Definition
A standardized graphic symbol plotted on a surface analysis chart at the location of a weather reporting station, showing that station's observed weather data — including temperature, dew point, wind direction and speed, sky cover, sea level pressure, pressure change, and current weather — using a fixed arrangement of numbers and symbols around a central circle.
Plain English
A small picture-like cluster of numbers and symbols on a weather chart that shows what the weather is doing at one specific reporting location. Each piece of information sits in a set spot around a central circle, so a trained reader can glance at it and know temperature, wind, pressure, sky cover, and other conditions at that station.
Context Anchor
Seen on surface analysis charts, where each reporting location is shown with its local weather conditions.
Derivation
‘Station’ refers to a weather reporting station — a fixed location where observations are taken. ‘Model’ here means a standardized template or pattern. Together: a standard pattern used to display one station’s observation. Knowing this helps because it isn’t a 3D model or a scale model — it’s a layout.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots use station models to quickly see weather trends across a region and decide whether conditions support safe departure, en route flight, or arrival.
Grounding Statement
On a weather chart, each station model lets you look at one location and quickly picture the weather being reported there.
Intuition Check
Do not read station model as a model of a building or airport station. Here, station means a weather reporting location, and model means the compact symbol layout used to show that location's weather.
Example Sentence 1
Looking at the station model over his destination, he saw the wind barb pointing from the southwest at about fifteen knots and a temperature of 72.
Example Sentence 2
Checking the station model along the route revealed falling pressure and increasing cloud cover ahead of the flight.