Download Description of a Cold Front

Description of a
Cold Front
Description of a Cold Front
A cold front is formed
when a mass of
cold/cooler air runs into
a mass of slower moving
or stationary warm air.
Since cold air is more dense
than warm air, the warm
air is forced to rise up
and over the cold front.
Description of a Cold Front
Another result of the cold air
being denser than the warm
air that the cold front is
steeper – nearly vertical –
than a warm front.
Because the warm, moist/wet
air is forced to rise rapidly,
the clouds that are formed
are often cumulonimbus
(thick/towering).
Description of a Cold Front
Cold fronts can move slowly, but they can also
move quickly – up to 100 km/hr.
Thus the rain can last a long time or it can be over
quickly.
The sudden change of temperature with a passing
cold front can lead to intense winds, as well.
Description of a Cold Front
If the cold front is
very different in
temperature from
the warmer air,
tornadoes and even
thunderstorms can
be formed.