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Apr 30, 2024 · Meteorologists at the National Weather Service use information from ground stations and weather satellites to make these maps. Words like “rain” and “snow” are pretty obvious, but what exactly do the symbols on a weather map tell you about the weather?
National Weather Maps. Surface Analysis. Highs, lows, fronts, troughs, outflow boundaries, squall lines, drylines for much of North America, the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific oceans, and the Gulf of Mexico.
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- Zulu, Z, and UTC Time on Weather Maps. One of the first coded pieces of data you might notice on a weather map is a 4-digit number followed by the letters "Z" or "UTC."
- High and Low Air Pressure Centers. The large letters (Blue H's and red L's) on weather maps indicate high- and low-pressure centers. They mark where the air pressure is highest and lowest relative to the surrounding air and are often labeled with a three- or four-digit pressure reading in millibars.
- Isobars. NOAA Weather Prediction Center. On some weather maps, you may notice lines surrounding and encircling the "highs" and "lows." These lines are called isobars because they connect areas where the air pressure is the same ("iso-" meaning equal and "-bar" meaning pressure).
- Weather Fronts and Features. Weather fronts appear as different colored lines that extend outward from the pressure center. They mark the boundary where two opposite air masses meet.
Feb 6, 2024 · Knowing how to read a weather map can help you understand the weather and know what to expect. For example, high pressure (H) areas will have clear skies, while low pressure (L) areas can be stormy. Blue "cold front" lines bring rain and wind in the direction the triangular marks point.
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May 12, 2018 · Table of Contents. Learn How to Read a Surface Weather Analysis Map. Using the various tools available, the meteorologist can make a map showing the present weather, which also helps him or her to make better judgments on what the weather will be in the future.
The weather maps are maps that tell you about the weather. In general, reading and understanding synoptic maps is easy and fun. However, such a maps are a bit more complicated than regular geographical maps, and a weather forecast you get in a form of tables, graphs and numbers. To read such maps you need some knowledge.
The word ‘synoptic’ simply means a summary of the current situation, so in weather terms, a synoptic or pressure chart is a map that summarises the atmospheric conditions over a wide area at a given time. Where are you?
