How To Draw A Frontal Boundary On A Weather Map

Frontal boundaries on weather maps denote an abrupt change in air mass. Warm fronts and cold fronts are the two most common types of frontal boundaries. Cold air masses generally move south and southeastward across the United States while warm air masses move north and northeastward. Cold frontal boundaries typically move faster than warm frontal boundaries. Fronts are identified on a weather map by a sharp temperature gradient, a sharp moisture gradient or a sharp change in wind direction.

Step 1

Pull out a current surface weather map. A surface weather map will tell you the temperature, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, precipitation and cloud cover of many weather sites across a region.

Step 2

Identify possible cold frontal boundaries. Cold frontal boundaries are identified by a wind shift from south and southwest to north and northwest. These fronts usually extend south or southwestward from a low pressure system. Draw the boundary as a blue line with triangles on it. The line will run between the different noted wind directions.

Step 3

Identify possible warm frontal boundaries. Warm frontal boundaries are identified by a wind shift from east and southeast to south and southwest. They usually extend eastward out from a low pressure system. Draw the boundary as a red line with bumps on it. The line will run between the different noted wind directions.