FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX)WeatherMedium
A pilot observes a rapidly approaching cold front on the weather radar. Which of the following weather phenomena is most likely to be associated with its passage?
- AGradual clearing with light, steady rain.
- BStratiform clouds, light drizzle, and improving visibility after passage.
- CModerate to severe turbulence, cumulonimbus clouds, and possible thunderstorms.
- DWarm temperatures, high humidity, and scattered fair-weather cumulus.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Moderate to severe turbulence, cumulonimbus clouds, and possible thunderstorms.
Cold fronts are characterized by the rapid displacement of warm air by cold air. This often leads to unstable atmospheric conditions, causing cumuliform clouds (cumulus and cumulonimbus), showery precipitation, and potentially severe weather like thunderstorms, strong winds, and turbulence.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect. This describes conditions often associated with a warm front or occluded front after passage.
- B. Incorrect. This describes conditions typically associated with warm fronts.
- D. Incorrect. Warm temperatures and high humidity are characteristic of the air mass *ahead* of a cold front, not during or after its passage, and fair-weather cumulus are not indicative of a strong cold front.
Cold Front Weather
A cold front is the leading edge of a cooler air mass, displacing a warmer air mass, typically resulting in unstable atmospheric conditions, cumuliform clouds, showery precipitation, and potentially severe weather like thunderstorms and turbulence.
- Rapid temperature drop after passage.
- Cumuliform clouds (cumulus, cumulonimbus).
- Showers, thunderstorms, and squall lines.
- Associated with turbulence and gusty winds.
- Visibility generally improves after passage.
Memory trick: Cold Front: Crash of Clouds, Quick Change.