How to Read Weather Station Model? - WeatherStationPro (2024)

Weather station models can seem confusing at first, but with a little knowledge you can understand what all the lines and colors mean. In this comprehensive guide, we will answer some of the most common questions people have about weather station models. We’ll provide useful tips on how to read them and what to look for when forecasting the weather. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced meteorologist, this guide is for you!

Table of Contents

Why is It Important to Read the Weather Station Model Properly?

Reading weather station models is important for a number of reasons. First and foremost, understanding the model can help you better understand the current weather conditions. Additionally, reading the model can also help you make predictions about future weather conditions. Finally, by reading the model, you can also identify any potential problem areas that may impact your local area.

How to Read Weather Station Model? - WeatherStationPro (1)

Main Variables of Weather Station Models

To understand how to read weather station models, it is first important to understand the main variables that are used in these models. In this section, we will discuss all the main variables that you need to be aware of in detail.

Temperature

The temperature is one of the most important variables in any weather station model.

This variable tells us how hot or cold it is outside. The temperature can be measured in degrees Fahrenheit (°F), Celsius (°C), or Kelvin (K).

Weather station reads temperature by checking the kinetic energy of particles in the air. The hotter the air, the more kinetic energy the particles have. The colder the air, the less kinetic energy the particles have.

Now when it comes to reading temperature from a weather station model, you need to pay attention to the upper left-hand corner of the model. In this corner, you will see a number. This is your temperature. The exact unit of measurement won’t be shown, but will be based on the country of origin for the model. For example, in the United States, the temperature will be shown in degrees Fahrenheit (°F), but in Europe it will be shown in degrees Celsius (°C).

If you live in another region, you can easily convert the temperature to the unit of measurement that you are most familiar with. For example, if you live in Europe and the weather station model is showing the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F), you can convert it to degrees Celsius (°C) by using this formula:

Celsius = 5/9(F-32). [1], [2], [3], [4]

How to Read Weather Station Model? - WeatherStationPro (2)

Dew point

The dew point is the temperature to which air must be cooled in order to reach saturation.

At this point, water vapor will begin to condense into liquid form. The dew point is an important variable to take into account when reading weather station models because it can give you a good indication of the amount of moisture in the air.

The amount of moisture in the air can have a significant effect on the weather. For example, if there is a lot of moisture in the air, it is more likely that precipitation will occur.

You can find out the dew point in the lower left corner of the weather station model. Similarly to temperature, the dew point is also measured in either Celsius or Fahrenheit. Dew point is always higher than air temperature, so don’t worry if you see a value much higher than local temps! [2], [3], [4]

Wind speed and direction

The next main variable that we will discuss is wind speed and direction. Wind is represented on the weather station model in a flag-shaped pattern. The direction of the wind is represented by the direction the flag is pointing, while the wind speed is represented by the number of symbols on the flag.

Wind direction is important to take note of because it can give you an idea of where the storm is heading. If the wind is blowing from the south, that likely means that the storm is moving northward. Conversely, if the wind is blowing from the north, then the storm is likely moving southward.

Wind speed is measured in knots, with one knot being equal to about 1.15 miles per hour. You will notice that the flag has a variation of lines, with some being longer and others being shorter. Sometimes, the flag symbol will end with a filled triangle. This means that the wind is blowing at a gusty speed.

How to Read Weather Station Model? - WeatherStationPro (3)

Full flag represents 50 knots, full line represents 10 knots and short line represents 5 knots. So, if you see a full flag and two short lines, that means the wind is blowing at a speed of 60 knots.

Generally speaking, winds are classified into three categories: light winds, moderate winds, and strong winds. Light winds are typically between 1-12 mph, moderate winds are between 13-25 mph, and strong winds are 26 mph or higher.

If the winds are calm, this will also be represented but with a different symbol, resembling a double circle. [2], [3], [4], [5]

Pressure

Another of the primary variables that is used in weather station models is pressure. This is a measure of the force exerted by the atmosphere on the surface of the earth. Pressure is measured in units of millibars (mb) or hectopascals (hPa). On weather models, the first digit of the pressure is generally left off. For example, if the pressure is 1003.7, it will be shown as 037 mb on the weather model.

You can check the pressure on the top-right corner of the weather station. Besides the number, there’s also a thing called a pressure trend.

The pressure trend is the amount that the pressure has changed over the last three hours.

The pressure trend is important because it can give you an indication of what the weather will be like in the near future. If the pressure is rising, that means that the atmosphere is becoming more stable and that usually means good weather. If the pressure is falling, that means that the atmosphere is becoming less stable and that usually means bad weather.

Pressure trend is depicted with a line. If the pressure is stable, then the line will be perfectly horizontal. If the pressure is rising, then the line will be going up. If the pressure is falling, then the line will be going down.

How to Read Weather Station Model? - WeatherStationPro (4)

The angle of the line will give you an idea of how quickly the pressure is changing. If the line is steep, then the pressure is changing quickly. If the line is shallow, then the pressure is changing slowly.

Pressure trends are important, but they’re not always accurate. Sometimes a rising pressure trend will turn out to be a falling trend and vice versa. That’s why it’s always a good idea to check the forecast before making any decisions based on the pressure trend. [2], [3], [4]

Visibility and current weather

One of the first things you will notice on a weather station model is the current visibility. This is an important number because it tells you how far away an object needs to be before it becomes obscured by fog, rain, or snow.

Visibility and weather are closely tied together. If the visibility is low, that generally means that the current weather conditions are not ideal. For example, if it is foggy outside, the visibility will be low.

Current weather conditions are also important to take note of because they can give you a general idea of what kind of weather you can expect in the near future. If the current conditions are sunny, chances are good that the forecast will call for more sun. However, if the current conditions are cloudy or rainy, there is a higher chance that those same conditions will continue in the near future.

Visibility is usually represented by a number on the right side of the weather station model. This number is the visibility in miles. For example, if the visibility is listed as “1 1/2”, that means that an object needs to be less than 0.50 miles away before it becomes obscured by fog, rain, or snow.

The current weather conditions are usually represented by a symbol. These symbols can vary depending on the model, but they usually include sun, clouds, rain, snow, and thunderstorms. Depending on the severity of the weather, there could be different variations of these symbols.

Visibility can change very quickly depending on the weather conditions. For example, if a thunderstorm rolls in, the visibility can drop very quickly. This is why it is important to keep an eye on the visibility number so that you know when the conditions might

Rain

Rain is usually depicted by a symbol that looks like dots. The amount of rain is represented by the amount of space between the dots. For example, if the rain symbol is composed of four dots, that means there is heavy rain. If the rain symbol is only two dots, that means it is raining very lightly. Moderate rainfall is usually depicted by three dots.

Rain is an important variable to take note of because it can have a big impact on visibility and current weather conditions.

If it is raining heavily, the visibility will be reduced and the current conditions will be cloudy or rainy.

Another thing to keep in mind is that rain can cause flooding. This is why it is always important to check the forecast before you travel to an area that is prone to flooding.

Snow

Snowfall is portrayed on weather station models as snowflakes. The number of snowflakes next to the symbol tells you how much snow is expected in a 12-hour period.

For example, if there are four snowflake symbol, that means you should expect heavy snowfall of four inches or more in a 12-hour period. Three snowflakes means moderate snowfall and two snowflakes indicate light snow.

Snowfall can have a big impact on visibility, especially if you’re driving. If you see that the forecast is calling for heavy snowfall, it is important to take extra caution when driving and allow yourself extra time to get to your destination.

Thunder

Thunderstorms are dangerous and can cause a lot of damage. They are also very hard to predict.

Thunderstorms will be depicted by an arrow resembling a letter “R” with a symbol above it. If a thunderstorm with rain is incoming, you will see a dot above the “R”. If a thunderstorm with snow is incoming, you will see a snowflake instead.

If you see no additional symbols, then no precipitations are expected. [2], [3], [4]

How to Read Weather Station Model? - WeatherStationPro (5)

Sky cover

The sky cover is one of the most important variables in weather station models.

It tells you how much of the sky is covered by clouds. This is one of the easiest variables to understand.

