Weather Map Symbols and Interpretation Guide

1. Weather Stations & Weather Map Symbols

2. Temperature • Top left number shows the temperature

3. Weather Symbol • The symbol between the two numbers on the left indicate what the weather is in terms of precipitation.

4. Notice how more symbols indicate intensity • More snow flake symbols =more snow • More rain symbols = heavy rain

5. Dew Point • The number on the bottom left shows the Dew Point. • Humidity is a factor of the dew point. • This number will be lower than the actual temperature. • Remember cold air can’t hold moisture like warm air

6. Cloud Cover The percentageof the circle that is shaded in reflects the percentage of cloud cover in the sky Similar to a pie chart

7. Air Pressure • This number is displayed on the top right of the weather symbol • When the # is high or rising, the weather is fair because the pressure is high • When the # is low or dropping, the weather is rainy, because the pressure is low

8. Wind Barb • This shows the direction of the wind, it will point in the direction the wind is coming from, this shows the wind coming from the Southeast • The # of lines and/or triangles indicates the speed of the wind

9. The wind barb points in the direction it is coming FROM. • Stronger winds have more flags, or marks

10. Fronts on a weather map • Warm occluded • Cold • Stationary • The symbols point in the direction that the front is moving towards Pressure symbols:

11. Isobars: connect areas with equal air pressureThe 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/stormy weather and wind flows in and counter-clockwise (left)

14. Weather Map