Symbols: > Pictograms

Pictograms: weather conditions

Weather conditions are graphically summarized by pictogram symbols (see graphics). These show sunshine , clouds, precipitation type and intensity and thunderstorms for the time period referenced in the forecast. Detailed symbol description are shown below. 

Pictograms  can be combined with tables to show temperature, winds and other numeric values of importance - see  Picto-cast.

Day Pictograms

Pictogram symbols represent local weather conditions, showing sunshine, clouds, precipitation type and intensity and thunderstorms for a time period referenced in the forecast.  Pictograms are used for time periods of a date (0-24 o'clock), day and night (as determined by sunrise and sunset), and day periods (morning afternoon, evening, night). The period for which the pictogram is valid is printed above or below. An hour indicates the end of the interval (e.g. a 3-hour pictogram marked 11:00 includes the forecast from 8:01 until 11:00, and the following 3-hour pictogram marked 14:00 includes the forecast from 11:01 until 14:00).

01 day

09 day

12 day

31 day

34 day

Night-time weather symbols

Nighttime pictograms are adapted for displaying local weather conditions between sundown and sunrise: they show clear sky, clouds, precipitation type and intensity and thunderstorms for the time period referenced in the forecast.
Pictograms can be combined with tables to indicate temperature, winds and other numeric values of importance.

01 night

09 night

12 night

31 night

34 night

Pictograms (daytime)

sunny with cloudless sky


sunny with sparse high clouds


sunny with high clouds

01 day

02 day

03 day

sunny with some clouds


hazy


cloudy mixed with sunshine

  

04 day

15 day

07 day

cloudy with little or no sun

cloudy with no sunshine

foggy in the lower areas

19 day

22 day

16 day

sunny mixed with showers

cloudy with some drizzle

cloudy with light rain

31 day

33 day

23 day

rainy with dense clouds

mixed with thunderstorms

heavy rain with thunderstorms

25 day

28 day

30 day

sunny mixed with snowshowers


cloudy with light snow

cloudy with snowfall

32 day

34 day

24 day

cloudy with heavy snow


very cloudy with heavy snow


mix of rain and snow

26 day

29 day

35 day

Pictograms (nighttime)

clear with cloudless sky


clear with sparse high clouds


clear with high clouds

01 night

02 night

03 night

clear with some clouds

hazy

cloudy mixed with clear
  

04 night

15 night

07 night

cloudy with little or no clear sky


cloudy, no clear sky 

foggy in the lower areas

19 night

22 night

16 night

clear sky mixed with showers

cloudy with some drizzle

cloudy with light rain

31 night

33 night

23 night

rainy with dense clouds

mixed with thunderstorms

heavy rain with thunderstorms

25 night

28 night

30 night

clear sky mixed with snowshowers

cloudy with light snow

cloudy with snowfall

32 night

34 night

24 night

cloudy with heavy snow


very cloudy with heavy snow


mix of rain and snow

26 night

29 night

35 night

How Pictograms are calculated

meteoblue Pictograms show the most likely weather conditions for a location, based on a very detailed analysis of local forecast (black squares) in an area (yellow square). The area considered is within 20-30 km of the chosen center point location (e.g. green points: Évian in Southeast and Morges in Northwest of square). For each point, a different pictogram is calculated. Main factors considered are:
  • cloud cover: average of all cloud cover in the area.
  • precipitation intensity: average of precipitation for the chosen location.
  • precipitation type: prevailing precipitation for the chosen location.
  • wind (if displayed): average or maximum wind for the chosen location.

Pictogram calculation combines the regional and local forecasts to match our perception: sunshine and cloudiness are perceived regionally, whereas precipitation, wind and temperature are perceived locally.
By combining very detailed local conditions within a chosen area, meteoblue can make pictogram forecast for any location in the world, for areas, regions and even entire countries where necessary. Examples can be found under the local forecast as well as the world "weather" tab.

computed pictograms 001

Templates for Download

Here, you can download a list of meteoblue pictograms for your website. Click on the symbol to receive a .zip file with all images and a table explaining the different symbols.
The symbols may be used free-of charge by our clients as well as by any non-commercial website within our terms .

08 iday

Special pictograms

meteoblue offers special pictograms for use on other websites. You can order these pictograms. The size and resolution can be adapted to clients needs.
Click on each image for a preview of the available pictograms.

Pictograms Detail (35 symbols)

Pictogram Series 120309: day and night

mb pictogram serie 1203 day28

meteoblue email addresses

Our contact email address is: info@meteoblue.com