Coverage will be represented by a circle. Depending on the amount of clouds in the sky, the circle will be either completely filled in, or partially. The more clouds there are, the more filled the circle will become.

If you see a completely filled in circle, that means there are 100% clouds in the sky. If you see circle 1/4 filled in, that means there are 25% clouds in the sky. And 3/4 means 75% etc.

Besides this, circle can also be crossed. This means that the sky is obscured and you cannot see the sun. This can be due to fog, smoke, or other factors.

If the circle is divided by a vertical line, this means that there are only a few clouds in the sky and the sun is visible. [2], [3], [4]

FAQ

How do you read station models?

Weather station models show the current position, pressure and forecast of storms. You can find your local weather station model by searching for “weather station models” on the National Weather Service website. After you select a model, you will be able to see all of the different types of data that are available for that particular model.

The most important thing to look at when you are trying to read a weather station model is the pressure. This is because the pressure is what will determine the strength of the storm. The higher the pressure, the stronger the storm will be. Another important thing to look at is the forecasted path of the storm. This will help you know where it is going and how long it will last.

What does a weather station model tell us?

A weather station model tells us about the current state of the atmosphere and how it is expected to change over time. It can give us information on things like temperature, humidity, wind speed, and precipitation.

The most important thing to remember when reading a weather station model is that they are created using data from a limited number of weather stations. This means that they are not perfect and should be used as a guide rather than an absolute forecast.

Another important thing to remember is that weather models are constantly changing and being updated as new data comes in. This means that the forecast you see today might be different tomorrow.

How do you read pressure on a station model?

The pressure is always given in millibars (mb), and the value will be reported as a number with the leading 10 or 9 omitted.

You will initially be given a plotted pressure reading from a pressure sensor at a specific location. You will need to convert the pressure to millibars using the following table.

  • 410: 1041.0 mb
  • 103: 1010.3 mb
  • 987: 998.7 mb
  • 872: 987.2 mb

Besides that, you can also check a pressure trend by looking at the pressure tendency arrow. This is a good way to see if the pressure is rising, falling, or staying steady. The most important thing to remember when reading pressure is that high pressure means good weather and low pressure means bad weather.

How do you read wind in a weather station model?

Wind is always shown in knots in a weather station model. Each increment on the model equals five knots.

Wind speed is determined by adding up flags, lines or half-lines on the model. Flags are equal to 50 knots, while lines are equal to 10 knots and half-lines 5 knots.

For example, four flags and two lines would equal 40 knots (50+50+50+50+20).

To identify the direction the wind is blowing from, look at the ends of the symbol. The long end always points in the direction the wind is blowing from.

While this may seem confusing at first, with a bit of practice it will become second nature.

Useful Video: Reading a Weather Station Model

Conclusion

As you can see, reading weather station models is not as difficult as it may seem at first. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be able to quickly and easily interpret the data in these models to better understand the current and future state of the atmosphere. Just keep in mind that different variables will require to be read in different ways, and that you can always consult with a professional meteorologist if you have any questions about the data. Remembering where each variable is located will help you a lot. Now you can enjoy the weather with a whole new level of understanding!

I hope this guide was helpful in answering some of your questions about how to read weather station models. If you have any additional questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer them. Until next time, happy model reading!

References

  1. https://www.shsu.edu/~dl_www/bkonline/GenRef111/Applets/Decode/L_decodestation.htm
  2. https://www.e-education.psu.edu/meteo3/l1_p5.html
  3. https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/stationplot.shtml
  4. https://wxobservation.com/how-to-read-a-weather-station-model/
  5. weather.gov/pqr/wind
How to Read Weather Station Model? - WeatherStationPro (2024)

FAQs

How to interpret weather station models? ›

On a station model, reading the temperature is pretty easy. The number located in the upper-left corner of the model is the station temperature expressed in degrees Fahrenheit (or Celsius, depending on the country of origin). In the case of the station model on the right, the temperature is 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do you read the barometric pressure on a station model? ›

The three digits in the upper-right-hand corner of the station model represent the last three digits of the station's sea-level pressure, expressed to the nearest tenth of a millibar. Thus, to decode the pressure reading, you must first add a decimal in front of the right-most digit.

