Wildland Firefighting Practice Exam

What type of front typically shows high cloud cover and a marked increase in wind velocity?

1. Warm front

2. Occluded front

3. Cold front

4. Stationary front

The correct answer is: Cold front

The correct answer highlights the characteristics of a cold front. A cold front occurs when a cold air mass pushes into a region occupied by warmer air. This transition often leads to a rapid uplift of the warmer air, which can result in significant weather changes. As the colder, denser air forces the warmer air upwards, it typically leads to the development of cumulonimbus clouds, which can bring about heavy precipitation and shifts in weather patterns. In addition to the cloud formation, a noticeable increase in wind velocity is often observed as the cold front passes. Winds can shift dramatically, usually from a southeasterly direction to a northwesterly direction as the cold air replaces the warmer air. Other types of fronts have different characteristics that do not align with the specific conditions stated in the question. For example, a warm front is associated with gradual lifting of warm air over colder air, leading to stratus clouds and generally light precipitation, but not the same sharp increase in wind speed. An occluded front can involve complex weather patterns depending on the interaction of air masses, and a stationary front typically shows little movement and can result in prolonged periods of cloudiness and precipitation without the same dramatic changes seen with cold fronts.