

How to Read a Station Model

• A station model illustrates the weather at a specific location and time, usually at a weather station.
• Station models present temperature, wind speed, cloud cover, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure in one location.
• The current temperature is on the top left of the station model.
• The central symbol in a station model represents the wind speed and direction and cloud coverage.
• A symbol to the left of the station model displays current weather conditions like rain or snow.
• Wind barbs with lines designate wind speeds, while shaded circles designate amount of cloud coverage.

Cloud Cover and Wind Direction Symbols

• Cloud cover symbols in a station model use a tenths system.
• Shaded circles indicate cloud coverage.
• A half-shaded circle represents five tenths cloud coverage.
• Wind direction is shown by wind barbs: straight lines with lines or pennants signifying wind speed.
• One line on a wind barb indicates a wind speed of approximately 9-14 miles per hour.
• One pennant on a wind barb indicates a wind speed of 55-60 miles per hour.
• Wind direction is indicated by the direction the wind barb points.

Other Meteorological Symbols

• Isobars show areas of air pressure.
• Capital letters "H" and "L" indicate areas of high and low pressure.
• Weather fronts are displayed as colored lines with different symbols.

High-Pressure and Low-Pressure Systems

• High pressure system: An area with higher air pressure than its surroundings.
• High pressure systems bring stable weather and clear skies, moving from the northwest to southeast.
• A capital letter "H" symbolizes a high pressure system on a weather map.
• Low pressure system: An area where the center has a lower air pressure than its surroundings.
• Low pressure systems bring precipitation and cloudy skies, moving from southwest to northeast.
• A capital letter "L" indicates areas of low pressure systems on a weather map.

Cold Fronts and Warm Fronts

• Cold front: Occurs when a cold air mass meets and replaces a warm air mass, causing temperature drops.
• A blue line with triangles indicates a cold front on a weather map.
• Warm front: Occurs when a warm air mass meets and replaces a cold air mass, bringing warmer, more humid weather.
• A red line with half circles indicates a warm front on a weather map.
• Stationary Front: Occurs when a warm or cold front stops moving
• Occluded front: Can form if a cold front moves ahead of a warm front

Isobars

• Isobar: A circle enclosing an area of specific air pressure.
• Closely spaced isobars indicate a significant and quick difference in air pressure.
• Widely spaced isobars indicate a gradual change in air pressure.

Weather, Cloud Type, and Numbers

• Asterisks symbolize snow.
• Three horizontal lines signify fog.
• A half-circle image symbolizes low cumulus clouds
• A triangle with one missing side symbolizes thin altostratus clouds

Learn to interpret weather maps by understanding common weather symbols. Meteorologists use these maps to forecast weather conditions. Station models display local weather data, including temperature and wind.