Meteorology

Question 1

What weather would you expect from an approaching cold front?

Answer 1

Approaching Cold Front

Clouds – Cirrus à cirrostratus à altostratus à cumulonimbus
Temperature – will drop as the front approaches

Wind – wind will increase and as the front passes the direction will veer

(Cumulonimbus - this cloud is a high vertical cloud usually associated with cold fronts, heavy rain, and thunder and lightning)

Question 2

What weather would you expect from an approaching warm front?

Answer 2

Approaching Warm Front

Due to the shallow gradient of the warm front, all changes are gradual.

Clouds – Cirrus à cirrostratus à altostratus à nimbostratus

Temperature – will rise as front approaches

Wind – wind will become squally and the direction will veer as the front passes

(Nimbostratus – these are large horizontal clouds, with moderate rain from long periods of time)

Question 3

What weather is the be expected as the warm front passes?

Answer 3

Warm front
• Barometer will stop falling
• Low nimbostratus will be present
• Wind will veer
• Mist or fog may be experienced, and visibility will be poor

Question 4

What weather is the be expected in the warm sector?

Answer 4

Warm sector

• No change in the barometer
• Cloud will be stratus or stratocumulus
• Wind will be steady
• Any precipitation will be light rain or drizzle
• Visibility will be moderate to poor if there is mist or fog

Question 5

What weather is the be expected behind the cold front?

Answer 5

Behind cold front

• The barometer will rise, rapidly at first
• Altostratus and altocumulus becoming cumulus and increasing blue sky
• Wind will be from a steady direction and decreasing
• As the front passes, visibility will improve
• Heavy rain clears away and some isolated showers may be experienced

Question 6

What weather is the be expected as the cold front passes?

Answer 6

Cold Front

• The barometer will suddenly rise
• Cumulonimbus or cumulus with nimbostratus below
• As the squal passes, the wind will veer sharply. It the may back slightly and increase in strength
• During rain, visibility will be reduced
• Heavy rain will be experienced, and possibly hail and thunder