How long do stationary fronts last

The temperature difference across the front can be small or great depending on the nature of the two air masses involved. A stationary front may form when a cold or warm front slows down, or it may grow over time from underlying surface temperature differences when there is little air mass movement, like a coastal front. Winds on the cold air and warm air sides often flow nearly parallel to the stationary front, and often in nearly opposite directions along either side of the front.

At upper levels, the front is typically parallel to the prevailing flow. A stationary front usually remains in the same area for hours to days, and may undulate as atmospheric short waves move eastward along the front. Although the stationary front's position may not move, there is air motion as warm air rises up and over the cold air, as a response to the ageostrophy induced by frontogenesis.

A wide variety of weather may occur along a stationary front. A stationary front is represented by alternating blue and red lines with blue triangles pointing towards the warmer air and red semicircles pointing towards the colder air. On colored weather maps, an occluded front is drawn with a solid purple line. Changes in temperature, dew point temperature, and wind direction can occur with the passage of an occluded front.

A stationary front is represented on a map by triangles pointing in one direction and semicircles pointed in the other direction. A stationary front forms when a cold front or warm front stops moving. This happens when two masses of air are pushing against each other, but neither is powerful enough to move the other. Stationary Front — a front between warm and cold air masses that is moving very slowly or not at all.

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