1. Synoptic Weather

2. Weather on a large scale
Weather forecasting requires knowledge of weather conditions over a large geographic area – sometimes called synoptic scale weather.
The relationships among atmospheric variables can be observed locally.
On weather maps, weather observations for a particular location are recorded on a station model.

3. Station Model on Your ESRT

4. Pressure Abbreviations
If we have two pressure readings, mb and mb, they are abbreviated differently on a station model to save space.
997.4 is reduced to 974
is reduced to 176
So the low numbers are higher pressure!

6. Station Model Terms Station models include: Present weather conditions
Amount of precipitation over last 6 hrs
Visibility (miles)
Barometric pressure is abbreviated

7. Visibility

8. Precipitation

9. Relative Humidity

10. Weather Station Practice
Temp
Dew Point
Wind Direction
Wind Speed
Cloud Cover
Pressure
Pressure change
Current Weather

15. Lab 14: Station Models and Synoptic Maps

17. Directions: Pretend you are a meteorologist that must read the attached map to report weather at various locations to a colleague in order for the both of you to predict upcoming storms.
According to the map, answer the following questions below. Be sure to use proper units.

18. What is the current weather in New York?
Temperature: _______ Pressure: ________
Dew Point: _______ Cloud Cover: _______ Types of clouds _______ Visibility: _______ Wind direction: ___________ Wind Speed: _________ Present weather: ___________ Precipitation in the past 6 hours: _________ Is barometer rising or falling? __________ Is precipitation likely coming soon in this area? ____________________________________

19. What is the current weather in Colorado?
Temperature: _______ Pressure: ________ Dew Point: _______ Cloud Cover: _______ Types of clouds _______ Visibility: _______ Wind direction: ___________ Wind Speed: _________ Present weather: ___________ Precipitation in the past 6 hours: _________ Is barometer rising or falling? __________
Is precipitation likely coming soon in this area? ____________________________________

20. Using the following information, construct station models for the following sets of conditions:
A partly cloudy day, temperature 71°F, dew point temperature 65°F. The barometer reads mbars, up 1.3 mb from 3 hours before. Visibility is 6 miles, with winds coming from the southeast at 15 knots.

21. Overcast skies, temperature of 30°F, dew point temperature 29°F
Overcast skies, temperature of 30°F, dew point temperature 29°F. Visibility ½ mile, light snow falling. The winds are coming from the southwest, at 10 knots. The pressure is mb and falling.

22. Patches of blue sky can be seen, with mostly cloudy skies
Patches of blue sky can be seen, with mostly cloudy skies. Visibility 3 miles, temperature 56°F, dew point 52°F, pressure is mb and falling. Winds are coming from the east at 20 knots; occasional thundershowers.

23. Wind Speed and Direction