Reading Weather maps
Image 1: The weather map below shows a 24-hour forecast for the United States. The cold front is moving much faster than the weaker warm front moving into Florida. According to the weather map, the cold front and the remains of the warm front will collide in the Southeast in the next 28 hours. What weather will Mississippi experience when this occurs?
a. clear weather and sunshine
b. clear weather and wind
c. cloudy weather and rain
d. cloudy weather and snow
c. cloudy weather and rain
This type of front happens when warm air slowly moves over cold air and usually brings light rain for a long time.
A. Cold front
B. Warm front
C. Stationary front
D. Occluded front
B. Warm front
On a weather map, a line with red semicircles pointing north means the warm air is moving in which direction?
A. South
B. East
C. North
D. West
C. North
After a cold front passes through an area, which weather change is most likely?
A. Warmer temperatures and higher humidity
B. Cooler temperatures and clearer skies
C. Steady light rain for several days
D. Hot, humid air stays the same
B. Cooler temperatures and clearer skies
A weather map shows wind arrows pointing from west to east across a state. What does this tell you about the wind?
A. The wind is blowing toward the west
B. The wind is coming from the east
C. The wind is blowing from the west
D. The wind is not moving
C. The wind is blowing from the west
Image 1: According to the weather map, what type of weather is Nevada most likely to experience in the next 24 hours?
a. clear weather
b. rainy weather
c. sleet
d. snow
a. clear weather
This front forms when cold air pushes under warm air, often causing storms, heavy rain, or sudden temperature changes.
A. Warm front
B. Stationary front
C. Cold front
D. Occluded front
c. cold front
If a weather map shows blue triangles moving toward your town, what weather change is most likely to happen first?
A. Warmer temperatures and clear skies
B. Cooler temperatures and possible storms
C. Hot and humid weather
D. No weather change
B. Cooler temperatures and possible storms
Which type of front is most likely to cause long-lasting clouds and steady rain?
A. Cold front
B. Occluded front
C. Warm front
D. Stationary front
C. Warm front
A cold front is moving south, and the wind behind the front is blowing from the north. What weather change is MOST likely?
A. Warmer and more humid air moves in
B. Cooler, drier air replaces warm air
C. The weather stays the same
D. Temperatures slowly rise with steady rain
B. Cooler, drier air replaces warm air
Image 2: According to the weather map, what weather in Northern Louisiana most likely to experience in the next 24 hours?
a. average weather
b. warm weather
c. cold weather
d. hot weather
c. cold weather
This type of front forms when a cold front catches up to a warm front.
A. Stationary front
B. Cold front
C. Warm front
D. Occluded front
D. Occluded front
Your town is just ahead of a cold front shown on the map. Which weather would you most likely experience before the front passes?
A. Cooler air and clearing skies
B. Snow all day
C. Warm air, increasing clouds, and possible thunderstorms
D. Dry air with no clouds
C. Warm air, increasing clouds, and possible thunderstorms
Why do thunderstorms often form along cold fronts?
A. Cold air sinks under warm air, forcing warm air to rise quickly
B. Warm air slowly slides over cold air
C. Two air masses stop moving
D. Cold air rises above warm air
A. Cold air sinks under warm air, forcing warm air to rise quickly
Which tool is used to show both wind speed and wind direction at a weather station?
A. Thermometer
B. Rain gauge
C. Anemometer and wind vane
D. Barometer
C. Anemometer and wind vane
Image 2: According to the weather map, what weather is Utah most likely to experience in the next 24hours?
a. warm and clear
b. cold and clear
c. warm and rainy
d. cold and rainy
d. cold and rainy
When two air masses meet but do not move past each other, this type of front is formed.
A. Warm front
B. Occluded front
C. Stationary front
D. Cold front
C. Stationary front
A map shows a purple line with triangles and semicircles on the same side. What type of front is this?
A. Warm front
B. Cold front
C. Stationary front
D. Occluded front
D. Occluded front
A town experiences cloudy weather for several days with light rain and little temperature change. Which front is most likely nearby?
A. Cold front
B. Warm front
C. Stationary front
D. Occluded front
C. Stationary front
DAILY DOUBLE: (WORTH DOUBLE POINTS)
A weather map shows a red line with semicircles pointing toward your town. Ahead of the front, temperatures are cool. Behind it, temperatures are warmer and the sky is cloudy.
What is most likely to happen next?
A. Sudden thunderstorms and a temperature drop
B. Slowly warming temperatures with steady rain
C. Clear skies and much colder air
D. Snowstorms lasting several days
B. Slowly warming temperatures with steady rain
Image 2: According to the weather map, what type of weather is central Texas most likely to experience in the next 24 hours?
a. continuing average weather
b. a change to warmer weather
c. a change to cooler weather
d. continuing hot weather
c. a change to cooler weather
This weather front is usually shown on a map with blue triangles pointing in the direction the front is moving.
A. Warm front
B. Cold front
C. Occluded front
D. Stationary front
B. Cold front
A weather map shows a front that has not moved for two days. What symbol and weather would best match this situation?
A. Red semicircles; quick temperature change
B. Blue triangles; heavy storms
C. Alternating red semicircles and blue triangles on opposite sides; days of clouds or rain
D. Purple line; sudden clearing skies
C. Alternating red semicircles and blue triangles on opposite sides; days of clouds or rain
Which statement best explains why occluded fronts often bring mixed weather conditions?
A. They only contain warm air
B. They move faster than all other fronts
C. They form when one front overtakes another, mixing air masses
D. They do not affect weather
C. They form when one front overtakes another, mixing air masses
DAILY DOUBLE: (WORTH DOUBLE POINTS)
A weather map shows a blue line with triangles pointing east moving toward your town. The map also shows dark clouds and heavy rain just along the front, with clearer skies behind it.
Which conclusion is most accurate?
A. A warm front is approaching, and temperatures will slowly rise
B. A stationary front is nearby, causing days of steady rain
C. A cold front is moving in, bringing storms followed by cooler, clearer weather
D. An occluded front has passed, and no weather changes are expected
C. A cold front is moving in, bringing storms followed by cooler, clearer weather