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circulation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Frontogenetical_circulation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Temperature_changes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Temperature_changes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Temperature changes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Temperature_changes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Characteristics_of_boundaries_around_an_extratropical_cyclone" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Characteristics_of_boundaries_around_an_extratropical_cyclone"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Characteristics of boundaries around an extratropical cyclone</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Characteristics_of_boundaries_around_an_extratropical_cyclone-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold front</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. 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href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B2_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE" title="শীতল বায়ুরেখা – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="শীতল বায়ুরেখা" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be mw-list-item"><a href="https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A5%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8B_%D1%84%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82" title="Халодны фронт – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be" data-title="Халодны фронт" data-language-autonym="Беларуская" data-language-local-name="Belarusian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D1%82%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD_%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%84%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD_%D1%84%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82" title="Студен атмосферен фронт – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Студен атмосферен фронт" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_fred" title="Front fred – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Front fred" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studen%C3%A1_fronta" title="Studená fronta – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Studená fronta" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koldfront" title="Koldfront – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Koldfront" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaltfront" title="Kaltfront – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Kaltfront" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BClm_front" title="Külm front – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Külm front" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%A8%CF%85%CF%87%CF%81%CF%8C_%CE%BC%CE%AD%CF%84%CF%89%CF%80%CE%BF" title="Ψυχρό μέτωπο – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Ψυχρό μέτωπο" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frente_fr%C3%ADo" title="Frente frío – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Frente frío" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fronte_hotz" title="Fronte hotz – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Fronte hotz" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%87%D9%87_%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AF" title="جبهه سرد – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="جبهه سرد" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_froid" title="Front froid – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Front froid" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gl mw-list-item"><a href="https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fronte_fr%C3%ADa" title="Fronte fría – Galician" lang="gl" hreflang="gl" data-title="Fronte fría" data-language-autonym="Galego" data-language-local-name="Galician" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Galego</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%95%9C%EB%9E%AD%EC%A0%84%EC%84%A0" title="한랭전선 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="한랭전선" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hladna_fronta" title="Hladna fronta – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Hladna fronta" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lv mw-list-item"><a href="https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aukst%C4%81_fronte" title="Aukstā fronte – Latvian" lang="lv" hreflang="lv" data-title="Aukstā fronte" data-language-autonym="Latviešu" data-language-local-name="Latvian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Latviešu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ml mw-list-item"><a href="https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%85%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%B7%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A3%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%96%E0%B4%82" title="അനുഷ്ണവാതമുഖം – Malayalam" lang="ml" hreflang="ml" data-title="അനുഷ്ണവാതമുഖം" data-language-autonym="മലയാളം" data-language-local-name="Malayalam" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>മലയാളം</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mn mw-list-item"><a href="https://mn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A5%D2%AF%D0%B9%D1%82%D1%8D%D0%BD_%D1%84%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82" title="Хүйтэн фронт – Mongolian" lang="mn" hreflang="mn" data-title="Хүйтэн