Weather Stations & Weather Map Symbols

Weather MapsAlmost everyone wants to know what the weather

will be for the day, or even the week. There are people who live in a region where the weather

changes very little; people who live in the tropics know it’s going to be hot all the time and people

who live near one of Earth’s polar regions know it is going to be cold most of the time.

But, even these regions have weather differences, and everyone is affected by the weather. Being able to look at a weather map and know what it

may do for the day and also for the week ahead is a very helpful skill.

Weather MapsA weather map is an indispensable tool to a meteorologist. They use it to compile and illustrate weather data that has been collected from observation stations. Weather maps include data for temperature, cloud type and cover, air pressure, precipitation, and wind speed and direction.

Weather maps use various symbols to represent the weather. For instance, fronts are drawn as heavy lines and

isobars are drawn with thin lines.

Understanding Weather Symbols

The purpose of a weather map is to give a graphical or pictorial image of weather to a

meteorologist. As a forecasting tool, weather maps allow meteorologists to see what is happening in the atmosphere at virtually any location on earth. Complex three-dimensional models of weather

systems can be made by collecting weather data at multiple levels in the atmosphere. Computers

then compile that information to produce the pictures that weather scientists analyze. In the early days of meteorology, these pictures were

hand drawn!

Understanding Weather Symbols

Understanding Weather Symbols

There is not enough room on a weather map to include all of the weather details in full

text so meteorologists use symbols to represent current weather conditions.

Symbols used

in plotting report

Frontal SystemsWeather fronts are the boundaries between air masses with different characteristics such as temperature, humidity, and air pressure. An air mass is a large parcel of air with roughly

the same temperature, humidity, or pressure throughout. Different air masses tend not to mix. The clashing of two or more air masses is what causes severe storms. The front is

literally the “front end” of an air mass.

Movement of a front will depend largely on the conditions inside the air mass. Air masses tend to be either moist or dry in humidity content. Temperatures are either cold (polar) or

warm (tropical).

Can you name each of the fronts pictured here?

1. Cold front

2. Warm front

3. Stationary front

4. Occluded front

5. Trough

6. Squall

7. Dry Line

8. Tropical Wave

directionNote:  The  symbols  point  in  the  direction that  the  front  is  moving  towards

The symbols used for cloud species

Aviation is one area where understanding cloud types can help a plane to have a smoother flight. Clouds give pilots an indication of air motion, stability and

moisture. These cloud types are reported using universal symbols that all aviators can

understand. Often, the cloud symbols are also used on weather maps which were all

learned in your cloud book!

Cloud Cover in a Weather Station Model

Weather Stations often report weather in a station model. The central part of a station model is the cloud cover. The amount of

cloudiness reported to you during the evening news is indicated by a series of

symbols.

The Symbols Used For Cloud Species

Precipitation – Weather Map Symbols Used by Meteorologists

When reporting rain to a local area, meteorologists need a universal way to indicate the conditions they observe. The

weather map symbols for rain, snow, sleet, hail, and more can be seen in the diagram. These often do not show up on your

evening news, but a meteorologist will use these to communicate the information

nationally.

Radar Intensity Colors on a Weather Map

Radar Echo Intensity shows the amount of precipitation in an area by assigned a series of colors to indicate heavy or light precipitation including hail,

rain, and snow.

Radar intensity is a way to “see” through rain. A pulse of energy is beamed through a cloud and the amount of echo returned will give the intensity of precipitation. The echo is actually a reflection of the energy and a

computer ill generate a color code to indicate the amount of precipitation.

Radar Intensity Colors on a Weather Map

The DBZ on the image is Decibels

When the radar echo reaches the precipitation, the larger the raindrops, or the more raindrops there are,

the greater the DBZ value and the heavier the precipitation.

Isobars: connect areas with equal air pressure. The distance between the isobars is called the pressure gradient

• The  closer the  isobar  lines,  the  greater  the  change  in  air  pressure,  and  the  greater/faster  the  winds  speeds.

• High  pressure  systems  bring  clear/sunny  weather  and  wind  flows  out    and  clockwise  (right)

• Low  pressure systems  bring  overcast/stormyweather  and  wind  flows  in  and  counter-­‐‑clockwise  (left)

Wind BarbsWind barbs show wind directions and speed in knots

The wind barb points in the direction it is coming FROM.

To get the wind direction, all you have to do it imagine a compass placed right over the top of the wind diagram or station model and it will point to the wind direction.

Wind BarbsWind barbs indicate wind speed and direction on

weather station models.

Wind barbs are used to show wind intensity with a series of small pennants (flags).• A full blacked pennant or triangle is 50 knots of

speed• A full line of the wind barb is 10 knots of speed• A half line is 5 knots of speed****1 knot = 1.1507788 miles per hour

Wind BarbsThe information for wind speed is always given

in knots. All you have to do is add up the numbers on the wind barb and you get the wind

speed.

To get the wind direction, all you have to do it imagine a compass placed right over the top of

the wind diagram or station model and it will point to the wind direction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqbTrbxWT1o&nohtml5=False

Weather Station ModelTelevision weather reports represent weather conditions

with smiling suns, rainy clouds and flashing bolts of lightning. In studying the weather we need to know where it

is raining and where it is sunny, the wind speed and direction, humidity, visibility, pressure and temperature. To

understand the weather we need to know how these meteorological variables are changing and how they relate to one another. To understand these relationships it is best to represent weather variables in a simple diagram. Smiling suns do not contain enough information about the weather.

On the other hand too many numbers drawn on a single map presents a confusing picture. Weather conditions

observed at a city or town are best represented on a map using the station model.

Weather Station Model

A station model plot used to represent meteorological

conditions near the surface. The station model depicts current

weather conditions, cloud cover, wind speed, wind direction,

temperature, dew point temperature, atmospheric

pressure adjusted to sea level, and the change in pressure over

the last three hours.

Create Your Station Model