What is an occluded front?

An occluded front is a weather phenomenon that occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front. This results in the warm air mass being lifted off the ground as it is sandwiched between two cold air masses. This lifting can cause a range of weather conditions, often including precipitation and stormy weather, as the warm air cools and condenses.

The concept integrates aspects of both a cold front and a warm front, as the occluded front essentially combines these two types of fronts. This combination is what distinguishes the occluded front, making it an important feature in meteorology for forecasting weather patterns. Understanding this function of occluded fronts helps explain why they can lead to various weather phenomena, especially in mid-latitude regions where such fronts frequently occur.