Read A Weather Map

Weather maps as they appear on tv in a newspaper or here are called surface charts or more correctly mean sea level msl charts.

Read a weather map. Knowing how to read a weather map can help you understand the weather and know what to expect. On a weather map a warm front is usually drawn using a solid red line with half circles pointing in the direction of the cold air that will be replaced. For example high pressure h areas will have clear skies while low pressure l areas can be stormy. Warm fronts usually move from southwest to northeast.

But if you are not one of those people keep reading and find out what weather forecasters call synoptic charts. Reading weather maps weather maps are also referred to as synoptic charts. It provides information about air pressure wind speed and direction and the distribution location of rainfall. Beginners guide many of you have probably seen pressure charts used on tv or even on the back of a newspaper.

It tells you when the weather map was created and also the time when the weather data in the map is valid. Meteorologist ryan davidson explains weather maps duration. Some of you will understand what the lines the triangles and different bits and pieces mean. They show what is happening at a set time where most of us need it at the earth s surface.

How to read a weather map. Blue cold front lines bring rain and wind in the direction the triangular marks point. A warm front can initially bring some rain followed by clear skies and warm temperatures. 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 usually found at the map s top or bottom corner this string of numbers and letters is a timestamp.

How to read weather maps duration.