фронт" data-language-autonym="Монгол" data-language-local-name="Mongolian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Монгол</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koufront" title="Koufront – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Koufront" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AF%92%E5%86%B7%E5%89%8D%E7%B7%9A" title="寒冷前線 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="寒冷前線" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaldfront" title="Kaldfront – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Kaldfront" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nn mw-list-item"><a href="https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaldfront" title="Kaldfront – Norwegian Nynorsk" lang="nn" hreflang="nn" data-title="Kaldfront" data-language-autonym="Norsk nynorsk" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Nynorsk" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk nynorsk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_ch%C5%82odny" title="Front chłodny – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Front chłodny" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frente_fria" title="Frente fria – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Frente fria" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A5%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D1%84%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82" title="Холодный фронт – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Холодный фронт" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_front" title="Cold front – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="Cold front" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D1%84%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82" title="Хладни фронт – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Хладни фронт" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kylm%C3%A4_rintama" title="Kylmä rintama – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Kylmä rintama" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kallfront" title="Kallfront – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Kallfront" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th mw-list-item"><a href="https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A2%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%99" title="แนวปะทะอากาศเย็น – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th" data-title="แนวปะทะอากาศเย็น" data-language-autonym="ไทย" data-language-local-name="Thai" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ไทย</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/So%C4%9Fuk_hava_k%C3%BCtlesi" title="Soğuk hava kütlesi – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="Soğuk hava kütlesi" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A5%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D1%84%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82" title="Холодний фронт – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Холодний фронт" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%B4ng_l%E1%BA%A1nh" title="Frông lạnh – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="Frông lạnh" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" data-language-local-name="Vietnamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tiếng Việt</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-wuu mw-list-item"><a href="https://wuu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%86%B7%E9%8B%92" title="冷鋒 – Wu" lang="wuu" hreflang="wuu" data-title="冷鋒" data-language-autonym="吴语" data-language-local-name="Wu" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>吴语</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%86%B7%E9%8B%92" title="冷鋒 – Cantonese" lang="yue" hreflang="yue" data-title="冷鋒" data-language-autonym="粵語" data-language-local-name="Cantonese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>粵語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%86%B7%E9%94%8B" title="冷锋 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="冷锋" data-language-autonym="中文" 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free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Leading edge of a cooler mass of air</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For the period of intensely cold and dry weather, see <a href="/wiki/Cold_wave" title="Cold wave">Cold wave</a>. For other uses, see <a href="/wiki/Cold_Front_(disambiguation)" class="mw-redirect mw-disambig" title="Cold Front (disambiguation)">Cold Front</a>.</div><p> A <b>cold front</b> is the leading edge of a cooler mass of air at ground level that replaces a warmer mass of air and lies within a pronounced surface <a href="/wiki/Trough_(meteorology)" title="Trough (meteorology)">trough</a> of <a href="/wiki/Low-pressure_area" title="Low-pressure area">low pressure</a>. It often forms behind an <a href="/wiki/Extratropical_cyclone" title="Extratropical cyclone">extratropical cyclone</a> (to the west in the <a href="/wiki/Northern_Hemisphere" title="Northern Hemisphere">Northern Hemisphere</a>, to the east in the <a href="/wiki/Southern_Hemisphere" title="Southern Hemisphere">Southern</a>), at the leading edge of its cold air <a href="/wiki/Advection#Meteorology" title="Advection">advection</a> pattern—known as the <a href="/wiki/Cyclone" title="Cyclone">cyclone</a>'s dry "conveyor belt" flow. Temperature differences across the boundary can exceed 30 °C (54 °F) from one side to the other. When enough moisture is present, rain can occur along the boundary. If there is significant <a href="/wiki/Convective_instability" title="Convective instability">instability</a> along the boundary, a <a href="/wiki/Squall_line" title="Squall line">narrow line of thunderstorms</a> can form along the frontal zone. If instability is weak,<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="margin-left:0.1em; white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify" title="Wikipedia:Please clarify"><span title="Does it mean stable or unstable? (April 2023)">clarification needed</span></a></i>]</sup> a broad shield of rain can move in behind the <a href="/wiki/Weather_front" title="Weather front">front</a>, and evaporative cooling of the rain can increase the temperature difference across the front. Cold fronts are stronger in the fall and spring transition seasons and are weakest during the summer.