What are the symbols used in a station model? ›

Each station on the station model contains a central picture that represents the wind speed and direction, a circle or dart to represent cloud cover, a symbol to the left of that to represent the current weather, a symbol above to represent the type of clouds, and then various numbers in particular positions around it, ...

How do you read weather station maps? ›

These maps include symbols representing different weather phenomena like rain, snow, and fog. For instance, dots represent rain, while asterisks signify snow. Additionally, surface maps show front lines, indicating the boundaries of different air masses and often the zones of most significant weather changes.

What does Z mean in weather models? ›

All aspects of meteorology are based upon a world-wide 24-hour clock called Zulu time (Z), more commonly called Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). You will notice all weather maps, radar, and satellite images all have their time expressed in "Z".

What are the 8 weather symbols? ›

2. Master Weather Symbols and Icon
  • Sun: Clear skies and bright sunshine.
  • Cloud: Overcast or partly cloudy conditions.
  • Raindrop: Indication of rain showers.
  • Snowflake: Signifies snowfall or wintry precipitation.
  • Thunderstorm: Represents the potential for thunderstorms.
  • Wind: Depict wind direction and speed.
Jul 15, 2024

How do you know if the barometric pressure is high or low? ›

A barometric reading over 30.20 inHg is generally considered high, and high pressure is associated with clear skies and calm weather. If the reading is over 30.20 inHg (102268.9 Pa or 1022.689 mb): Rising or steady pressure means continued fair weather. Slowly falling pressure means fair weather.

What are the rules for converting barometric pressure on a station model? ›

Air Pressure: when coding air pressure on a station model, use the following rule:
  1. if the air pressure on the station model is 500 or more, place a 9 in front of this number. ...
  2. if the air pressure number on the station model is less than 500 add a 10 in front of the number.

What does the circle in the middle of the weather station model diagram indicates? ›

Sky Cover:

The amount that the circle at the center of the station plot is filled in represents the approximate amount of total cloud cover.

How to find visibility on a station model? ›

To locate horizontal visibility, look below and to to the left of the air temperature. The leftmost number (if present), represents the horizontal visibility reported in statute miles (one-and-a-half miles in the sample station model on the right).

What type of pressure system is most associated with rainy weather, high or low? ›

A low pressure system has lower pressure at its center than the areas around it. Winds blow towards the low pressure, and the air rises in the atmosphere where they meet. As the air rises, the water vapor within it condenses, forming clouds and often precipitation.

How to read pressure on a station model? ›

For now, we're going to focus on the sea-level pressure value in the upper right (we'll deal with pressure tendency later on). The three digits in the upper-right-hand corner of the station model represent the last three digits of the station's sea-level pressure, expressed to the nearest tenth of a millibar.

What is the symbol for high pressure? ›

Atmospheric pressure is measured with an instrument on the ground called a barometer, and these measurements are collected at many locations across the U.S. by the National Weather Service. On weather maps, these readings are represented as a blue “H” for high pressure or a red “L” for low pressure.

How do you read pressure lines on a weather map? ›

Numbers on these lines are called millibars, a measure of force. The numbers usually range from about 1000 to 1020 millibars. If you see something lower than 1000 it will be an intense area of low pressure, like with a hurricane. Above 1020 means strong high pressure, probably associated with cold, clear air.

What are the eight types of weather data that are indicated by a station model? ›

The station weather plot shows the current weather conditions, cloud cover, wind speed, wind direction, visibility, temperature, dew point temperature, atmospheric pressure, and the change in pressure over the last three hours.

How can you tell how cloudy it is by looking at a station model? ›

Interpreting sky coverage on the station model is fairly intuitive, as the circle in the station model serves as the "pie chart" that shows the cloud coverage. The greater the cloud coverage that exists, generally the larger the portion of the circle that is filled in.

How do numerical weather models work? ›

Numerical weather prediction models are computer simulations of the atmosphere. These models provide the foundation of the weather forecast. The models use an analysis of the current weather as a starting point and then project the state of the atmosphere in the future.

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