1. What is this?
A Weather Map

2. Weather Maps: What do we use them for?
These maps are used to:
Locate and identify fronts
Areas of high and low pressure
Temperatures

3. Dissecting the Map
In a weather map, there are isotherms. These are lines that connect places with the same temperature.
To remember: isotherm has the word “therm” in it, like thermometer
There are also isobars. These are lines that connect areas of the same air pressure.
To remember: iosbar has the word “bar” in it and they have to do with pressure so think bench pressing.

4. Isotherm

5. Isobar Do you see the difference in the two?
When the bars are close together the wind is very strong, and when they are far apart the wind is gentler.
Identify a spot where the wind is strong. Now where it is weaker.
Do you see the difference in the two?

6. There are several types of weather maps.
Surface Map
Forecast Map
What do you notice is different between the two maps?

7. Surface Maps
These maps use international symbols to represent wind speed, direction, temperature, types of clouds and amount of cloud cover
They also include information weather station reports

8. Forecast Maps
These are used to demonstrate the predicted changes in the weather.
These maps are created by computers
There are two types of forecast maps:
Short Range: indicate the weather for hours
Constantly updated
Long Range: indicate weather for 6-10 days
Updated three times a week

9. Are Forecast maps 100% accurate?
Why or Why not?
No they are not. They are a prediction of what the weather should be. Think bad to news anchors, does it always rain when they say it should?

10. Now we are going to read a map of today’s weather.