Fronts are boundaries where two different air masses meet. A cold front occurs when a cold air mass pushes beneath a warm air mass, often bringing strong storms like thunderstorms or snowstorms and a drop in temperature. A warm front happens as a warm air mass slowly moves over a cold air mass, producing stratus clouds and rain and eventually causing temperatures to rise. Stationary fronts can also form when air masses stop moving against each other, leading to prolonged clouds and precipitation.

1. Predicting the Weather
Fronts

2. Fronts
What do you think a Front is? How do you think
Fronts form and how do they affect the
weather?
TURN AND TALK to discuss, then share answers
as a class.

3. Fronts
Weather maps not only show air masses but
they show fronts as well.
A front is a place where two different air
masses meet.

4. Fronts -
draw the pictures in your notebook
Triangles show a cold front
Half circles show a warm front
The triangles and half circles point in the
direction in which the front is moving.

5. Fronts
At a cold front, a cold air mass bumps against
a warm air mass. Strong storms happen at
cold fronts.
Thunderstorms are likely in warm weather. In
winter, snowstorms are likely.
When a cold front passes over an area, the
temperature drops.

6. Fronts
At a warm front, a warm air mass meets a
colder air mass and slowly rises over it.
Stratus clouds form at warm fronts.
They often bring rain.
After a warm front passes over an area, the
temperature rises.

7. Fronts
A stationary front forms when two air masses
meet and stop moving.
Stationary fronts bring clouds and
precipitation, sometimes lasting for several
days.

8. Fronts
Cold Front
Warm Front