Recent British Isles significant weather observations

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00, 03, 06 and 09 GMT

12, 15, 18 and 21 GMT

The maps above contain an indication of the current weather using the Beaufort weather symbol notation. blue denotes sleet or snow, red denotes rain or drizzle and black denotes cloud, visibility-related and other weather types.

b total cloud amount 0 to 2 oktas
bc total cloud amount 3 to 5 oktas
c total cloud amount 6 to 8 oktas
d drizzle
f fog (F denotes thick fog)
fg or fs shallow fog
h hail (sh denotes snow grains)
i intermittent or patches
j phenomena within sight of but not at the station (jp precipitation within sight)
l lightning
kq line squall
ks drifting or blowing snow
m mist
o uniform layer of cloud completely covering the sky
p shower (used in combination with the type of precipitation)
q squall
r rain
s snow
t thunder (tl thunderstorm)
z haze

Note that combining symbols allows for mixed types - eg. rs denotes sleet. An upper case letter denotes 'heavy' ('thick' in the case of fog). Use of the subscript 'o' denotes slight intensity. Repeated symbols are used to denote 'continuous'; eg. RR for continuous heavy rain. The symbol '/' is used to denote phenomena which occurred in the past hour but that have now ceased.

The following are not used on the maps shown on this page.

e wet air, without rain falling
fe wet fog
g gale (G denotes storm force winds)
u ugly threatening sky
v abnormally good visibility
w dew
x hoar frost
y dry air (less than 60% relative humidity)

Other useful links

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See also

Royal Meteorological Society

Make your own weather observations? Then see the Climatological Observers Link

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation

UK/Ireland synoptic station locations: