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Weather graphics

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Todd Shellnutt
Todd Shellnutt

Graphic weather products provide an overview of large-scale weather patterns and forecasts of conditions. Key products include surface analysis charts, weather depiction charts, radar summary charts, and 12/24 hour prognostic charts. These charts identify areas of precipitation, cloud cover, winds, and pressure to help pilots anticipate weather that could impact flight.

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Graphic Weather Products & How to Read Them
Graphic Wx Products • Quickly access large-scale weather patterns • Identify trends • Predict wx that might occur over time • Identify areas of IFR wx at a glance • See where IFR conditions are forecast within the next 12-24 hours
Required Graphics • Surface Analysis Chart • Weather Depiction Chart • Radar Summary Chart • 12/24 Hour Significant Weather Prognostic Chart • Winds & Temps Aloft Chart
Surface Analysis
Surface Analysis • Depicts an analysis of the current surface weather • Computer prepared every 3 hours • Shows; o Areas of pressure o Fronts o Temperatures o Dew points o Wind Directions & Speeds o Local Weather o Visual Obstructions
Station Model • Created by computer • Mainly on surface- weather maps • Winds are true direction • Temp/Dew point is in Fahrenheit
So What Do I Need To Know? • A good source for general weather information over a wide area. • Depicts the actual position of fronts, pressure patterns, temperatures, dew point, wind, weather, and obstructions to vision at the valid time of the chart. • When the Isobars are close the pressure gradient is greater meaning wind velocities will be stronger. • Dashed lines indicate a weak pressure gradient.
Weather Depiction
Wx Depiction • Derived from METAR’s • Prepared every 3 hours beginning at 0100Z by a computer • Used for flight planning • Displays o Major fronts o Areas of pressure o Graphic display of IFR, MVFR, VFR o Shows a modified station model
Modified Station Model • Sky Conditions • Cloud height or ceiling • Weather • Obstructions to visibility • Same as Surface Analysis
So What Do I need To Know? • Some may be automated • Bases shown are the lowest layer
Radar Summary
Radar Summary (SD) • Computer generated • Published hourly, 35 minutes past the hour • Displays areas of precipitation as well as the characteristics of the precipitation.
SD • NA – No information Available • NE – No echoes • Height of tops in hundreds of feet MSL • Movement of cells depicted by arrow
So What Do I Need To Know? • The only charts that show lines and cells of thunderstorms • You can determine the tops and bases of echoes, the intensity of the precipitation, and the echo movement. • Most effective when used in combination with other charts, reports, and forecasts.
Satellite Wx Pictures
Weather graphics
Weather graphics
Weather graphics
Composite Moisture Stability Chart • Four Panels showing stability, precipitable water, freezing level, & average relative humidity conditions. • Computer generated • Obtained from upper air observations • Updated twice daily • Stability = Potential for thunderstorms • You will not find this chart anywhere in the current system
Constant Pressure Analysis Chart
Composite Moisture Stability Chart
Low Level Significant Weather Prog Chart
Prog Charts • SFC to FL240 (400 Millibar) • 12/24 hour forecast, and 36/48 forecast • Issued four times daily • Valid time is printed on it
Prog Charts Upper Panels Lower Panels • Shows forecasted • Forecast surface wx significant weather o Pressure systems o Non-convective turbulence o Fronts (dashed lines) o Precipitation o Freezing levels (zigzag lines) o IFR (solid lines) o MVFR (scalloped lines)
High-Level Significant Weather Prog Chart Issued 4 times a day
High level Prog • Domestic & International Flights • FL240 – FL600 • Presents a forecast for; o Thunderstorms o Tropical cyclones o Squall Lines o Moderate or greater turbulence o Wide spread dust storms & sandstorms o Tropopause height o Location of jet streams o Volcanic activity
Convective Outlook Chart Convective Graphics
Conv. Outlook • Issued five times daily • Convective Activity • Hail • Tornadoes • Winds
Hail
Tornado
Winds
Forecast Winds & Temperatures Aloft Chart
FD • 12 hour forecasts valid at 0000Z & 1200Z daily • Read same as station model winds • 99 for calm winds with no arrow • Temps are shown in Celsius

