THE MAMMATUS WEATHER GUIDE
Make sense of
the forecast.
Practical explanations for the maps you use. Start with an actual Mammatus graphic, work through the time and accumulation calculations, and keep the source information in view.
Parameter, units, and color scale.
Run, forecast lead, and valid time.
Source, coverage, and limitations.
Choose a guide
Worked examples and tools, connected to the Mammatus viewer.
How to read a Mammatus model map
Read initialization times, forecast hours, legends, city values and missing terrain data using an actual Mammatus model graphic.
Read the guide Worked exampleCompare model runs at the same valid time
Use a forecast-time calculator and a worked GFS example to compare model runs without comparing different weather hours.
Read the guide Forecast essentialsRain chance, rain rate, and total rainfall
Distinguish precipitation probability, instantaneous rate and accumulated amounts, with a calculator for running model totals.
Read the guide Maps explainedRead severe-weather and rainfall outlooks
Use Mammatus outlook maps with their issuer, valid period and hazard definition, and distinguish outlooks from watches and warnings.
Read the guideA CHECK YOU CAN MAKE
Same colors. Different questions.
A rain chance, a model’s total precipitation, and a simulated radar echo describe different quantities. Each guide explains the distinction, shows the relevant calculation or workflow, and links to the original weather source.
Published by Mammatus Weather
Learn who operates the site, how we render the data, and how to report a correction.