</p><figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Cold_front_symbol.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Cold_front_symbol.svg/220px-Cold_front_symbol.svg.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Cold_front_symbol.svg/330px-Cold_front_symbol.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Cold_front_symbol.svg/440px-Cold_front_symbol.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="440" data-file-height="60" /></a><figcaption>The symbol of a cold front: a blue line with triangles pointing in the direction of travel</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Cold_Front.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Cold_Front.jpg/220px-Cold_Front.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="194" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Cold_Front.jpg/330px-Cold_Front.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Cold_Front.jpg/440px-Cold_Front.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2237" data-file-height="1968" /></a><figcaption>A cold front over the eastern and central region of the United States of America</figcaption></figure> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Development_of_cold_fronts">Development of cold fronts</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cold_front&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Development of cold fronts"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Approaching_cold_front.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Approaching_cold_front.jpg/220px-Approaching_cold_front.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="158" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Approaching_cold_front.jpg/330px-Approaching_cold_front.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Approaching_cold_front.jpg/440px-Approaching_cold_front.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1668" data-file-height="1195" /></a><figcaption>An incoming cold front in northern Ohio (2016)</figcaption></figure> <p>A cold front occurs when a mass of comparatively colder air moves into where warmer air is present. The drier, colder air forms a steeply sloping boundary under the warmer, moister air at the surface and lifts that air. This often causes cloud formations with a strong vertical development, which may manifest as a line of <a href="/wiki/Shower_(precipitation)" title="Shower (precipitation)">showers</a> and <a href="/wiki/Thunderstorm" title="Thunderstorm">thunderstorms</a> when enough <a href="/wiki/Moisture" title="Moisture">moisture</a> is present.<sup id="cite_ref-:2_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:2-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On <a href="/wiki/Weather_map" title="Weather map">weather maps</a>, the surface position of the cold front is marked with the symbol of a blue line of triangles/spikes (pips) pointing in the direction of travel. A cold front's location is at the leading edge of the <a href="/wiki/Temperature" title="Temperature">temperature</a> drop off, which in an <a href="/wiki/Contour_line#Temperature_and_related_subjects" title="Contour line">isotherm</a> analysis would show up as the leading edge of the isotherm gradient, and it normally lies within a sharp surface <a href="/wiki/Trough_(meteorology)" title="Trough (meteorology)">trough</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-DR_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-DR-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cold fronts move faster than <a href="/wiki/Warm_front" title="Warm front">warm fronts</a> and can produce sharper changes in weather. Since cold air is denser than warm air, it rapidly replaces the warm air preceding the boundary.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In the northern hemisphere, a cold front usually causes a shift of wind from southwest to northwest clockwise, also known as veering, and in the southern hemisphere a shift from northwest to southwest (counterclockwise, backing). <a href="/wiki/Atmospheric_pressure" title="Atmospheric pressure">Atmospheric pressure</a> steadily decreases with the approach of a cold front. With frontal passage, the pressure rises sharply and then stabilizes. Normally, cold fronts can be marked by these characteristics:<sup id="cite_ref-:1_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-:2_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:2-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Weather phenomenon </th> <th>Prior to the passing of the <a href="/wiki/Weather_front" title="Weather front">front</a> </th> <th>While the front is passing </th> <th>After the passing of the front </th></tr> <tr> <td>Temperature </td> <td>Warm </td> <td>Cooling suddenly </td> <td>Steadily cooling </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Atmospheric_pressure" title="Atmospheric pressure">Atmospheric pressure</a> </td> <td>Decreasing steadily </td> <td>Lowest, then sudden increase </td> <td>Increasing steadily </td></tr> <tr> <td>Winds </td> <td> <ul><li>Southwest to southeast (northern hemisphere)</li> <li>Northwest to northeast (southern hemisphere)</li></ul> </td> <td>Gusty; shifting </td> <td> <ul><li>North to west, usually northwest (northern hemisphere)</li> <li>South to west, usually southwest (southern hemisphere)</li></ul> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Precipitation/conditions* </td> <td>Light patchy rain can be produced by stratocumulus or stratus in the warm sector. In summer, sometimes thunderstorms if a preceding <a href="/wiki/Squall_line" title="Squall line">squall line</a> is present. In winter <a href="/wiki/Snowsquall" class="mw-redirect" title="Snowsquall">snow squalls</a> or showers may occur.