Weather Symbols and the Weather Map

What does Uma have there? Is that a weather machine and a remote? She just pressed the cloud symbol. Can she use it to control the weather? Let's take a look at "Weather Symbols and the Weather Map!" On weather maps like this one, you can read exactly what the weather will be like in a place using symbols. Weather symbols are just pictures that show the type of weather like sun, rain, and wind. But who makes weather maps in the first place? That's what weather people, or meteorologists, do. They study and describe the weather. To do this, they use weather stations around the United States and all over the world. They collect lots of information each day so weather maps can show the weather for several days. But do you know what the weather symbols mean? Let's take a look at the most important ones on a weather map of the United States. Let's start with the sun symbol here over Phoenix, Arizona. What does it mean? It's going to be sunny in Phoenix. There are no clouds, only the sun! Don't forget your sunglasses and sunscreen! But what if there is ONE cloud in front of the sun? Like here in Cape May, New Jersey. Then it is a little or "partly cloudy". You can say, "It will be partly cloudy in Cape May." The sun is still out, so we can still enjoy the outdoors!! Can you find the cloud symbol on Uma's weather map? Here near Seattle, Washington. In Seattle, it will be very cloudy. There will be many clouds in the sky, but no rain just yet. And how is the weather in Portland, Oregon? There is a cloud with rain. That means it's going to rain in Portland. In the city, we'll probably need an umbrella, a rain jacket and rain boots. Were those all the symbols already? Not quite, there are many other forms of rain. Like hail, for example. This is the hail symbol, here, near Dallas. There will be hail in Texas. Do you also see a cloud with raindrops and lightning? Exactly! Near Miami, Florida. The symbol tells you: There will be thunderstorms in Miami. Thunder and lightning are coming. It could get loud! We should go indoors. And how will the weather be in Chicago, Illinois? There is a cloud with snowflakes. Snow is supposed to fall in Chicago. We need warm clothes here. But what do the wavy lines mean here in San Francisco, California? They show us fog: It will be foggy in San Francisco. Be careful, you can't see well here! Wow, that was a lot of weather symbols. Here you see the most important weather symbols again. What does Uma actually do? Oh no! Uma, we just can't control the weather with machines!