Understanding the Symbols

The weather symbols are based on the codes that the Met Office use to classify types of weather but simplified to a set suitable for forecast graphics.

The symbols used by the BBC Weather Centre are designed by our own team of graphic designers, and relate to all eventualities of meteorology.

There are different symbols for day and night, and variations of different symbols, depending on severity. For example, there are a number of symbols which indicate snow, depending on how heavily it is falling.

Explanation of the Symbols used on the BBC Weather Centre website:

Clear and Bright
	Clear sky (at night)
	Sunny day
	Partly cloudy (at night)
	Sunny intervals

Dark and Rainy
	Black, low level cloud
	Light rain shower (at night) Drizzle Light rain (day and night)
	Light rain shower
	Heavy rain shower (night) Heavy rain
	Heavy rain shower

Hail and Snow
	Sleet shower (night) Cloudy with sleet
	Sleet shower
	Hail shower
	Hail shower (night) Hail
	Light snow shower (night) Light snow
	Light snow shower Light snow
	Heavy snow shower (night) Cloudy with heavy snow
	Heavy snow shower

Thunder
	Thundery shower (night)
	Thundery shower

Other Symbols
	Sandstorm
	Mist
	Fog
	Tropical Storm
	Hazy