Forecaster Track: learn to read a weather map and make your own forecast
Weather School explains how the weather works. The Forecaster Track teaches you to do what a forecaster does: read the maps, find the highs, lows and fronts, check the upper air and the computer models, and write your own forecast for Lethbridge. Then check it against a real weather station the next day.
🧭 How the track works
Three levels, two lessons each. Start at the beginning, or jump in wherever you are comfortable. Every lesson has a hands-on practice, a short quiz, and notes for teachers and parents.
New to weather? Start with the free Weather School lessons first. These ones help most: Air Pressure, Wind, Air Masses and Fronts, The Upper Air and the Jet Stream and How Forecasts Are Made.
🌱 Level 1: Beginner
Understand what a forecast really says, and learn to read the symbols on a weather map.
- F1. What a forecast really says: the forecast funnel, and how to read Environment Canada’s forecast words and percentages.
- F2. Reading a weather map: station plots: cloud cover in eighths, wind barbs, temperature, dew point and the pressure shorthand.
🌿 Level 2: Intermediate
Analyze the map yourself, at the surface and up high.
- F3. Draw your own weather map: isobars, highs and lows, and how to find cold, warm and Arctic fronts.
- F4. Reading the upper air: 500 hPa ridges and troughs, the 850 hPa level, thickness and the rain-or-snow question.
🌳 Level 3: Advanced
Use the computer models wisely, and put it all together into a real forecast.
- F5. Using the weather models: Canada’s models, how to compare them, and why they disagree.
- F6. Make and check your own Lethbridge forecast: a step-by-step routine, local rules of thumb, and how to score yourself.
🧰 The forecaster’s toolkit
Free tools used throughout the track:
- Weather symbols reference chart (PDF) by Tim Vasquez, Weather Graphics. Print it and keep it beside you. More in our Weather Graphics guide.
- Printable Western Canada station map, for analyzing by hand.
- Surface analysis charts, Environment and Climate Change Canada: the map as drawn by Canada’s forecasters.
- Model forecast charts, Environment and Climate Change Canada.
- Weather balloon soundings, University of Wyoming. Stony Plain, west of Edmonton (station 71119, WSE), is Alberta’s balloon site; Great Falls, Montana (TFX) is closest to us.
- West Lethbridge Weather live station and the Forecast Scorecard, to check forecasts against what really happened.
🏫 For teachers and parents
- Suggested fit: Level 1 works well for upper elementary and junior high; Level 2 for junior high and high school science; Level 3 for high school, keen adults and weather hobbyists. Check your grade’s outcomes in Alberta’s science curriculum.
- Time: each lesson is a 30 to 60 minute class, plus the practice activity.
- Materials: printed copies of the symbols chart and a station map, pencils with erasers, coloured pencils (blue for cold fronts, red for warm fronts).
- Real local data: the West Lethbridge Weather station has run since 2007 and updates live. Students can check their forecasts against it the next day.
- A class forecasting challenge: after F6, have teams forecast tomorrow’s high, low, wind and precipitation every day for a week, and keep score.
- More classroom ideas are in the Teachers’ Corner.
🧭 Weather learning path
From wondering about the weather to measuring it yourself. Any of these makes a great science fair project: measure, keep a record, and compare with a real station.
- 🌪 Weather Wonders
Chinooks, hail, tornadoes and more: what the weather can do - ✂ Make simple instruments
A pinwheel, wind vane and pop bottle rain gauge - 🔬 Hands-On Weather Science
Experiments to try at home and outside - 📡 Build your own weather station
A real electronics science project - 🏫 Weather School: Observing the Weather
How real weather observers measure - 🌳 Forecaster Track (you are here)
Read real weather maps and make your own forecast - 💻 Weather software
The programs behind a real station and forecast - 📈 Compare with a real station
Live readings from West Lethbridge Weather
Weather School is for learning and enjoyment. It is not official guidance and may contain errors. For watches and warnings, always use Environment Canada (WeatherCAN app or weather.gc.ca).