Meteorologists rely heavily on the computer generated forecasts in their analysis. There are many types of maps that meteorologists use. Pressure, temperature, dewpoint temperature, and wind are some of the most important and easily understood maps. Analyzing these atmospheric variables will be the primary focus. Surface pressure is a significant feature of interest since low pressures indicate rising vertical motions which usually leads to clouds and precipitation, while high pressures signify downward vertical motion giving fair weather.
Temperatures are important for indicating the type of air mass.
Winds are also important in showing where and how fast the air is propagating. The dewpoint temperature represents how much water vapor is in the air. The dewpoint temperature is the temperature the air would need to be cooled to become saturated. Saturation is required for the formation of clouds and precipitation. Television and radio reports typically focus on surface weather forecasts, such as a cold rainy day.