Worksheet: Weather Analysis
Use this document to complete the lab. Once you have answered all the questions, enter your responses in the lab
assignment in the course.
Some questions will be auto-graded, but written responses will require grading by your instructor. Your final lab
grade will be updated once those responses are reviewed. After the due date, you will be able to review your lab.
Decode the information for the station model in Figure 1 to answer the following questions. If a variable is missing
or not shown, write “N/A”.
Note: Assume all temperatures and dew points are Figure 1
in degrees Fahrenheit. Weather Station Model
North
1. Temperature =
2. Wind Direction = 85 979
3. Sky Cover =
West East
4. Pressure =
57
5. Dew Point =
6. Pressure Trend =
7. Current Weather = South
Source: Ruthrau-, Rebecca, 2025
Decode the information for the station model in Figure 2 to answer the following questions. If a variable is missing
or not shown, write “N/A”.
Note: Assume all temperatures and dew points are Figure 2
in degrees Fahrenheit. Weather Station Model
North
8. Temperature =
9. Wind Direction =
10. Sky Cover =
West 75 003 East
11. Pressure =
12. Dew Point =
23
13. Pressure Trend =
14. Current Weather =
South
Source: Ruthrau-, Rebecca, 2025
Department of Geography, Kent State University 1
15. Describe the weather associated with a cold front.
16. Describe the weather associated with a warm front.
Figure 3 shows a surface weather map of the United States for February 8, 2000.
Scattered across the map are weather station models that depict key meteorological data: wind direction, sky
cover, temperature (in Fahrenheit), atmospheric pressure, and dew point.
The thick, curved blue and red lines represent boundaries between air masses. In the atmosphere (troposphere),
large regions of air with relatively uniform temperature, humidity, and density frequently come into contact with
di]erent air masses. These di]ering air masses do not easily mix, and the boundaries between them remain
distinct. These boundary zones are known as fronts, and they mark transitions between warm and cold air.
• A cold front marks the leading edge of an advancing cold air mass. On the map, a cold front is prominently
shown across the eastern half of the U.S., symbolized by blue triangles pointing in the direction the cold air
is moving.
• A warm front marks the leading edge of an advancing warm air mass moving into cooler regions. It is
represented by red semi-circles, also oriented in the direction of movement.
The "H" and "L" symbols on the map indicate centers of high and low air pressure, respectively, relative to the
surrounding atmosphere. These pressure systems generally span 500 to 1,000 miles.
• The "H" over New Orleans, Louisiana, marks the center of a high-pressure system. Atmospheric pressure
increases as you move inward toward this high and decreases as you move outward.
• Conversely, the "L" in Figure 3
South Texas marks a low- Surface Weather Map – February 8, 2020
pressure center. Moving
outward from this "L,"
pressure drops from 1028
mb to 1022 mb, indicating
the area of lowest pressure.
Department of Geography, Kent State University 2
Use Figure 3 to answer the following questions. Be sure to include the correct units in your responses. You may
need to refer to a U.S. map or almanac to identify and locate certain places mentioned in the questions.
17. The boundary of continental polar air moving south from Canada is shown by a blue line with triangles,
extending from the northeastern U.S. to northern Oklahoma. If this cold front continues to move southward,
would you expect temperatures in north-central North Carolina to be cooler or warmer the following day?
18. Locate the high-pressure system centered over Iowa. As you move outward horizontally from this high-pressure
center for several hundred miles, does the atmospheric pressure increase or decrease?
Hint: Use the pressure values shown on nearby station models just outside the high-pressure center to help
determine the trend.
19. At North Platte (central Nebraska), the air pressure corrected to sea-level was 1030.3 mb, while at San Antonio
(south-central Texas), it was 1024.2 mb.
Based on this information, which of the two cities is likely experiencing the cooler temperature?
20. The dew point is the temperature to which air must be cooled (at constant pressure) to reach saturation—when
relative humidity is 100%. In general, a higher dew point indicates a greater concentration of water vapor in the
air.
By examining the station models, which city—North Platte, Nebraska or San Antonio, Texas—has less water
vapor in the air?
21. At Indianapolis (central Indiana), the winds were coming from the __________ at approximately 5 knots, and the
air pressure corrected to sea-level was __________ mb.
22. A high-pressure system is centered over western Wyoming.
In which direction are the winds circulating around this system—clockwise or counterclockwise?
23. In San Diego, California (located in the southern part of the state), the wind is coming from the __________.
24. By examining the station model for San Diego, California, is the atmospheric pressure higher or lower
compared to that of Albuquerque, New Mexico?
25. Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air. Relative humidity is the ratio of the amount of water vapor in
the air at a given temperature to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at that temperature. It’s
expressed as a percentage. For example, a relative humidity of 55% means the air is holding 55% of the water
vapor it could hold at that specific temperature.
• If the temperature and dew point are close together, the relative humidity is high.
• If the temperature and dew point are far apart, the relative humidity is low.
Which location is experiencing higher relative humidity?
a. Lafayette, Louisiana
b. Atlanta, Geogia
c. Key West Florida
d. Dallas, Texas
Department of Geography, Kent State University 3
Use Figure 4, which shows a Figure 4
surface weather map of the Surface Weather Map – March 27, 2025
United States for March 27, 2005,
to answer the following questions.
Scattered across the map are
weather station models that
depict key meteorological data:
wind direction, sky cover,
temperature (in Fahrenheit),
atmospheric pressure, and dew
point.
26. Which city in Texas has the
highest wind speed:
a. El Paso
b. Amarillo
c. Midland
d. San Antonio
e. Brownsville
Source: [Link]
27. Given your answer to the previous question, which direction is the wind blowing from?
Use Figure 5, which depicts a mature mid-latitude cyclone in the United States, to answer the following questions:
28. Describe the weather at Letter A. From which direction are the winds blowing at Letter A?
Figure 5
29. Describe the weather at Mature Mid-Latitude Cyclone
Letter B.
30. Describe the weather at
Letter C. From which
direction are the winds
blowing at Letter C?
Source: Lutgens, E. & F. Tarbuck. 2004. The Atmosphere: An Introduction to Meteorology. 9th ed. Pearson.
Department of Geography, Kent State University 4
Use Figure 6 to complete this question.
Right-click on the image below, click Copy Image/Save Image As, choose a location on your computer, and click
Save.
or
Download the file located in the course, titled “Mid-Latitude Cyclone [Link]”, and save it to your computer.
Upload the image to the Sketchpad website. Figure 6
Mid-Latitude Cyclone Problem
31. Draw and label the following weather map symbols. Review the
Drawing a Mid-Latitude Cyclone using Station Model Data
section of the Weather Analysis Lab Manual.
a. Draw isobars at 4 mb intervals, starting with 1002 mb.
• You must decode the pressure values from each station
model on your map.
• Hint: You will draw a total of three isobar lines.
b. Label each isobar clearly with the appropriate millibar
(mb) value.
c. Identify and label the center of low pressure using a
bold “L.”
d. Decode the station models to locate and draw the warm and
cold fronts using the correct colors and symbols. Source: Ruthrau-, Rebecca. 2025
e. Use the paintbrush tool to lightly shade areas under 75% or more cloud cover in transparent light gray.
Add your name, the date, and your class section number on the lower right corner of the image. Note: Credit
will not be given if your map does not include this information.
Export your map as a JPEG file.
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