# Skew-T

A Skew-T diagram, also known as a sounding, is plotted from data measured by weather balloons. National Weather Service observation sites usually release weather balloons twice a day. When the weather is expected to be severe, some sites may release them more often. The data plotted on the Skew-T chart includes temperature, dew point, and winds at various levels in the atmosphere.

Skew-T charts can be used to forecast a wide variety of phenomena, including thunderstorms, hail, heavy rainfall, or tornadoes. During the winter, Skew-T charts are useful for determining the type of likely precipitation, whether it's snow, sleet, or freezing rain.

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th>Features</th><th width="208.33333333333331">Quantity</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Features</td><td>Quantity</td><td>Notes</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/pages/SDlz2Vb7QP7DF3xOL2rL#dimensions">Dimensions</a></td><td>6 (required)</td><td>Pressure, height, temperature, dew point, wind direction, wind speed</td></tr><tr><td>Required <a href="/pages/SDlz2Vb7QP7DF3xOL2rL#measures">Measures</a></td><td>0</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

[This web page](https://medium.com/@WeatherDecTech/part-1-have-you-heard-of-a-skew-t-diagram-and-do-you-know-what-they-are-used-for-5e4033b70681) provides a basic overview of Skew-T charts. For more in-depth information, see the [Skew-T tutorials at weather.gov](https://www.weather.gov/source/zhu/ZHU_Training_Page/convective_parameters/skewt/skewtinfo.html).

Pressure is plotted on the y axis of a Skew-T diagram, and temperature is plotted on the x axis. Pressure decreases as you go up the y axis, just like it does in the atmosphere. Pressure is plotted on a logarithmic scale to approximate the way it decreases with height. The following chart uses data from [NOAA](http://noaa.gov); data includes pressure , height, temperature, dew point, wind direction, and wind speed. The green line is the dew point profile; the red line is the temperature profile. Just to the right of the diagram are wind barbs plotted with increasing height.

<figure><img src="/files/qga70LOFmU4otuvC1es5" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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