Definition
On a surface weather map, pennants are solid, filled-in triangular flags attached to a wind barb, with each pennant representing 50 knots of wind speed. They are combined with long barbs (10 knots) and short barbs (5 knots) to indicate the total wind speed at a reporting station.
Plain English
A pennant is the small filled-in triangle drawn on a wind symbol on a weather map. Each triangle stands for 50 knots of wind. You add it together with the lines on the same symbol to read the total wind speed.
Context Anchor
Seen on surface weather maps in the wind symbol next to a weather station plot.
Derivation
From the Latin 'penna' meaning 'feather' or 'wing,' later used for small triangular flags. On a weather map the symbol literally looks like a small triangular flag attached to the wind line, which is why the name fits.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate interpretation prevents underestimating strong winds that could affect takeoff, landing, or enroute performance.
Intuition Check
Do not read pennants as decorative flags or general warning markers. In this FAA weather-map context, one pennant is a wind-speed mark worth 50 knots.
Example Sentence 1
The station model showed one pennant and two long barbs, indicating a wind speed of 70 knots.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots check for pennants on the surface chart to identify areas of strong winds before departure.