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WEATHER FRONTS Map Obtained from TWC COLD FRONTS We already have - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

WEATHER FRONTS Map Obtained from TWC COLD FRONTS We already have stated that a cold front is a boundary separating two air masses (a cold air mass and a warm air mass) The cold air is found behind the cold front and it advances towards the


  1. WEATHER FRONTS Map Obtained from TWC

  2. COLD FRONTS We already have stated that a cold front is a boundary separating two air masses (a cold air mass and a warm air mass) The cold air is found behind the cold front and it advances towards the warm air

  3. COLD FRONTS Cold air undercuts warm air. Warm air is pushed upwards, thus clouds form and precipitation occurs. This often happens ahead of cold fronts. The greater the temp difference between cold and warm air the greater the upward motion – CUMULUS clouds COLD FRONT WARM, LIGHTER AIR COLD, DENSER AIR SURFACE

  4. COLD FRONTS

  5. WEATHER FRONTS L USA SLP Map Obtained from AMS Datastreme

  6. WEATHER FRONTS COLD L COLD WARM USA Temp Map Obtained from AMS Datastreme

  7. TYPES OF FRONTS L USA SLP Map Obtained from AMS Datastreme

  8. TYPES OF FRONTS L WARM COLD AIR AIR USA Map Obtained from AMS Datastreme

  9. TYPES OF FRONTS L COLD FRONT COLD AIR MOVES TOWARDS WARM AIR USA SLP Map Obtained from AMS Datastreme

  10. COLD FRONTS • But cold air is denser than warm air at equal pressure (at the surface of Earth) • So how exactly does cold air “move” towards warm air?

  11. COLD FRONTS

  12. COLD FRONTS

  13. WARM FRONTS • Warm air moves towards “retreating” cold air L WARM AIR

  14. WARM FRONTS

  15. WARM FRONTS AND COLD FRONTS • Warm air moves towards “retreating” cold air • Cold air moves towards warm air L

  16. ALL TYPES OF FRONTS All fronts occur at the boundaries of two (or more) air masses

  17. FRONTS & EXTRA TROPICAL CYCLONES • Fronts, low pressure, wind direction, temperature combined give you an idea of what an ETC is COLD AIR L WARM AIR

  18. Animation courtesy of Dr. Joby Hilliker

  19. EXTRA-TROPICAL CYCLONES

  20. TRACKS OF WINTER ETCs Alberta Clipper Noreaster

  21. EXTRA-TROPICAL CYCLONES

  22. EXTRA-TROPICAL CYCLONES Northeast winds over New England - Cold air - moisture from the Atlantic - SNOWFALL L

  23. 79 PRESIDENT’S DAY BLIZZARD

  24. 79 PRESIDENT’S DAY BLIZZARD Southeast winds becoming Northeast over New England - Cold air - moisture from the Atlantic - SNOWFALL L Storm Track

  25. BLIZZARD OF 1978

  26. BLIZZARD OF 1978 Northeast winds over New England - Cold air - moisture from the Atlantic - SNOWFALL L

  27. MARCH 1993 SUPERSTORM

  28. MARCH 1993 SUPERSTORM – STORM OF THE CENTURY Storm Track L Heavy Snow - North Side of the storm track (~North winds – cold air – upwards motion) 17” record snowfall Birmingham AL 4” snowfall Atlanta GA 2ºF Birmingham AL Very strong cold front - Severe Thunderstorms formed ahead of it

  29. MARCH 1993 SUPERSTORM – STORM OF THE CENTURY Storm Track L Storm tracked too close to RI resulting in many hours of south winds and lots of rainfall before the changeover to snow NOT A RECORD STORM FOR RI!

  30. THE PERFECT STORM

  31. THE PERFECT STORM

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