Skew-T Revisited

The Skew-T log-p diagram, typically just called a Skew-T, is an amazing tool for understanding whats happening in the atmosphere at a given station. They are essential for understanding a precipitation regime or differentiating icing layers. Even after nearly three decades in meteorology I would find it almost impossible to understand an icing situation without this tool, and I often visualize the makeup of an environment with a sort of mental Skew-T image. I cant underscore how valuable these diagrams are once you get to know them.

Tim Vasquez

Tuesday, October 01, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Skew-T log-p diagram is a fundamental meteorological tool used by meteorologists and pilots to visualize and understand atmospheric conditions like temperature, dewpoint, and wind at various altitudes for a given station.
This specialized line graph plots observed atmospheric data on a "skewed" grid, making it easier to identify atmospheric layers, assess stability, and predict phenomena such as icing, turbulence, and potential for storms.
Interpreting Skew-Ts is crucial for effective flight planning and forecasting, as they provide critical insights into current and developing weather situations, including cloud layers and precipitation potential.

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In our September 2018 issue, Luca Bencini-Tibo gave us an excellent introduction to Skew-T log-p diagrams. In this article I’ll give you a short refresher and help link all of this with actual weather situations you might see.

The Skew-T log-p diagram, typically just called a “Skew-T,” is an amazing tool for understanding what’s happening in the atmosphere at a given station. They are essential for understanding a precipitation regime or differentiating icing layers. Even after nearly three decades in meteorology I would find it almost impossible to understand an icing situation without this tool, and I often visualize the makeup of an environment with a sort of mental Skew-T image. I can’t underscore how valuable these diagrams are once you get to know them.