Graphic weather products provide an overview of large-scale weather patterns and forecasts of conditions. Key products include surface analysis charts, weather depiction charts, radar summary charts, and 12/24 hour prognostic charts. These charts identify areas of precipitation, cloud cover, winds, and pressure to help pilots anticipate weather that could impact flight.

1. Graphic Weather Products
& How to Read Them

2. Graphic Wx Products
• Quickly access large-scale weather patterns
• Identify trends
• Predict wx that might occur over time
• Identify areas of IFR wx at a glance
• See where IFR conditions are forecast within the
next 12-24 hours

3. Required Graphics
• Surface Analysis Chart
• Weather Depiction Chart
• Radar Summary Chart
• 12/24 Hour Significant Weather Prognostic Chart
• Winds & Temps Aloft Chart

4. Surface Analysis

5. Surface Analysis
• Depicts an analysis of the current surface weather
• Computer prepared every 3 hours
• Shows;
o Areas of pressure
o Fronts
o Temperatures
o Dew points
o Wind Directions & Speeds
o Local Weather
o Visual Obstructions

6. Station Model
• Created by computer
• Mainly on surface-
weather maps
• Winds are true direction
• Temp/Dew point is in
Fahrenheit

7. So What Do I Need To
Know?
• A good source for general weather information
over a wide area.
• Depicts the actual position of fronts, pressure
patterns, temperatures, dew
point, wind, weather, and obstructions to vision at
the valid time of the chart.
• When the Isobars are close the pressure gradient is
greater meaning wind velocities will be stronger.
• Dashed lines indicate a weak pressure gradient.

8. Weather Depiction

9. Wx Depiction
• Derived from METAR’s
• Prepared every 3 hours beginning at 0100Z by a
computer
• Used for flight planning
• Displays
o Major fronts
o Areas of pressure
o Graphic display of IFR, MVFR, VFR
o Shows a modified station model

10. Modified Station Model
• Sky Conditions
• Cloud height or ceiling
• Weather
• Obstructions to visibility
• Same as Surface Analysis

11. So What Do I need To
Know?
• Some may be automated
• Bases shown are the lowest layer

12. Radar Summary

13. Radar Summary (SD)
• Computer generated
• Published hourly, 35 minutes past the hour
• Displays areas of precipitation as well as the
characteristics of the precipitation.

14. SD
• NA – No information
Available
• NE – No echoes
• Height of tops in
hundreds of feet MSL
• Movement of cells
depicted by arrow

15. So What Do I Need To
Know?
• The only charts that show lines and cells of
thunderstorms
• You can determine the tops and bases of
echoes, the intensity of the precipitation, and the
echo movement.
• Most effective when used in combination with other
charts, reports, and forecasts.

16. Satellite Wx Pictures

20. Composite Moisture
Stability Chart
• Four Panels showing stability, precipitable
water, freezing level, & average relative humidity
conditions.
• Computer generated
• Obtained from upper air observations
• Updated twice daily
• Stability = Potential for thunderstorms
• You will not find this chart anywhere in the current
system

21. Constant Pressure
Analysis Chart

22. Composite Moisture
Stability Chart

23. Low Level Significant
Weather Prog Chart

24. Prog Charts
• SFC to FL240 (400 Millibar)
• 12/24 hour forecast, and 36/48 forecast
• Issued four times daily
• Valid time is printed on it

25. Prog Charts
Upper Panels Lower Panels
• Shows forecasted • Forecast surface wx
significant weather o Pressure systems
o Non-convective turbulence o Fronts
(dashed lines) o Precipitation
o Freezing levels (zigzag lines)
o IFR (solid lines)
o MVFR (scalloped lines)

26. High-Level Significant Weather
Prog Chart
Issued 4 times a day

27. High level Prog
• Domestic & International Flights
• FL240 – FL600
• Presents a forecast for;
o Thunderstorms
o Tropical cyclones
o Squall Lines
o Moderate or greater turbulence
o Wide spread dust storms & sandstorms
o Tropopause height
o Location of jet streams
o Volcanic activity

28. Convective Outlook Chart
Convective Graphics

29. Conv. Outlook
• Issued five times daily
• Convective Activity
• Hail
• Tornadoes
• Winds

30. Hail

31. Tornado

32. Winds

33. Forecast Winds & Temperatures
Aloft Chart

34. FD
• 12 hour forecasts valid at 0000Z & 1200Z daily
• Read same as station model winds
• 99 for calm winds with no arrow
• Temps are shown in Celsius