Fronts, Hurricanes and Thunderstorms

Front

A front is when two air masses meet. The cold air is more dense, and will always sink.

Warm front ~ this is when a warm air mass overtakes a cold air mass.

Clouds associated with this are stratus clouds, with moderate rains.

A cold front is when cold air overtakes a warm air mass.

Generally cumulous clouds will form, with heavy and short lived rains.

An occluded front is when a cold front catches up to another cold front, and lifts the warm air off of the ground.

Heavy rains can develop

Polar Front

This is where the cold polar air meets the middle latitude air. It is across Nebraska is the winter, and north of the Great Lakes in the summer.

Hurricanes

A tropical storm with winds of over 75 mph (120 kph) is a hurricane.

Hurricanes in Atlantic Ocean

Typhoon in Western Pacific

Cyclone in Indian Ocean and Southern Pacific

A violent storm with lightning and thunder is a “thunderstorm”.

There are three stages

Cumulus Stage

Mature Stage

Disipating Stage

Tornados

Funnel shaped, very violent storms

1. Can reach 300 miles per hour, usually less

2. Usually only 100 yards wide

3. Very survivable, unless something hits you

4. Called a waterspout over water

5. Called a white tornado over snow (very rare)

Fin