What kind of weather changes occur with the arrival of a warm front?

• A. Sudden snowstorms
• B. Rapid temperature drops
• C. Cloud formation followed by steady rainfall
• D. Immediate clearing of clouds

Answer: (C)

The arrival of a warm front is characterized by a gradual transition as warmer air moves in and replaces cooler air, leading to distinct weather patterns. As the warm air ascends over the cooler, denser air ahead of the front, it cools and condenses, forming clouds. This process typically results in the development of layered clouds, such as stratocumulus or nimbostratus, which are associated with steady, continuous precipitation.

The steady rainfall associated with a warm front occurs over a larger area and lasts longer than the often more intense, localized precipitation found with cold fronts. This gradual onset of precipitation is linked to the slow rise of warm air, differentiating the weather events caused by warm fronts from those produced by other weather systems.

In contrast, options such as sudden snowstorms, rapid temperature drops, and immediate clearing of clouds are more indicative of other weather phenomena, like cold fronts or specific storm systems, rather than the more gradual nature of warm fronts.