"Wx" is for Weather

or How to Decode a Surface Weather Map?

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Background Information

• DataStreme WXP Symbol Legend
• Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a great Guide to Decoding Surface Observations. (Be forewarned that the symbols for interpreting the cloud coverage will look different when the background of the weather map is black, as opposed to the DataStreme weather maps which have a white background.)

Objectives

• The students will be able to look at a weather map and interpret the information at a station model.
• Students will be able to give the location of the station model, the date and time, temperature, dewpoint, weather conditions, cloud coverage, wind direction and speed.

Procedures

• Use a conversion chart to identify the time the weather map.
• Use the DataStreme WXP Symbol Legend as a guide for interpreting the surface weather map.
• Complete the "Decoding a Surface Weather Map" handout.

Materials

• Time Conversion Chart
• A collection of weather maps downloaded from the Internet at various Z times.
• "Decoding a Surface Weather Map" handout.
• DataStreme WXP Symbol Legend