Weather Products for Archive Forecast and Help Page 

click here for location of  Dodge City, KS
 

Below, you will find brief explanations as well as a number of links intended to help you when making your daily forecasts.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Surface Products	Upper Air Products
Model Forecasts	Satellite Imagery
Forecasting Check-List

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Surface maps display various surface parameters such as pressure, temperature, and dewpoint temperature. Lows, highs, and fronts are drawn on some maps to indicate varying surface conditions. These can be used to track areas of low pressure (usually producing cloudiness and precipitation) and high pressure (usually clearer weather).  Click on the surface map to see a list of links to current and prognostic surface maps.  Click on the map.
 
 

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Upper air analysis have many uses. Each map displays different aspects of the weather situation. The 300 mb map defines the jet stream position. The 500 mb map illustrates the positions of and troughs and ridges, which may indicate areas of stormy or fair weather. The 850 mb map can be used to indicate the presence or absence of moisture available for precipitation. Click on the map.
 
 

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Computer models use current weather conditions to project how conditions will change in the coming hours and days. The model output must be interpreted, since few normal surface features are drawn on the maps. These are computer projections and not always correct. These are good to use for a guide but adaptations must be made.  Click on the map.
 
 

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Satellite observations display existing cloud conditions. The visible picture gives a "camera shot" from space during the day. The infrared measures temperatures of the cloud tops (useful during the day or night).  Water vapor shows the percentage of water vapor existing through the atmosphere. Click on the map.
 
 

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Forecasting Check-List

We have included a check-list that you may want to print out and use while making you daily forecasts.
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Animated GIFs created using GIF Construction Set - http://www.mindworkshop.com/alchemy/gifcon.html
Satellite Images - http://www.earthwatch.com/
Surface Map - http://www.weather.com/
Model Forecast Image - http://wxp.atms.purdue.edu/
Upper Air Map - http://covis.atmos.uiuc.edu/covis/visualizer/
http://cirrus.sprl.umich.edu/wxnet/
http://www.intellicast.com/

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