Definition
In a weather briefing, a synopsis is a brief overview of the major weather systems and air masses affecting the area of the planned flight, including the location and movement of fronts, pressure systems, and other large-scale features that explain the weather conditions.
Plain English
The big-picture summary at the start of a weather briefing that tells you what weather systems are in play and how they are moving.
Context Anchor
You will hear or read a synopsis during a standard preflight weather briefing, before the briefer gives more detailed current and forecast weather.
Derivation
From the Greek 'synopsis,' meaning 'a general view' (syn- 'together' + opsis 'view'). It literally means 'seeing it all together' — which fits its role as the wide-angle picture before the detailed weather follows.
Why Pilots Care
It supplies the big-picture weather situation pilots need to interpret detailed forecasts and make safe go/no-go and route decisions.
Intuition Check
Do not treat a synopsis as the full weather briefing. It is the broad overview, not every report, forecast, or warning you need for the flight.
Example Sentence 1
The briefer began with a synopsis describing a cold front moving east across the route, followed by the detailed forecast for each leg.
Example Sentence 2
After hearing the synopsis I realized a warm front would bring low ceilings along my route.