Weather Symbols and the Weather Map

What does Uma have there? Is that a weather machine and a remote control? 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 Kingdom 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 Kingdom. Let's start with the sun symbol here in Exeter.
What does it mean? "It's going to be SUNNY in Exeter." There are no clouds, only the sun! Don't forget your sunglasses and sun cream! But what if there is ONE cloud in front of the sun? Like here in Southampton. Then it is a little or "partly cloudy". You can say, "It will be PARTLY cloudy in Southampton." 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 London. In London, it will be cloudy. There will be many clouds in the sky, but no rain just yet. And how is the weather in Manchester? There is a cloud WITH rain. That means .. it's going to rain in Manchester. In the city, we'll probably need an umbrella, a rain coat and welly boots. Have we looked at all of the symbols already? Not quite, there are many other forms of rain. Like hail, for example. This is the hail symbol here near Newcastle upon Tyne. Do you also see a cloud with raindrops and lightning? Yes! Near Belfast, Northern Ireland. The symbol tells you: There will be thunderstorms in Belfast. Thunder and lightning are coming. It could get loud! We should go indoors. And how will the weather be in Aberdeen, Scotland? There is a cloud with snowflakes. Snow is supposed to fall in Aberdeen. We need warm clothes here. "But what do the wavy lines mean here in Edinburgh, Scotland?" They show fog: It will be foggy in Edinburgh. Be careful, you can't see well here! Wow, that was a lot of weather symbols. Here you can see some of the most important weather symbols again. What does Uma actually do? "Oh no! Uma, we just can't control the weather with machines!"