Zulu Time: The World's Weather Clock

Have you ever noticed a 4-digit number followed by the letters "Z" or "UTC" listed at the top or bottom of weather maps, radar, and satellite images? This string of numbers and letters is a timestamp. It tells when the weather map or text discussion was issued or when its forecast is valid. Instead of local AM and PM hours, a type of standardized time, called Z time, is used.

Why Z Time?

Z time is used so that all weather measurements taken at different locations (and therefore, time zones) around the world can be made at the same times.

Z Time vs. Military Time

The difference between Z time and military time is so slight, it can often be misunderstood. Military time is based on a 24-hour clock which runs from midnight to midnight. Z, or GMT time, is also based on the 24-hour clock, however, its midnight is based on midnight local time at the 0° longitude prime meridian (Greenwich, England). In other words, while the time 0000 always corresponds to midnight local time no matter the global location, 00Z corresponds to midnight in Greenwich ONLY. (In the United States, 00Z can range from 2 pm local time in Hawaii to 7 or 8 pm​ along the East Coast.)

A Fool-Proof Way to Calculate Z Time 

Calculating Z time can be tricky. While it's easiest to use a table like this one provided by the NWS, using these few steps makes it just as easy to calculate by hand:

Converting Local Time to Z Time

1. Convert the local time (12-hour) to military time (24-hour)
2. Find your time zone "offset" (the number of hours your time zone is ahead of or behind local Greenwich Mean Time)
   

   U.S. Time Zone Offsets

   	Standard Time	Daylight Saving Time
   Eastern	-5 hrs	-4 hrs
   Central	-6 hrs	-5 hrs
   Mountain	-7 hrs	-6 hrs
   Pacific	-8 hrs	-7 hrs
   Alaska	-9 hrs	--
   Hawaii	-10 hrs	--

3. Add the time zone offset amount to the converted military time. The sum of these equals the current Z time.

Converting Z Time to Local Time

1. Subtract the time zone offset amount from the Z time. This is the current military time.
2. Convert the military time (24-hour) to local time (12-hour).

Remember: in the 24-hour clock 23:59 is the final time before midnight, and 00:00 starts the first hour of a new day.

Z Time vs. UTC vs. GMT

Have you ever heard Z time mentioned alongside Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and wondered if these are all the same? To learn the answer once an for all, read UTC, GMT, and Z Time: Is There Really a Difference?