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td>Prolonged rain (nimbostratus) or <a href="/wiki/Thunderstorms" class="mw-redirect" title="Thunderstorms">thunderstorms</a> (cumulonimbus): depends on conditions. </td> <td>Showers, then clearing </td></tr> <tr> <td>Clouds* </td> <td>Often preceded by cirrus, <a href="/wiki/Cirrostratus" class="mw-redirect" title="Cirrostratus">cirrostratus</a> then altostratus like a warm front (but usually with smaller amounts of these clouds). Areas of cirrocumulus and altocumulus within cirrostratus and altostratus more commonly seen than at a warm front. Larger cumulus clouds under the higher cloud types than at a warm front, where stratocumulus and cumulus humilis usually occur. Some of these cumulus clouds may produce showers ahead of the front. </td> <td>Cumulonimbus and cumulus congestus producing frequent showers, with a sheet of upper altostratus, through which the sun can sometimes be seen. Less commonly nimbostratus occurs with continuous rain. </td> <td>Patchy <a href="/wiki/Altocumulus" class="mw-redirect" title="Altocumulus">altocumulus</a> or <a href="/wiki/Stratocumulus" class="mw-redirect" title="Stratocumulus">stratocumulus</a> and higher <a href="/wiki/Cirrus_cloud" title="Cirrus cloud">cirrus</a> clouds along with fast moving <a href="/wiki/Stratus_fractus" class="mw-redirect" title="Stratus fractus">stratus fractus</a> then eventually scattered <a href="/wiki/Cumulus" class="mw-redirect" title="Cumulus">cumulus</a> and sometimes <a href="/wiki/Cumulonimbus" class="mw-redirect" title="Cumulonimbus">cumulonimbus</a>. </td></tr> <tr> <td>Visibility* </td> <td>Fair to poor in <a href="/wiki/Haze" title="Haze">haze</a> </td> <td>Poor, but improving </td> <td>Good, except in showers </td></tr> <tr> <td>Dew Point </td> <td>High, steady </td> <td>Sudden drop </td> <td>Falling </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>*provided there is sufficient moisture. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Stratocumuluscloudcover.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Stratocumuluscloudcover.jpg/220px-Stratocumuluscloudcover.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="157" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Stratocumuluscloudcover.jpg/330px-Stratocumuluscloudcover.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Stratocumuluscloudcover.jpg/440px-Stratocumuluscloudcover.jpg 2x" data-file-width="636" data-file-height="454" /></a><figcaption>Stratocumulus clouds after a cold front</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Clouds">Clouds</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cold_front&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Clouds"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Altocumulus_clouds_NL.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Altocumulus_clouds_NL.jpg/220px-Altocumulus_clouds_NL.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="339" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Altocumulus_clouds_NL.jpg/330px-Altocumulus_clouds_NL.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Altocumulus_clouds_NL.jpg/440px-Altocumulus_clouds_NL.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2024" data-file-height="3120" /></a><figcaption>Altocumulus clouds often are a sign of an entering cold front.</figcaption></figure> <p>If the cold front is highly <a href="/wiki/Convective_instability" title="Convective instability">unstable</a>, <a href="/wiki/Cumulonimbus_cloud" title="Cumulonimbus cloud">cumulonimbus clouds</a> producing thunderstorms commonly form along the front. <a href="/wiki/Cumulonimbus_incus" title="Cumulonimbus incus">Anvil</a> <a href="/wiki/Cirrus_cloud" title="Cirrus cloud">cirrus clouds</a> may spread a considerable distance downwind from the thunderstorms.<sup id="cite_ref-G&N:207-212_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-G&N:207-212-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The other cloud types associated with a cold front depend on atmospheric conditions such as airmass stability and wind shear.<sup id="cite_ref-Holt_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Holt-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As the front approaches, middle-étage gives way to <a href="/wiki/Altostratus" class="mw-redirect" title="Altostratus">altostratus</a> and low-level <a href="/wiki/Stratocumulus" class="mw-redirect" title="Stratocumulus">stratocumulus</a> with intermittent light precipitation if the warm airmass being displaced by the cold front is mostly stable. With significant airmass instability, vertically developed <a href="/wiki/Cumulus_cloud" title="Cumulus cloud">cumulus</a> or cumulonimbus with showers and thunderstorms will form along the front. </p><p>After the passage of the cold front, the sky usually clears as high pressure builds in behind the system, although significant amounts of cumulus or stratocumulus, often in the form of long bands called <i>cloud streets</i>, may persist if the airmass behind the front remains humid from a source of moisture.