Weather Charts

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
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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

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Surface Analysis Chart

Low

Sea Level
Pressure

4mb interval
lines
- Line below # is
pressure trend

Warm
front

stationary
front

Cold
front

Pips show
direction of
movement

High - Number

adjacent is central
pressure

Data

Sea Level pressure

Tropical wave

Wind

Temp

(first 10 or 9 digits omitted)

or ceiling height
Sky cover If station

Dew Point

symbol is square then

automated data was used

Surface Analysis Chart

Surface Analysis Chart

Surface Analysis Chart

DUATS Surface Analysis Chart

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/

Constant Pressure Charts

X Marks
high/low
center

Issue
date/time

Wind
Level
Some charts also show:
isotherms areas of equal temperature bold
dashed line
isotachs constant wind speed areas short fine
dashed line with __K

Contour line area of = height in meters

(850 MB omits 1 before and 700 omits 2 or 3 before

which ever makes the number closer to 3,000 meters) e.g.
309 = 3309 meters or 10,754 Look at gradients - wind
speed proportional to gradients (close = high winds).
Contours can be interpreted in the same manner as isobars
on the surface chart (e.g. high altitude=high pressure area) 10

Historic (FAA) Constant Pressure Chart

Wind
Temp
Temp
DP
spread

Height / pressure altitude

Height
change /
aircraft
type

Balloon /
Ground
station
Data
Airplane
observation
Longitude

Latitude

Satellite
data

Temp /
Isotherm

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Duats Constant Pressure Chart

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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

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Weather Depiction Chart

IFR
MVFR
Precipitation
/ Vis
obstructions

Data

Sky
cover

Legend

AGL
cloud
height

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Weather depiction Chart Symbols

NB: Symbols are the same

as the Surface Analysis
Chart

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DUATS Weather Depiction Chart

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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

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Radar Summary Chart

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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.

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NWS Radar Summary Chart

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Nexrad Radar

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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;
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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
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Lifted Index Chart

Lifted Index (LI)

Severe Potential

K-Index *

0 to -2

Weak

<15

-3 to -5

Moderate

< -6

Strong

Airmass
Thunderstorm
Probability
near 0%

15-20

20%

26-30

41-60%

36-40

81-90%

21-25
31-35

>40

21-40%
61-80%

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
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Lifted Index Chart

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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

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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
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Short Range Surface Prognostic Chart

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DUATS Low Level Weather Prognostic

Chart

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Low Level Significant Weather

Prognostic Chart

Forecast of aviation weather hazards

Preflight use
3 versions (High level (FL250-FL630); mid level (FL100FL450) 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/

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Low Level Significant Weather

Prognostic Chart

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Low Level Significant Weather

Prognostic Chart

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Low Level Significant Weather

Prognostic Chart

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DUATS Severe Weather Outlook

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DUATS Winds Aloft Forecast Chart

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NWC AirMet / Sigmet Charts

Airmet Sierra IFR

Airmet Zulu Icing

Airmet Tango Turbulence

Freezing levels
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Freezing Level Chart

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Icing

SLD (supercooled large

drop - includes
freezing drizzle
and freezing
rain).
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Turbulence

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Infrared Satellite Chart

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Visible Satellite Chart

Day
Night

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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QUESTIONS