How do I interpret synoptic charts?

Question

including

- barometric (air) pressure

- wind speeds

Answer 1

You have to read between the lines.  The charts are like a paint-by numbers picture.  If you print a synoptic chart and shade in the area between the lines with different colors, you will see most of the lines are enclosed walls.  If one line says 10 and the line parallel to it says 20, the space in the middle is somewhere between 10 and 20.

The lines are called isobars and isotherms.  Some isobars contain symbols representing high pressure, low pressure and other weather events.

Weather Front Symbols

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:NWS_w...

1.cold front

2.warm front

3.stationary front

4.occluded front

5.surface trough

6.squall line

7.dry line

8.tropical wave

Wind Interpretation Symbols

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wind_...