WEATHER FORECASTING
Intro to Earth Science (Sanders)
1) The colored lines represent fronts. Which line represents warm fronts? cold fronts?
2) Examine the warm fronts and note which side the teeth are on. For each, compare
the temperatures on either side of the front. Record your observations by keeping a
tally in the spaces below. Keep going until you feel confident that you can answer this
question: Which side is the warmer side--the side with teeth, or the other side?
Warm fronts: Which side is warmer?
The side with teeth
The other side
CONCLUSION: For warm fronts, the temperature is usually warmer on… (circle one)
the side with teeth
the other side
about the same for both
3) Examine the cold fronts and note which side the teeth are on. For each, compare
the temperatures on either side of the front. Record your observations by keeping a
tally in the spaces below. Keep going until you feel confident that you can answer this
question: Which side is the colder side--the side with teeth, or the other side?
Cold fronts: Which side is colder?
The side with teeth
The other side
CONCLUSION: For cold fronts, the temperature is usually colder on…(circle one)
the side with teeth
the other side
about the same for both
Something to know: Cold and warm fronts move in the direction the teeth are pointing.
ANSWER: If the teeth of a warm front are pointed toward Chicago, in time, the temperature in
Chicago probably will…
rise
fall
stay the same
ANSWER: If the teeth of a cold front are pointed toward Chicago, in time, the temperature in
Chicago probably will…
rise
fall
stay the same
4) Look at all the warm fronts over the whole period. For each warm front, record the
direction the teeth point (use N, S, E, W, NW, NE, etc. to indicate direction)
Direction
Tally of how many warm fronts are moving this direction
CONCLUSION: Warm fronts most often move to the _______________, sometimes to
the __________________________, and rarely or never to the _______________.
5) Look at all the cold fronts over the whole period. For each cold front, record the
direction the teeth point (use N, S, E, W, NW, NE, etc. to indicate direction)
Direction
Tally of how many warm fronts are moving this direction
CONCLUSION: Cold fronts generally move… [tell what direction(s)] ______________.
6) Look at the areas of precipitation (snow or rain). Record the number of times that
precipitation a) seems unrelated to cold/warm fronts, and b) the number of times that
precipitation is either falling right on/at a front or along the side of a front (either just
before or just after). This one is a bit tougher, and calls for some judgment!
Precip either right on, or along a front
Precip unrelated to a front
(before or after)
CONCLUSION: ________________________________________________________
7) Now examine locations of fronts as related to HIGH and LOW pressure zones.
Record how many time you see a LOW connected to a warm or cold front (count each
front separately), and record how many times you see a HIGH connected with a warm
or cold front. Keep a tally in the table below.
LOW connected to a front
Warm
Cold
HIGH connected to a front
Warm
Cold
CONCLUSION: _______________________________________________________
8) Now focus just on the HIGHS and LOWS. Using the USA map that appears at this
link (for best results, switch to landscape page format and “Custom” print at 135% of the original size) ,
record the positions of the highs and lows over a period of several days. When possible
(sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t!), “track” them as they move by connecting their
positions from one day to the next, showing in what direction they move. For example:
L
L
H
H
CONCLUSION: The direction LOWS generally move is ____________________.
CONCLUSION: The direction HIGHS generally move is ____________________.
9) Find a series of 3-4 days of maps where you can track one single LOW pressure
zone as it moves. This time, pay special attention to the fronts associated with the
LOW. Describe the motion of the FRONTS as the LOW moves (you may find it helpful
to draw this on a map; use red and blue pencils if it helps). Find another series of 3-4
days where you can follow a different LOW. See if it follows the same pattern.
CONCLUSION: Cold and warm fronts move _____________________ with respect to
LOW pressure zones.
10) Based on your answer to the previous question, describe the wind direction in an
area that lies
…to the EAST of a LOW. ___________ …to the SOUTH of a LOW. ___________
…to the WEST of a LOW: ___________ …to the NORTH of a LOW: ___________
11) Look again at the areas that show precipitation (snow or rain). This time, examine
precipitation and LOWs and HIGHs. Record the number of times precipitation is
associated with LOWS, and the number of times precipitation is associated with HIGHS.
Precip associated with LOWS
Precip associated with HIGHS
CONCLUSION: ________________________________________________________
12) Next step: In a group, come up with a series of "rules" or patterns that the
weather seems to follow. You may find it helpful to look at your conclusions from
above, but don’t limit yourself to these.
Consider these aspects, and write as many rules as you can!
warm fronts
cold fronts
highs
lows
precipitation
temperatures
wind directions (HINT: consider how fronts move)
Example: “Wind from the south is generally associated with ____ temperatures,
_____ pressure systems, and _____ fronts; this often brings ________ weather.”
Keep these “rules” handy: they will help you forecast the weather!