![]() Air temperatures ahead of the front are cooler than temperatures in the warm air mass behind the front.Ī warm front forms when a warm air mass pushes into a cooler air mass, shown in the image to the right (A). Notice on the map that temperatures at the ground level change from warm to cold as you cross the front line. The triangles are like arrowheads pointing in the direction that the front is moving. On weather maps, a cold front is represented by a solid blue line with filled-in triangles along it, like in the map. After a cold front moves through your area, you may notice that the temperature is cooler, the rain has stopped, and the cumulus clouds are replaced by stratus and stratocumulus clouds or clear skies. Atmospheric pressure changes from falling to rising at the front. There is a sudden drop in temperature, and also heavy rain, sometimes with hail, thunder, and lightning. Lifted warm air ahead of the front produces cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms.Īs the cold front passes, winds become gusty. As a cold front moves into an area, the heavier (more dense) cool air pushes under the lighter (less dense) warm air, causing it to rise up into the troposphere. ![]() They move fast, up to twice as fast as a warm front. Cold fronts can produce dramatic changes in the weather. Air temperatures ahead of the front are warmer than temperatures in the cold air mass behind the front.Ī cold front forms when a cold air mass pushes into a warmer air mass. There are four different types of weather fronts: cold fronts, warm fronts, stationary fronts, and occluded fronts. Landforms like mountains can also change the path of a front. The direction of movement is often guided by high winds, such as Jet Streams. These fronts can develop into tropical storms or hurricanes if conditions allow.įronts move across the Earth's surface over multiple days. Tropical waves are fronts that develop in the tropical Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. However, some storm fronts start Earth's largest storms. Instead of causing clouds and storms, some fronts just cause a change in temperature. The turbulence can cause clouds and storms. Often there is turbulence at a front, which is the borderline where two different air masses come together. Each air mass has unique temperature and humidity characteristics. Usually, the skies clear once the front has passed.Ī weather front is a transition zone between two different air masses at the Earth's surface. At a warm front, there may be low stratus clouds. At a cold front, there may be dramatic thunderstorms. Many fronts cause weather events such as rain, thunderstorms, gusty winds, and tornadoes. When a front passes over an area, it means a change in the weather. ![]()
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