<sup id="cite_ref-Weston437-438_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Weston437-438-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Small and unchanging amounts of cumulus or cirrus clouds in an otherwise clear sky are usually indications of continuing fair weather as long as the <a href="/wiki/Barometric_pressure" class="mw-redirect" title="Barometric pressure">barometric pressure</a> remains comparatively high. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:AltocumulusUndulatusClouds.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/AltocumulusUndulatusClouds.png/220px-AltocumulusUndulatusClouds.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="76" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/AltocumulusUndulatusClouds.png/330px-AltocumulusUndulatusClouds.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/AltocumulusUndulatusClouds.png/440px-AltocumulusUndulatusClouds.png 2x" data-file-width="1007" data-file-height="346" /></a><figcaption>Altocumulus undulatus clouds several hours after a cold front</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Precipitation">Precipitation</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cold_front&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Precipitation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Radar_image_of_severe_thunderstorms_and_cold_front_over_Marion_County,_Kansas.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Radar_image_of_severe_thunderstorms_and_cold_front_over_Marion_County%2C_Kansas.png/220px-Radar_image_of_severe_thunderstorms_and_cold_front_over_Marion_County%2C_Kansas.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="187" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Radar_image_of_severe_thunderstorms_and_cold_front_over_Marion_County%2C_Kansas.png/330px-Radar_image_of_severe_thunderstorms_and_cold_front_over_Marion_County%2C_Kansas.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Radar_image_of_severe_thunderstorms_and_cold_front_over_Marion_County%2C_Kansas.png/440px-Radar_image_of_severe_thunderstorms_and_cold_front_over_Marion_County%2C_Kansas.png 2x" data-file-width="799" data-file-height="678" /></a><figcaption>A cold front as it appeared on the <a href="/wiki/National_Weather_Service_Wichita,_Kansas" title="National Weather Service Wichita, Kansas">National Weather Service Wichita, Kansas</a> <a href="/wiki/WSR-88D" class="mw-redirect" title="WSR-88D">WSR-88D</a> on April 3, 2011. The thin blue line labeled "cold front" is the front, with severe thunderstorms seen developing behind the front, which is moving towards the bottom right.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><span><video id="mwe_player_0" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm/220px--Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm.jpg" controls="" preload="none" data-mw-tmh="" class="mw-file-element" width="220" height="137" data-durationhint="45" data-mwtitle="Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons" resource="/wiki/File:Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm.480p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="480p.vp9.webm" data-width="770" data-height="480" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-width="1152" data-height="718" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm.144p.mjpeg.mov" type="video/quicktime" data-transcodekey="144p.mjpeg.mov" data-width="232" data-height="144" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="386" data-height="240" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm.360p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="360p.vp9.webm" data-width="578" data-height="360" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm/Coldfrontthunderstorm1.webm.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="578" data-height="360" /></video></span><figcaption>Strong thunderstorm associated with a cold front in <a href="/wiki/Northern_Mexico" title="Northern Mexico">Northern Mexico</a></figcaption></figure> <p>A cold front commonly brings a narrow band of <a href="/wiki/Precipitation_(meteorology)" class="mw-redirect" title="Precipitation (meteorology)">precipitation</a> that follows along the leading edge of the cold front. These bands of precipitation are often very strong,<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and can bring severe thunderstorms, <a href="/wiki/Hail" title="Hail">hailstorms</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> snow squalls,<sup id="cite_ref-:0_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and/or <a href="/wiki/Tornado" title="Tornado">tornadoes</a>. In the spring, these cold fronts can be very strong, and can bring strong winds when the <a href="/wiki/Pressure_gradient" title="Pressure gradient">pressure gradient</a> is higher than normal. During the winter months, cold fronts sometimes come through an area with little or no precipitation. Wider rain bands can occur behind cold fronts which tend to have more stratiform, and less convective, precipitation.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These rainstorms sometimes bring <a href="/wiki/Flood" title="Flood">flooding</a>, and can move very slowly when the storm steering it is strong and embedded within a <a href="/wiki/Meridional_flow" class="mw-redirect" title="Meridional flow">meridional flow</a> pattern (with more pole to equator motion rather than west to east motion). In the winter, cold fronts can bring cold spells, and occasionally snow. In the spring or summer in temperate latitudes, hail may occasionally fall along with the rain. If moisture is not sufficient, such as when a system has previously moved across a mountain barrier, cold fronts can pass without cloudiness. