Weather Briefings
1. Current Weather in Lexington: temp, dew point, RH, winds, pressure, weather
2. Current surface composite map (radar, satellite, fronts, surface observations)
a. Where are the high and lows?
b. Where are the fronts?
c. Where is the precipitation?
d. Tom’s 6 Rules of Thumb
e. The majority of synopsis will come from this map
3. Weather Forecast Map (for today)
a. Where will fronts move?
b. Where will highs and lows move?
4. Weather Discussion
a. This is the reasoning behind the forecast
b. Read it
5. Current Radar – precipitation versus ground clutter
6. Current Temperature Map
a. What is the temperature gradient?
b. Are any areas less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit
7. Current Wind Chill Map
8. Current Satellite Image
a. Where are the clouds?
b. What is the rotation of clouds (clockwise or counterclockwise)?
9. 850mb height field
a. Note the location of the 0 degree Celsius line (thick blue line)
b. This is generally the rain/snow boundary
c. Areas of green are not areas of precipitation – it is relative humidity
10. 500mb height field
a. Note the locations of troughs and ridges
b. What is the direction of air flow over Kentucky?
11. 500mb 48 hour forecast map – how will troughs and ridges move?
12. Weather Forecast Map (for tomorrow) – same as #3
13. Storm Prediction Center Radar
a. Areas of thunderstorms? (brown line)
b. Areas of severe thunderstorms?
i. Slight chance – green line
ii. Moderate chance – orange line
iii. Extreme chance – red line
14. 24 Hour Quantitative Precipitation Map – How much precipitation in 24 hours?
15. 5 Day Quantitative Precipitation Map – How much precipitation in the next 5
days?
16. Precision Ag Forecast Table for Fayette County Kentucky
a. What will temperatures be?
b. What will wind speeds/directions be?
c. Will there be any precipitation?
17. Zone Forecast – same as 16, but in text format
Samples
Good
Temperatures across Kentucky are currently in the middle 40’s, and winds are
light. High pressure is in control over the eastern half of the US. A storm system
developing over the central plains will bring rain and cooler temperatures to the area later
this week.
A low pressure system is dumping rain across Kentucky. Temperatures are in the
upper 80’s, and humidity values are near 70%. Severe thunderstorms are possible later
this afternoon. Hot and humid weather will continue through the rest of the week.
Bad (Don’t write crap like this)
Temp: 25
Dew Point: 15
Wind: South at 5
It’s cold and sunny.
It’s raining. There is high pressure over the area. It’s 80. It’s going to snow.