Cold Front: The leading edge of an advancing cold air mass that is under running and displacing the warmer air in its path. Generally, with the passage of a cold front, the temperature and humidity decrease, the pressure rises, and the wind shifts (usually from the southwest to the northwest in the Northern Hemisphere). Precipitation is generally at and/or behind the front, and with a fast-moving system, a squall line may develop ahead of the front.

 

Related Words

Cold Front: The leading edge of an advancing cold air mass that is under running and displacing the warmer air in its path. Generally, with the passage of a cold front, the temperature and humidity decr . . . View Full Definition

Pre-Frontal Squall Line: A line of thunderstorms that precedes an advancing cold front.

Pre-Frontal Trough: An elongated area of relatively low pressure preceding a cold front that is usually associated with a shift in wind direction.

Warm Front: The leading edge of an advancing warm air mass that is replacing a retreating relatively colder air mass. Generally, with the passage of a warm front, the temperature and humidity increase, . . . View Full Definition