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Frontogenetical_circulation">Frontogenetical circulation</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cold_front&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Frontogenetical circulation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Frontogenesis" title="Frontogenesis">Frontogenesis</a> is the process of creating or steepening the temperature gradient of a front. During this process the atmosphere reacts in an attempt to restore balance, the consequence is a circular motion along the front where air is being lifted up, along the cold front and dropping downward, behind the frontal boundary. This is the actual force of upward motion along a front that is responsible for clouds and precipitation. </p><p>As the temperature gradient steepens during frontogenesis, the <a href="/wiki/Thermal_wind" title="Thermal wind">thermal wind</a> becomes imbalanced. To maintain balance, the <a href="/wiki/Geostrophic_wind" title="Geostrophic wind">geostrophic wind</a> aloft and below adjust, such that regions of divergence/convergence form. <a href="/wiki/Continuity_equation" title="Continuity equation">Mass continuity</a> would require a vertical transport of air along the cold front where there is divergence (lowered <a href="/wiki/Pressure" title="Pressure">pressure</a>). Although this circulation is described by a series of processes, they are actually occurring at the same time, observable along the front as a thermally direct circulation. There are several factors that influence the final shape and tilt of the circulation around the front, ultimately determining the kind and location of clouds and precipitation.<sup id="cite_ref-Holt_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Holt-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Carl_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Carl-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Temperature_changes">Temperature changes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cold_front&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Temperature changes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cold fronts are the leading edge of cooler air masses, hence the name "cold front". They have stronger temperature changes during the <a href="/wiki/Autumn" title="Autumn">fall</a> (autumn) and spring, and during the middle of winter. Temperature changes associated with cold fronts can be as much as 30 °C (54 °F). When cold fronts come through, there is usually a quick, yet strong gust of wind, that shows that the cold front is passing. In <a href="/wiki/Surface_weather_observation" title="Surface weather observation">surface weather observations</a>, a remark known as FROPA is coded when this occurs.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The effects from a cold front can last from hours to days. The air behind the front is cooler than the air it is replacing and the warm air is forced to rise, so it cools. As the cooler air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air, clouds form and rain or snow occur.<sup id="cite_ref-:1_4-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Characteristics_of_boundaries_around_an_extratropical_cyclone">Characteristics of boundaries around an extratropical cyclone</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cold_front&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Characteristics of boundaries around an extratropical cyclone"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Occluded_cyclone.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Occluded_cyclone.svg/220px-Occluded_cyclone.svg.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="170" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Occluded_cyclone.svg/330px-Occluded_cyclone.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Occluded_cyclone.svg/440px-Occluded_cyclone.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="710" data-file-height="550" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Occluded_front" title="Occluded front">Occluded cyclone</a> example. The triple point is the intersection of the cold, warm, and occluded fronts.</figcaption></figure> <p>Cold fronts form when a cooler air mass moves into an area of warmer air in the wake of a developing extratropical cyclone. The warmer air interacts with the cooler air mass along the boundary, and usually produces precipitation. Cold fronts often follow a <a href="/wiki/Warm_front" title="Warm front">warm front</a> or squall line. Very commonly, cold fronts have a warm front ahead but with a perpendicular orientation. In areas where cold fronts catch up to the warm front, the <a href="/wiki/Occluded_front" title="Occluded front">occluded front</a> develops. Occluded fronts have an area of warm air aloft. When such a feature forms poleward of an extratropical cyclone, it is known as a <b><a href="/wiki/Trowal" class="mw-redirect" title="Trowal">trowal</a></b>, which is short for <b>TR</b>ough <b>O</b>f <b>W</b>arm <b>A</b>ir a<b>L</b>oft.