A cold front is a boundary where a mass of comparatively colder air moves into where warmer air is present. As the cold air mass pushes under the warm air mass, the warm air is forced to rise, and the cold air advances, replacing the warm air at the surface. The following types of weather are associated with a cold front:

• Heavy Rain: Rain and even thunderstorms can form as the moisture in the warm air mass rises, cools, and condenses. With a cold frontal passage, heavy rain is likely to follow.

• Thunderstorms: Cold fronts typically create tall cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds which can produce thunderstorms.

• Hailstorms: Cold fronts can bring hailstorms.

• Snow Squalls: Cold fronts can bring snow squalls.

• Tornadoes: Cold fronts can bring tornadoes.

• Gusty Winds: As the cold front passes, winds become gusty.

• Temperature Drop: There is a sudden drop in temperature behind a cold front.

It is important to note that the amount of precipitation associated with a cold front depends on the amount of moisture in the air and the amount of lifting the front produces. Sometimes bands of precipitation can occur well ahead of the front, especially if the warm air mass is unstable.