Description of a Warm Front

Description of a Warm Front A warm front is created by a warm air mass moving into a cooler area. Since the warm air is less dense than the cold air, it rises up over the cold air rather than pushing it aside as a cold front does. As the air rises, it cools and water condenses out of it.

Description of a Warm Front Examine the diagram on your sheet. This will give you an indication of what an approaching warm front looks like. A day or two before the arrival of a warm front, the previously clear skies get a few wispy cirrus clouds. These clouds thicken, covering more of the sky.

Description of a Warm Front They move lower until a layer of altostratus clouds covers the sky like a featureless grey blanket. Eventually the clouds are so thick that rain or snow begins. As the cloud base gets lower, the clouds become nimbostratus clouds.

Description of a Warm Front If it is very cold, freezing rain or sleet might develop. At about the time that the precipitation stops, the temperature rises.

Description of a Warm Front