Resources
Weather and air quality explained, from basic terms to in-depth guides.
How Weather Radar and Satellite Imagery Work
Learn what weather radar and satellite images measure, why maps contain gaps and artefacts, and how to read observed and projected frames.
Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality
Learn why wildfire smoke can affect places far from a fire, how to read PM2.5 and AQI, and how to reduce your exposure indoors and outside.
Weather Warnings Explained
A weather warning is useful when you know the hazard, area, timing, impact and action. Colours, watches and warnings differ by country, so read the official message.
Heatwaves Explained: Causes, Risks, and Safety
Learn what defines a heatwave, how extreme heat develops, why hot nights and humidity raise the risk, and how to stay safe.
Temperature Explained
How air temperature is measured, what Celsius and Fahrenheit mean, why temperatures change through the day, and how to read them in a forecast.
Solar Eclipses Explained
What causes a solar eclipse, how total, partial, annular, and hybrid eclipses differ, and how to watch one safely.
Fog Explained
How fog forms, the different types you can encounter, why it reduces visibility, and what your forecast can tell you about it.
Jet Streams Explained
How polar and subtropical jet streams form, vary and steer weather systems, plus how to read upper-air maps without overinterpreting local effects.
Atmospheric Pressure Explained
Understand how atmospheric pressure changes with height, what station and sea-level pressure mean, and how to read highs, lows, isobars and trends.
Stau and Föhn Explained: Mountain Weather and Rain Shadows
Why mountains bring cloud and rain to one slope, then warm, dry and gusty air to the other, and why Föhn does not always require precipitation.
How to Read a Synoptic Weather Chart
Learn how to read isobars, pressure systems, fronts, and troughs, then turn the pattern on a synoptic chart into a practical local forecast.
Monsoons: Seasonal Winds, Rain and Regional Patterns
A monsoon is a seasonal change in atmospheric circulation. Learn how it develops, why rain comes in active spells and breaks, and how forecasts describe an uncertain season.