More Related Content

Weather graphics

  • 1. Graphic Weather Products & How to Read Them
  • 2. Graphic Wx Products • Quickly access large-scale weather patterns • Identify trends • Predict wx that might occur over time • Identify areas of IFR wx at a glance • See where IFR conditions are forecast within the next 12-24 hours
  • 3. Required Graphics • Surface Analysis Chart • Weather Depiction Chart • Radar Summary Chart • 12/24 Hour Significant Weather Prognostic Chart • Winds & Temps Aloft Chart
  • 5. Surface Analysis • Depicts an analysis of the current surface weather • Computer prepared every 3 hours • Shows; o Areas of pressure o Fronts o Temperatures o Dew points o Wind Directions & Speeds o Local Weather o Visual Obstructions
  • 6. Station Model • Created by computer • Mainly on surface- weather maps • Winds are true direction • Temp/Dew point is in Fahrenheit
  • 7. So What Do I Need To Know? • A good source for general weather information over a wide area. • Depicts the actual position of fronts, pressure patterns, temperatures, dew point, wind, weather, and obstructions to vision at the valid time of the chart. • When the Isobars are close the pressure gradient is greater meaning wind velocities will be stronger. • Dashed lines indicate a weak pressure gradient.
  • 9. Wx Depiction • Derived from METAR’s • Prepared every 3 hours beginning at 0100Z by a computer • Used for flight planning • Displays o Major fronts o Areas of pressure o Graphic display of IFR, MVFR, VFR o Shows a modified station model
  • 10. Modified Station Model • Sky Conditions • Cloud height or ceiling • Weather • Obstructions to visibility • Same as Surface Analysis
  • 11. So What Do I need To Know? • Some may be automated • Bases shown are the lowest layer
  • 13. Radar Summary (SD) • Computer generated • Published hourly, 35 minutes past the hour • Displays areas of precipitation as well as the characteristics of the precipitation.
  • 14. SD • NA – No information Available • NE – No echoes • Height of tops in hundreds of feet MSL • Movement of cells depicted by arrow
  • 15. So What Do I Need To Know? • The only charts that show lines and cells of thunderstorms • You can determine the tops and bases of echoes, the intensity of the precipitation, and the echo movement. • Most effective when used in combination with other charts, reports, and forecasts.
  • 20. Composite Moisture Stability Chart • Four Panels showing stability, precipitable water, freezing level, & average relative humidity conditions. • Computer generated • Obtained from upper air observations • Updated twice daily • Stability = Potential for thunderstorms • You will not find this chart anywhere in the current system
  • 22. Composite Moisture Stability Chart
  • 23. Low Level Significant Weather Prog Chart
  • 24. Prog Charts • SFC to FL240 (400 Millibar) • 12/24 hour forecast, and 36/48 forecast • Issued four times daily • Valid time is printed on it
  • 25. Prog Charts Upper Panels Lower Panels • Shows forecasted • Forecast surface wx significant weather o Pressure systems o Non-convective turbulence o Fronts (dashed lines) o Precipitation o Freezing levels (zigzag lines) o IFR (solid lines) o MVFR (scalloped lines)
  • 26. High-Level Significant Weather Prog Chart Issued 4 times a day
  • 27. High level Prog • Domestic & International Flights • FL240 – FL600 • Presents a forecast for; o Thunderstorms o Tropical cyclones o Squall Lines o Moderate or greater turbulence o Wide spread dust storms & sandstorms o Tropopause height o Location of jet streams o Volcanic activity
  • 28. Convective Outlook Chart Convective Graphics
  • 29. Conv. Outlook • Issued five times daily • Convective Activity • Hail • Tornadoes • Winds
  • 30. Hail
  • 32. Winds
  • 33. Forecast Winds & Temperatures Aloft Chart
  • 34. FD • 12 hour forecasts valid at 0000Z & 1200Z daily • Read same as station model winds • 99 for calm winds with no arrow • Temps are shown in Celsius