Surface Frontal Analysis

Pre-Lab: Finding Fronts using Multiple Fields » Putting it All Together: Practice Examples with Station Observations » Occluded Front

Example 1

Question 1 of 1

Determine the location of any surface fronts by drawing them in with the pen tool(s). Available colors correspond to the standard color schemes mentioned above.

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From the flow pattern and pressure readings we can tell that a low is centered over west-central Illinois. To the south and west of the low, cold air with temperatures in the upper 30s and 40s, with dewpoints in the upper 30s and low 40s flows from the west and into Mississippi, eastern Tennessee and Kentucky and into southwest Indiana, where some is wrapping back in toward the north and west near the center of the low. This cold, dry airmass is separated by the occluded front from the cold, modified airmass with easterly winds that prevails across central and northern Indiana and Ohio. A warm front trails from southern Indiana through northeast Kentucky, and across south-central North Carolina - the airmass south of the boundary is easily identifiable by much warmer temperatures in the 60s and low 70s, dewpoints in the 60s, and wind from the south or southeast.