Weather Charts

1
 Current Weather Products
• Observations
– Surface Analysis Charts
– Constant Pressure Charts
– Weather Depiction Charts
– Lifted Index Charts
– Radar Summary Charts
• Forecast Charts
– Short Range Surface Prognostic Chart
– Low level Significant Weather Prognostic Chart

2
 Surface Analysis Chart
• Shows the “big picture” – helps plan flights
around WX
• Depicts
– Sea level pressure
– Position of highs, lows, ridges and troughs
– Position of fronts
– Position of boundaries
– Overview of winds, temperatures and dew points
• Issued every 3 hours
• Valid for 6 hours
• Available at: http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/sfc2.shtml

3
 Surface Analysis Chart
Sea Level Low
Pressure
–4mb interval
lines
- Line below # is
pressure trend
Warm
front
stationary Cold
front front –
Pips show
direction of
High - Number movement
adjacent is central
pressure

Sea Level pressure

Tropical wave (first 10 or 9 digits omitted)
Data Wind or ceiling height
Temp Sky cover – If station
symbol is square then
Dew Point automated data was used 4
Surface Analysis Chart

5
Surface Analysis Chart

6
Surface Analysis Chart

7
DUATS Surface Analysis Chart

8
 Constant Pressure Charts
• Similar to the surface analysis chart but at
different pressure levels (altitudes will vary)
– 850 MB chart ≈ 5,000’
– 700 MB chart ≈ 10,000’
– 500 MB chart ≈ 18,000’
• Provides a 3D view of large areas – interpolate
between charts
• Data gathered through balloons
• Shows winds and temps – can identify jet stream
/ freezing risks for example
• Charts available at: http://aviationweather.gov/std_brief/

9
 Constant Pressure Charts
X Marks
Issue
high/low
date/time
center

Wind

Level

Contour line area of = height in meters

(850 MB omits 1 before and 700 omits 2 or 3 before –
Some charts also show:
which ever makes the number closer to 3,000 meters) e.g.
isotherms – areas of equal temperature – bold 309 = 3309 meters or 10,754’ – Look at gradients - wind
dashed line speed proportional to gradients (close = high winds).
isotachs – constant wind speed areas – short fine Contours can be interpreted in the same manner as isobars
dashed line with __K on the surface chart (e.g. high altitude=high pressure area) 10
 Historic (FAA) Constant Pressure Chart
Wind

Temp Height / pressure altitude

Latitude
Temp – Height
DP change /
spread aircraft
type
Satellite
Balloon / data
Ground
station

Data
Temp /
Isotherm
Airplane
observation

Longitude 11
Duats Constant Pressure Chart

12
 Weather Depiction Chart
• Broad overview of flying conditions – IFR
(<3sm vis;1,000’), MVFR (3 to 5sm vis;1k to 3k
ceiling), VFR (>5sm vis; >3,000 ceiling)
• Also shows fronts and troughs (except 10 and
23Z)
• Prepared 8 X per day

13
Weather Depiction Chart

IFR

MVFR

Precipitation
/ Vis Sky
obstructions cover
AGL
cloud
height

Legend
Data 14
Weather depiction Chart Symbols

NB: Symbols are the same

as the Surface Analysis
Chart 15
DUATS Weather Depiction Chart

16
 Radar Summary Chart
• Aids in preflight planning by identifying general
areas and movement of precipitation and/or
thunderstorms
• Issued hourly
• Shows:
– Radar echos
– Types of precipitation
– Movement of cells
– Tops of precipitation
– Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Watch areas
– DOES NOT SHOW clouds or fog
17
Radar Summary Chart

18
 Radar Summary Chart

• Individual cell movement is indicated by an arrow with the

speed in knots entered as a number at the top of the arrow
head.
• Highest echo height in the area is shown above a short line,
with the top height displayed.
• Severe weather watch areas are outlined by heavy dashed
lines, usually in the form of a large rectangular box.

19
NWS Radar Summary Chart

20
Nexrad Radar

21
 Lifted Index Chart
• Provides plot of the lifted index and K index values
– Lifted Index
• is a measure of atmospheric stability – it is a comparison of
predicted temperature change from the surface (2° saturated or 3°
unsaturated) less actual temperature change from the surface to
500mb (18,000 msl +/-)
• Positive LI – colder so stable air
• Negative LI – warmer so less stable
• Zero LI – neutral stability
• Becomes more stable with decreased dew point, decreasing
surface temperature or increasing 500 mb temperature
• Severe thunderstorm guide 0 to -2 weak potential; -3 to -5
moderate potential; ≤-6 Strong potentia;

22
 Lifted Index Chart
– K Index – used mostly by meteorologists
• During warm season a large Ki indicates conditions
favorable for thunderstorms
• In winter temperature terms completely dominate K
index
• Ki < 20 – No chance of thunderstorms
• Ki 20 to 25 – Isolated thunderstorms
• Ki 26 – 30 – Widely scattered thunderstorms
• Ki 31 – 35 – Scattered Thunderstorms
• Ki > 35 – Numerous thunderstorms

23
 Lifted Index Chart
Airmass
Lifted Index (LI) Severe Potential K-Index * Thunderstorm
Probability
0 to -2 Weak <15 near 0%
15-20 20%
-3 to -5 Moderate 21-25 21-40%
26-30 41-60%
< -6 Strong 31-35 61-80%
36-40 81-90%
>40 near 100%
It is essential to note that an unstable Lifted Index does NOT automatically mean
thunderstorms. Look at the synoptic situation and if thunderstorms are expected to
develop in the unstable air, this table may be used. * Use caution when applying these
values in the western mountainous terrain due to elevation

