1. FRONTS WHERE TWO AIR MASSES MEET, BUT DO NOT MIX

2. COLD FRONT

3. Cold air “crashes” into warm air causing the warm air to rise quickly. Water Vapor rises quickly, cools condenses and creates clouds. Frequently creates cumulonimbus clouds which cause severe weather (thunderstorms or even tornadoes) Quickly moving front

4. COLD FRONT SYMBOL ON A WEATHER MAP

5. WARM FRONT

6. Warm air “slowly creeps” over cold air causing the warm air to rise slowly. Water Vapor rises slowly, cools condenses and creates clouds. Frequently creates stratus or nimbostratus clouds which cause longer periods of rain or snow. Slowly moving front

7. WARM FRONT SYMBOL ON A WEATHER MAP

8. STATIONARY FRONT

9. Similar air masses “sit next to each other” because neither is “strong enough” to rise over or push under the other. Water Vapor rises very slowly, cools condenses and creates clouds. Frequently creates stratus or nimbostratus clouds which cause very long periods of light rain or snow. Very slow moving front

10. STATIONARY FRONT SYMBOL ON A WEATHER MAP

11. OCCLUDED FRONT

12. Starts as a cold front and warm front. The cold air forces the warm air away from the surface. Water Vapor rises, cools condenses and creates clouds. Depending on the speed that the warm air rises, it can create stratus or nimbostratus clouds or cumulonimbus clouds. Most complex type of front because it involves 3 different air masses.

13. OCCLUDED FRONT SYMBOL ON A WEATHER MAP