Skew-Ts aren't the sort of thing you learn about in ground school, but I'm quite outspoken about how important they are to understanding the weather. They're very easy to get online, they are understandable, and they form a playbook for the weather ahead. In a sense, reading a METAR or TAF report is like looking at the warning indicator on a car dashboard, while looking at the Skew-T is opening up the hood and finding the answers. Back in October we presented an introductory article on these charts. But we realize unusual and complex topics like this don't make much sense the first time around. After getting a pointed note from a reader saying we need to either write an article with the basics, or quit writing about Skew-Ts altogether, we think that a back-to-basics approach is just what's needed to help the subject sink in a little better. Trust me, these charts aren't all that complicated and you can understand and make use of these charts.
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