1. The high-pressure system is located over the Pacific Ocean, west of North America. The low-pressure system is located over the eastern United States, near the Great Lakes and the Atlantic coast.
2. The cold front is developing because a mass of colder air is advancing from the northwest and pushing under the warmer air to the southeast. This causes the warm air to rise, leading to cloud formation and precipitation along the front.
3. The development of the low-pressure system in Figure 10 suggests that a storm system is forming or intensifying over the eastern United States, likely bringing cloudy skies, precipitation, and possibly windy conditions to the region.
4. The pressure gradient between the high-pressure system over the Pacific and the low-pressure system over the eastern U.S. will cause winds to blow from the high-pressure area toward the low-pressure area, generally from west to east across the continent.
5. In this scenario, a person living on the west coast of the United States would likely experience fair weather with clear skies and light winds, as they are under the influence of the high-pressure system. A person living on the east coast would likely experience cloudy skies, precipitation, and possibly strong winds due to the approaching low-pressure system and associated fronts.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of using a weather map worksheet.
