Weather Maps Reading Comprehension and Analysis Worksheets - Classful - Free Printable

Here are the answers to the questions on your worksheet, based on how weather fronts work.

1. Shade in the weather fronts:
Since I cannot color the image for you, here is a guide on which colors to use for each line on the map:
* Cold Fronts (lines with triangles): Color these Blue.
* *Locations:* The line going through Portland/Billings and the line coming down from Canada through Green Bay/Chicago.
* Warm Fronts (lines with semicircles): Color these Red.
* *Locations:* The line stretching from Texas up toward Nashville and Charleston.
* Occluded Fronts (alternating triangles and semicircles): Color these Purple.
* *Location:* The curved line near the Great Lakes (Green Bay area).
* Stationary Fronts (alternating triangles and semicircles on opposite sides): Color the triangles Blue and the semicircles Red.
* *Location:* The line along the West Coast near Los Angeles.

2. What type of weather will Portland, Oregon soon experience?
Portland is currently ahead of a cold front (the blue line with triangles pointing toward it). When a cold front passes, it pushes out the warm air and brings in cold air. This usually causes storms followed by cooler temperatures.
* Answer: Cooler temperatures, rain or thunderstorms, and clearing skies after the storm passes.

3. Which city has been experiencing cloudy and rainy weather for several days?
Look for a stationary front. A stationary front happens when two air masses meet but neither is strong enough to move the other. Because the front doesn't move, the bad weather stays in one place for a long time. On the map, the stationary front is sitting right over Los Angeles.
* Answer: Los Angeles

4. List the cities that will soon see an increase in temperature and humidity.
Cities that are ahead of a warm front (red line with semicircles) will experience this. As the warm front approaches, warm, moist air slides over the cooler air, making it humid and warmer before any rain starts. Looking at the map, the warm front is moving toward Nashville, Charleston, and Albany.
* Answer: Nashville, Charleston, and Albany

5. What type of weather front is Charleston experiencing? What will occur after this front passes by?
Charleston is behind a warm front (the red line is to its west/northwest, meaning the front has already passed or is passing). Actually, looking closely at the direction of the semicircles, they point toward Charleston. This means the warm front is approaching Charleston.
* *Correction/Refinement:* In weather maps, the symbols point in the direction the front is *moving*. The semicircles on the line near Nashville/Charleston point toward the East/Southeast. This means the warm air is moving toward Charleston. Therefore, Charleston is currently in the "cool" sector ahead of the front.
* Front Type: Warm Front.
* After it passes: Once the warm front moves past Charleston, the city will be in the warm air mass. The skies will likely clear up, and the temperature will become warmer and more humid.

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Final Answer:

1. Coloring Guide:
* Blue: Cold Fronts (Portland area, Great Lakes area)
* Red: Warm Fronts (Texas to Southeast coast)
* Purple: Occluded Front (Great Lakes loop)
* Blue & Red: Stationary Front (California coast)

2. Portland Weather:
Rain or thunderstorms followed by cooler, drier air.

3. City with rainy weather for several days:
Los Angeles (due to the Stationary Front).

4. Cities seeing increased temperature/humidity:
Nashville, Charleston, and Albany (they are ahead of the Warm Front).

5. Charleston Front & Aftermath:
* Type: Warm Front.
* After it passes: The weather will become warmer and more humid, and the skies will likely clear.