<sup id="cite_ref-TROW_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TROW-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A cold front is re-designated a <a href="/wiki/Warm_front" title="Warm front">warm front</a> if it begins to retreat ahead of the next extratropical cyclone along the frontal boundary, and called a <a href="/wiki/Stationary_front" title="Stationary front">stationary front</a> if it stalls. An especially sharp type of cold front, easily discernable in satellite images, is the <a href="/wiki/Narrow_Cold_Frontal_Rainband" class="mw-redirect" title="Narrow Cold Frontal Rainband">Narrow Cold Frontal Rainband</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cold_front&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Air_mass" title="Air mass">Air mass</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Blue_Norther_(weather)" title="Blue Norther (weather)">Blue Norther (weather)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cold_wave" title="Cold wave">Cold wave</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Surface_weather_analysis" title="Surface weather analysis">Surface weather analysis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Weather_front" title="Weather front">Weather front</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cold_front&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-:2-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:2_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:2_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFWhiteman2000" class="citation book cs1">Whiteman, C. David (2000). <i>Mountain meteorology : fundamentals and applications</i>. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 77–79. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-803044-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-19-803044-7"><bdi>978-0-19-803044-7</bdi></a>. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/428735924">428735924</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Mountain+meteorology+%3A+fundamentals+and+applications&rft.place=New+York&rft.pages=77-79&rft.pub=Oxford+University+Press&rft.date=2000&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F428735924&rft.isbn=978-0-19-803044-7&rft.aulast=Whiteman&rft.aufirst=C.+David&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACold+front" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-DR-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-DR_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDavid_Roth2006" class="citation web cs1">David Roth (2006-12-14). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/sfc/UASfcManualVersion1.pdf">"Unified Surface Analysis Manual"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <a href="/wiki/Hydrometeorological_Prediction_Center" class="mw-redirect" title="Hydrometeorological Prediction Center">Hydrometeorological Prediction Center</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-01-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Unified+Surface+Analysis+Manual&rft.pub=Hydrometeorological+Prediction+Center&rft.date=2006-12-14&rft.au=David+Roth&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov%2Fsfc%2FUASfcManualVersion1.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACold+front" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPaul_M._MarkowskiYvette_P._Richardson2011" class="citation book cs1">Paul M. Markowski; Yvette P. Richardson (2011-09-20). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=MDeYosfLLEYC&q=cold+front+movement+warm+front+book&pg=PA119"><i>Mesoscale Meteorology in Midlatitudes</i></a>. John Wiley and Sons. p. 120. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-119-96667-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-119-96667-8"><bdi>978-1-119-96667-8</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-01-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Mesoscale+Meteorology+in+Midlatitudes&rft.pages=120&rft.pub=John+Wiley+and+Sons&rft.date=2011-09-20&rft.isbn=978-1-119-96667-8&rft.au=Paul+M.+Markowski&rft.au=Yvette+P.+Richardson&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DMDeYosfLLEYC%26q%3Dcold%2Bfront%2Bmovement%2Bwarm%2Bfront%2Bbook%26pg%3DPA119&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACold+front" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-:1-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:1_4-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:1_4-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/cfrnt/def.rxml">"Cold Front: transition zone from warm air to cold air"</a>. <i>ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Belmont, Calif.: Thomson/Brooks/Cole. pp. 298–300. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0495011620" title="Special:BookSources/978-0495011620"><bdi>978-0495011620</bdi></a>. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/66911677">66911677</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Meteorology+today+%3A+an+introduction+to+weather%2C+climate%2C+and+the+environment&rft.place=Belmont%2C+Calif.&rft.pages=298-300&rft.edition=8th&rft.pub=Thomson%2FBrooks%2FCole&rft.date=2007&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F66911677&rft.isbn=978-0495011620&rft.aulast=Donald&rft.aufirst=Ahrens%2C+C.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACold+front" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_book" title="Template:Cite book">cite book</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list" title="Category:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list">link</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-G&N:207-212-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-G&N:207-212_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLee_M._GrenciJon_M._Nese2001" class="citation book cs1">Lee M. Grenci; Jon M. Nese (2001). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=oh8lqM5obuYC&pg=PA212"><i>A World of Weather: Fundamentals of Meteorology: A Text / Laboratory Manual</i></a> (3rd ed.). 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HarperCollins Academic. p. 435. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-04-551115-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-04-551115-0"><bdi>978-0-04-551115-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Mid-latitude+Weather+Systems&rft.pages=435&rft.pub=HarperCollins+Academic&rft.date=1991&rft.isbn=978-0-04-551115-0&rft.aulast=Carlson&rft.aufirst=Toby+N.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D2lIVAAAAIAAJ%26pg%3DPA435&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACold+front" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNav_Canada2005" class="citation book cs1">Nav Canada (January 2005). <i>Aviation Weather Services Guide</i>. p. 36.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Aviation+Weather+Services+Guide&rft.pages=36&rft.date=2005-01&rft.au=Nav+Canada&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACold+front" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-TROW-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-TROW_14-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSt._Louis_University2003" class="citation web cs1"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_University" class="mw-redirect" title="St. Louis University">St. Louis University</a> (2003-08-04). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060916052440/http://www.eas.slu.edu/CIPS/Presentations/Conferences/NWA2002/Snow_NWA_02/tsld003.htm">"What is a TROWAL? via the Internet Wayback Machine"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.eas.slu.edu/CIPS/Presentations/Conferences/NWA2002/Snow_NWA_02/tsld003.htm">the original</a> on 2006-09-16<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-11-02</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=What+is+a+TROWAL%3F+via+the+Internet+Wayback+Machine&rft.date=2003-08-04&rft.au=St.+Louis+University&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eas.slu.edu%2FCIPS%2FPresentations%2FConferences%2FNWA2002%2FSnow_NWA_02%2Ftsld003.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACold+front" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cold_front&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/cfrnt/def.rxml">Cold Front: transition zone from warm air to cold air</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/visualization/collections/weather_fronts.html">Weather Fronts</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/home.rxml">Fronts: the boundaries between air masses</a></li></ul> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1130092004">.mw-parser-output .portal-bar{font-size:88%;font-weight:bold;display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:baseline}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-bordered{padding:0 2em;background-color:#fdfdfd;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;clear:both;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-related{font-size:100%;justify-content:flex-start}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-unbordered{padding:0 1.7em;margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-header{margin:0 1em 0 0.5em;flex:0 0 auto;min-height:24px}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;flex:0 1 auto;padding:0.15em 0;column-gap:1em;align-items:baseline;margin:0;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content-related{margin:0;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-item{display:inline-block;margin:0.15em 0.2em;min-height:24px;line-height:24px}@media screen and (max-width:768px){.mw-parser-output .portal-bar{font-size:88%;font-weight:bold;display:flex;flex-flow:column wrap;align-items:baseline}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-header{text-align:center;flex:0;padding-left:0.5em;margin:0 auto}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-related{font-size:100%;align-items:flex-start}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;align-items:center;flex:0;column-gap:1em;border-top:1px solid #a2a9b1;margin:0 auto;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content-related{border-top:none;margin:0;list-style:none}}.mw-parser-output .navbox+link+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .navbox+style+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .navbox+link+.portal-bar-bordered,.mw-parser-output .navbox+style+.portal-bar-bordered,.mw-parser-output .sister-bar+link+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .sister-bar+style+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .portal-bar+.navbox-styles+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .portal-bar+.navbox-styles+.sister-bar{margin-top:-1px}</style><div class="portal-bar noprint metadata noviewer portal-bar-bordered" role="navigation" aria-label="Portals"><span class="portal-bar-header"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals" title="Wikipedia:Contents/Portals">Portal</a>:</span><ul class="portal-bar-content"><li class="portal-bar-item"><span class="nowrap"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Cumulus_clouds_in_fair_weather.jpeg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="icon" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Cumulus_clouds_in_fair_weather.jpeg/21px-Cumulus_clouds_in_fair_weather.jpeg" decoding="async" width="21" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Cumulus_clouds_in_fair_weather.jpeg/32px-Cumulus_clouds_in_fair_weather.jpeg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Cumulus_clouds_in_fair_weather.jpeg/42px-Cumulus_clouds_in_fair_weather.jpeg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="600" /></a></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Portal:Weather" title="Portal:Weather">Weather</a></li></ul></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; 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