Weather Maps Lesson for Kids

Meteorologists use different types of weather maps to show forecasts. The main weather maps are satellite, Doppler radar, precipitation, temperature, and wind speed. Let's explore each of these in more detail.

Snow, sleet, rain, freezing rain, and hail are all examples of precipitation. Guess what precipitation maps displays? They display where there will be different types of precipitation. These maps usually use symbols such as rain drops or colors to indicate where it will rain that day.

If you've ever wanted to fly a kite, then you know how important it is to know what the wind speed is. You don't want to plan to fly a kite when there won't be wind or when it will be too windy. Fortunately, wind speed maps can show you how rough the winds will be where you live.

Scientists who study the atmosphere and predict the weather are called meteorologists. They use weather maps to show what the weather forecast will be, and these weather maps are important because they show us how to plan our day and week. There are several types of weather maps, such as satellite, precipitation, temperature, front maps, wind speed, and Doppler radar, a radar system that uses the Doppler effect to detect how a target is moving by continuously bouncing waves off that target. Now you know how we can predict so much about the weather!