What Do The Symbols On Weather Maps Mean?

Map created by the New Jersey Department of Environmental ProtectionThe chart above explains what the various symbols you see on weather maps actually mean.

Here’s a list below:

Cloud Coverage

• No Clouds
• 1/10
• 1/4
• 1/2
• 3/4
• 9/10
• Completely Overcast
• Sky Obscured

Wind Speed

• Calm
• Less than 5 knots
• 5 knots
• 10 knots
• 20 knots
• 25 knots
• 50 knots

Cloud Types

High Elevation

• Scattered Cirrus
• Dense Cirrus
• Cirrostratus
• Heavy Cirrostratus
• Cirrus & Cirrostratus

Middle Elevation

• Thin Altostratus
• Thick Altostratus
• Thin Altocumulus
• Heavy Altocumulus

Low Elevation

• Stratocumulus
• Fair Weather Cumulus
• Developing Cumulus
• Cumulonimbus
• Cumulus
• Nimbostratus
• Stratus
• Fractostratus

Weather Conditions

Intermittent
Rain – Light, Moderate, Heavy
Snow – Light, Moderate, Heavy
Drizzle – Light, Moderate, Heavy

Steady
Rain – Light, Moderate, Heavy
Snow – Light, Moderate, Heavy
Drizzle – Light, Moderate, Heavy

Thunderstorms
Rain – Mild, Moderate, Severe
Snow – Mild, Moderate, Severe
Hail – Mild, Moderate, Severe

Special Weather Conditions

• Hail
• Snow Grains
• Tornado
• Ice Crystals
• Drifting Snow
• Freezing Drizzle (Light, Heavy)
• Freezing Rain (Light, Heavy)

Wind Direction

• North (N)
• Northeast (NE)
• East (E)
• Southeast (SE)
• South (S)
• Southwest (SW)
• West (W)
• Northwest (NW)
• Wind comes from the direction of the arrow

Air Pressure

• High
• Low

Fronts

• Warm
• Cold
• Stationary
• Occluded
• Warm (Aloft)
• Cold (Aloft)

Miscellaneous Sky Cover

• Haze
• Smoke
• Dust/Sand
• Fog in Patches
• Light Fog
• Heavy Fog

Showers

• Slight Rain
• Moderate/Heavy Rain
• Violent Rain
• Sleet/Hail
• Slight Snow
• Moderate/Heavy Snow

Barometric Tendency

Increase in Air Pressure Over Last 3 Hours

• Rising, then Falling
• Rising, then Steady
• Rising Steadily
• Steady

Decrease in Air Pressure Over Last 3 Hours

• Falling, then Rising
• Falling, then Steady
• Falling Steadily
• Steady
• Rising, then Falling

Weather Station Model Demo

Data Labels:

• A – Temperature
• B – Present Weather
• C – Dew Point
• D – Low Cloud Type
• E – Pressure Change
• F – Pressure Tendency
• G – Wind Speed & Direction
• H – Barometric Pressure
• I – High Cloud Type
• J – Cloud Coverage

Anything surprise you?