24
Lifted Index Chart

25
 Short Range Surface Prognostic Chart
• Surface forecast of pressure systems, fronts
and precipitation for two day period – 12, 24,
36 and 48 hours
• Uses Surface Analysis chart symbols
• Produced 4 x day for 12 and 24 hour periods;
twice per day for 36 and 48 hour periods

26
Short Range Surface Prognostic Chart
Shading = >50%
coverage;
Unshaded
precip indicates
30 to 50%
coverage

A bold, dashed,
grey line is used
to separate
precipitation
within an
outlined area
with contrasting
characteristics

Precipitation

Trough

27
Short Range Surface Prognostic Chart

28
DUATS Low Level Weather Prognostic
Chart

29
 Low Level Significant Weather
Prognostic Chart
• Forecast of aviation weather hazards
• Preflight use
• 3 versions (High level (FL250-FL630); mid level (FL100-
FL450) and low level (SFC-FL240))
• 12 and 24 hour panels; additional charts for 30, 36 and 48
hours
• Depicts
– VFR, MVFR and IFR areas (top panel)
– Freezing levels (top panel)
– Turbulence (top panel)
– Fronts and pressure systems (lower panel)

• Available at: http://aviationweather.gov/products/swl/

30
Low Level Significant Weather
Prognostic Chart

31
Low Level Significant Weather
Prognostic Chart

32
Low Level Significant Weather
Prognostic Chart

33
DUATS Severe Weather Outlook

34
DUATS Winds Aloft Forecast Chart

35
 NWC AirMet / Sigmet Charts

Airmet Zulu -
Airmet Sierra -
Icing
IFR

Airmet Tango -
Turbulence

Freezing levels

36
Freezing Level Chart

37
 Icing

SLD (super-
cooled large
drop - includes
freezing drizzle
and freezing
rain).

38
Turbulence

39
Infrared Satellite Chart

40
 Visible Satellite Chart

Day

Night

41
QUESTIONS
The 12-Hour Significant Weather Prognostic Chart indicates that eastern Kentucky and eastern Tennessee can
expect probable ceilings

A. less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 miles, and moderate turbulence below 10,000 feet MSL.
B. less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 miles, and moderate turbulence above 10,000 feet MSL.
C. less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 miles.

43
The 12-Hour Significant Weather Prognostic Chart indicates that West Virginia will likely experience

A. continuous rain covering less than half of the area.

B. continuous or showery precipitation covering half or more of the area.
C. thunderstorms and rain showers covering half or more of the area.

44
What conditions are indicated on a Weather Depiction Chart?

A. Forecast ceilings and visibilities over a large geographic area.

B. Actual en route weather conditions between reporting stations.
C. Actual sky cover, visibility restrictions, and type of precipitation at reporting stations.

What is indicated on the Weather Depiction Chart by a continuous smooth line enclosing a hatched geographic area?

A. Reporting stations within the enclosed area are all showing IFR conditions at the time of the report.
B. The entire area has ceilings less than 1,000 feet and/or visibility less than 3 miles.
C. More than 50 percent of the area enclosed by the smooth line is predicted to have IFR conditions.

On the constant pressure analysis chart, aircraft and satellite observations are used in the analysis over areas of sparse
data. An aircraft observation is plotted using

A. a square at the aircraft location.

B. a star at the aircraft location.
C. a station circle at the aircraft location.

Constant Pressure Analysis Charts contain contours, isotherms, and some contain isotachs. The contours depict

A. ridges, lows, troughs, and highs aloft.

B. highs, lows, troughs, and ridges on the surface.
C. highs, lows, troughs, and ridges corrected to MSL.

45
Determine the approximate wind direction and velocity at FL 240 over the station in central Oklahoma.

A. 280° at 10 knots.
B. 320° at 10 knots.
C. 330° at 13 knots.

46
What weather conditions are depicted in the area indicated by arrow B on the Radar Summary Chart?

A. Strong echoes; moderate rain showers; no cell movement.

B. Weak echoes; heavy rain showers; area movement toward the southeast.
C. Weak to moderate echoes; rain showers increasing in intensity.

47
What weather conditions are depicted in the area indicated by arrow D on the Radar Summary Chart?

A. Echo tops 4,100 feet MSL; strong to very strong echoes within the smallest contour; area movement toward the
northeast at 50 knots.
B. Intense to extreme echoes within the smallest contour; echo tops 29,000 feet MSL; cell movement toward the
northeast at 50 knots.
C. Strong to very strong echoes within the smallest contour; echo bases 29,000 feet MSL; cell in northeast Nebraska
moving northeast at 50 knots.

48
The IFR conditions in the vicinity of Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan were caused by

A. overcast sky and haze.

B. obscured skies and fog.
C. convective action during the front's passage.

49
The Weather Depiction Chart indicates that the coastal sections of Texas and Louisiana are reporting

A. VFR conditions with scattered clouds at 3,200 feet.

B. marginal VFR conditions due to broken ceilings of 3,200 feet.
C. all ceilings at or above 20,000 feet with visibilities of 20 miles or more.

50
QUESTIONS