Do not forecast temperatures that are lower than the regional dewpoints unless you think a front will pass. Stormy weather is usually preceded by falling air pressure while fair weather usually results when pressure is rising. Keep an eye on the pressure changes predicted by the forecast models. Pressure is usually analyzed in intervals of 4 mb. Lines of equal pressure are called isobars .
Wind tends to blow close to parallel between isobars with lower pressure to the left of the wind.
Visible satellite maps are only available during daylight hours since they show reflected sunlight. Shades of grey are used to indicate cloud temperatures. Keep in mind that the thicker the cloud is, the more moisture it holds. Thus, it appears brighter on an IR map. Since surface winds can be greatly affected by topography, the low-level jet stream may be a better indicator of the general wind flow in the region.