What Is Weather?
Weather is what the air and sky are doing each day. It includes sunshine, rain, wind, clouds and temperature.
Weather can change quickly. One minute it might be sunny, and later it could rain! Scientists who study weather are called meteorologists.
Measuring Weather
Meteorologists use special instruments to measure the weather. You can use simple versions of these in school.
🌡️ Temperature
Measured with a thermometer.
Tells us how warm or cold the air is.
🌧️ Rainfall
Measured with a rain gauge.
Shows how much rain has fallen.
🌬️ Wind
Wind vane shows the direction the wind is blowing from.
Anemometer measures wind speed.
🌫️ Air Pressure
Measured with a barometer.
Helps predict if the weather will be calm or stormy.
☁️ Clouds
Different clouds can tell us if rain, storms or sunshine might be coming.
Weather Forecasting
Meteorologists collect all their weather measurements and use computers to make weather forecasts.
Forecasts help people plan:
- Farmers deciding when to plant
- Pilots and ferry crews
- Builders working outside
- Families planning days out
You can make your own forecast using the weather data you collect!
