What can be expected prior to the passage of a cold front?

Prior to the passage of a cold front, a high dew point combined with rapidly dropping pressure is often observed. This phenomenon occurs because as the cold front approaches, the warm air ahead of it is forced to rise. This rising warm air leads to a decrease in atmospheric pressure as the front nears. The higher dew point indicates a significant amount of moisture in the warm air mass, and as the front moves in, it can lead to cloud formation and precipitation.

This scenario adds to the instability of the atmosphere, which is typical before a cold front, causing weather conditions to change rapidly. It’s important to note that clear skies with low visibility, high winds and low temperatures, as well as frontal fog and stable weather conditions, do not accurately describe the conditions expected prior to a cold front, as they typically characterize different weather phenomena.