How to Read Weather Maps

Reading a weather map will provide you with an up-to-date picture of the expected weather in your region. Once you have a basic understanding of commonly accepted weather symbols, you will be able to tell at a glance what the weather is likely to be in your area even if you do not have access to a detailed weather report.

Instructions

1. 

   Look for symbols for areas of high or low pressure. This will be indicated with a large blue "H" for high air pressure and a large red "L" for low air pressure. Expect fair weather if a high is over your area and clouds or precipitation if there is a low in your area.

2. 

   Check for warm and cold fronts entering or exiting your area. Cold fronts are blue and indicate a mass of cold air. Warm fronts are red and indicate warm air masses.

3. 

   Pay attention to occluded fronts. This is purple and looks like a combination of the warm front and cold front symbols. This means that one air mass is taking over another. It can mean either warm air is overtaking cold air or cold air is overtaking warm air, and the temperatures are about to change in your region.

4. 

   Look for stationary fronts. These indicate that the air masses are remaining in the same location. Expect temperatures to stay the same for a while.

5. 

   Look for the symbols for rain. These are heavy black dots. The more dots there are, the heavier the expected rain will be. Drizzle is indicated by commas. Mixed precipitation will be indicated with both symbols.

6. 

   Monitor the possibility of snow by watching for snowflake symbols. One flake indicates flurries, and the more flakes there are, the heavier the snow is expected to be.

7. 

   Look for other symbols for freezing conditions or blowing snow that may affect your area. Be prepared for difficult travel.

8. 

   Look for any other symbols that may be used on the weather map. You will find an explanation of these symbols in the legend of the map, generally found in the lower corner of the map.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check to make sure the map is of your region or local area.