A front is a boundary separating two different types of air masses, for which several characteristics differ, such as air density, wind, temperature, and humidity. There are different types of fronts, including:
-
Cold Front: A cold front occurs when a wedge of cold air moves into an area of warmer air. Cold fronts are usually associated with heavy precipitation, thunderstorms, and gusty winds.
-
Warm Front: A warm front occurs when a wedge of warm air moves into an area of cooler air. Warm fronts are associated with more gentle weather, such as light rain or drizzle.
-
Occluded Front: An occluded front occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front, and usually forms around mature low-pressure areas, including cyclones. The air mass behind the boundary can be either warm or cold.
-
Stationary Front: A stationary front is a non-moving boundary between two air masses, neither of which is strong enough to replace the other. They tend to remain essentially in the same area for extended periods of time, especially with parallel wind directions. They usually move in waves but not persistently.
Fronts can cause weather events such as rain, thunderstorms, gusty winds, and tornadoes.
