What is a cold front?

A cold front is defined as the boundary that separates a mass of cold air from a mass of warm air, where the cold air is moving in and replacing the warmer air. This process typically leads to noticeable changes in weather conditions. When a cold front moves into an area, it often causes the warm air to rise rapidly, which can result in the formation of clouds and precipitation, sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms.

As the cold air advances, it pushes the warm air upwards, causing a sharp drop in temperature and a shift in wind direction. This dynamic is crucial for understanding weather patterns and forecasting because cold fronts are often associated with significant changes, such as a decrease in humidity and a clearening sky after the front passes.

In contrast, a boundary where warm air replaces cold air characterizes a warm front, while phenomena associated with winter do not specifically denote the definition of a cold front. Additionally, while cold fronts can bring a mix of weather, they are not inherently known for bringing only dry conditions; rather, they are most noted for the abrupt weather changes they can initiate.