1. Where The Fronts Are

2. • A front is the leading edge of an air
mass.
• If it is the front of a cooler air mass, it
will be a COLD FRONT.
• If it is the front of a warmer air mass, it
will be a WARM FRONT.

3. How to tell where a front belongs
on a map.
• A front will be located where the
temperature changes rapidly in a
short distance.
• Isotherms will be close together.

4. Warmer air
Cooler Air
50°F
30°F
35°F
40°F
40°F
45°F
45°F
50°F
30°F
35°F
25°F

5. Now that we know WHERE the
fronts are, how do we know what
KIND they are?
• It depends on which direction the line you
just drew is moving…

6. This
line

7. Now that we know WHERE the
fronts are, how do we know what
KIND they are?
• It depends on which direction the line you
just drew is moving…
• If colder air is coming in, it is a cold front.
• If warmer air is coming in, it is a warm
front.

8. So how do I know which way the
front is moving?
• Look at the winds on both sides of the front.
• On one side, the winds will be “pushing”
the front.
• On the other side, the winds will be
retreating from the front.

10. Pop Quiz!
• A pressure center (Low or High) is located
at the “corner” of these two fronts.
• What kind of pressure center is it?

12. Almost There!
How do you know if it is a cold
or warm front?
• Put yourself in front of the front.
• Ask yourself: “Self, what kind of air am I in
now: warm or cold?”
• Then ask yourself: “Self, what kind of air
will I be in after the front passes?”
• If it got cooler, it is a cold front.
• If it got warmer, it is a warm front.

13. Warmer air
Cooler air
I’m in warm air now

14. Warmer air
Cooler air
Hey it got colder!
It must be a cold front

15. What about the Eastern “Leg”?

16. Warmer air
Cooler air
Boy, it’s pretty cool

17. Warmer air
Cooler air
Aah! Nice and warm.
It must be a warm front

18. What kind of weather do you get
from each?

19. Cool Air
Warm Air

20. Warm air rises because
it is light & fluffy.

22. Cold Front

23. A Cumulonimbus Cloud
“Thunderhead”

25. Rain

26. 20-50 miles
Storms are very
small, 20-50 miles
or so and last
only a brief time.

27. Right now it’s
nice and warm
Gadzukes! It got
cold!

29. Warm Air Cool Air
Frontal interface
Warm is light and fluffy
and it likes to float!

30. Warm Air Cool Air

31. First come the Cirrus
Which way is the weather coming from?

32. It’s pretty cool nowSuch pretty cirrus clouds!

33. Hmmm, the clouds are
getting low
The warm front gets closer…

34. Clouds get lower and thicker

35. Darn! It’s starting to drizzle.

36. Lower and thicker then gentle
rain for a long time.

37. It’s much warmer now

38. Warm Front