1. Fronts

2. Fronts Formed when two air masses collide
A front is a narrow region separating two air masses of different characteristics (temperature, density)

3. Cold Front Cold air pushes warm air up quickly
This front moves rapidly

4. Cold Front, cont’ Cumulus and Cumulonimbus clouds are present
May cause thunderstorms and tornadoes
                                                                                   

5. Solid blue line with blue triangles that point in the direction that the front is moving

7. Warm Fronts
Warm air “slides over” cold air
Moves slower
                                                                                  

8. Warm Fronts, cont’ Less severe weather that lasts longer
Cloudy (stratus) and precipitation (steady light rain or snow)

9. Solid red line with red semicircles that point in the direction that the front is moving

10. Stationary Front
Two air masses meet and neither one is strong enough to push the other out of the way
                                                           

11. Stationary Front, cont’
The weather associated with stationary fronts are like warm fronts
Last a few days or change into a cold/warm front
This front is characterized by a combination of cold and warm front symbols on a weather map

12. Occluded Front
Forms when a cold front is moving faster than a warm front; the cold front catches up to, and takes over, the warm front
Precipitation is common on both sides of the front – can be light or heavy
                                               
Occluded fronts are represented by alternating symbols for warm and cold fronts

13. Pressure Systems High pressure is formed by sinking air
H and L’s on weather maps = High and Low Pressure Areas
High pressure is formed by sinking air
Usually associated with nice weather since sinking air doesn’t form clouds
Low pressure is formed by rising air
Usually associated with bad weather because of air rising, forming clouds, leading to precipitation
                                                      
                                                      
                                                     
                                                      

14. H = Happy Weather 
L = Lousy Weather 

15. Lets Look at The Current Weather!