A weather map displays various meteorological features across a particular area at a particular point in time and has various symbols which all have specific meanings. Such maps have been in use since the mid-19th century and are used for research and weather forecasting purposes. Maps using isotherms show temperature gradients, which can help locate weather fronts.  Isotach maps, analyzing lines of equal wind speed, on a constant pressure surface of 300 mb or 250 mb show where the jet stream is located. Use of constant pressure charts at the 700 and 500 hPa level can indicate tropical cyclone motion. Two-dimensional streamlines based on wind speeds at various levels show areas of convergence and divergence in the wind field, which are helpful in determining the location of features within the wind pattern. A popular type of surface weather map is the surface weather analysis, which plots isobars to depict areas of high pressure and low pressure. Special weather maps in aviation show areas of icing and turbulence for the other

Eine Wetterkarte im allgemeinen Sinn ist eine Landkarte, die die Wetterverhältnisse über ein geografisches Gebiet zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt visuell erfassbar macht. Der Zeitpunkt kann aktuell sein, in der Vergangenheit liegen oder zukünftig sein (Wetterprognose).

Een front is een scheidingsvlak tussen koude en warme luchtmassa's. Soms wordt de term gebruikt ter aanduiding van een scheidingsvlak tussen droge en vochtige luchtmassa's.

気象でいう前線 (ぜんせん、weather front) とは、二つの気団が接触したときに生ずる不連続面（前面）が地上と交わる線のことをいう。

Um sistema frontal consiste numa sucessão de várias frentes. Entende-se por frente ou superfície frontal a linha de contacto entre duas massas de ar contíguas e que diferem na temperatura e na densidade. Uma superfície frontal caracteriza-se por uma forte instabilidade atmosférica, por ser um mecanismo que força a ascensão do ar quente.