FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Weather and Weather ServicesEasy
A pilot notes that ahead of an approaching frontal system, cirrus clouds gradually lower and thicken into altostratus, then nimbostratus, with steady light rain that intensifies. As the front passes, the rain stops, the temperature rises noticeably, and the surface wind shifts from southeast to southwest. What type of front passed?
- ACold front
- BWarm front
- CStationary front
- DOccluded front
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Warm front
A warm front is preceded by a slow, orderly progression of clouds (cirrus to altostratus to nimbostratus) and steady precipitation, followed by clearing, rising temperature, and a wind shift as the warm sector arrives. Cold fronts produce more abrupt, violent weather changes.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Cold fronts bring sudden squalls and cumuliform clouds, not gradual lowering stratiform clouds.
- C. Stationary fronts show little net movement and no lasting wind shift or temperature change.
- D. Occluded fronts combine cold and warm front characteristics with a more complex sequence.
Warm Front Weather Sequence
Ahead of a warm front, clouds lower and thicken progressively (cirrus→altostratus→nimbostratus) with steady precipitation; passage brings clearing, warming, and a wind shift.
- Gradual, widespread cloud lowering precedes the front
- Steady rain or drizzle is typical ahead of the surface front
- Passage brings warming temps and a veering wind shift
Memory trick: Warm fronts creep, cold fronts leap