You are driving west in your car on a clear, warm day. Up ahead, you see a dark band of ominous clouds. Soon, you drive beneath the towering bank of clouds, and things get very dark. For twenty minutes, you are pelted with rain and even some hail. You keep driving west, even though it seems a little sketchy at times. On the radio, you hear that the next county to the north is under a tornado warning. Then the sky lightens, and there is only a little rain. You notice that the temperature outside has dropped by 15°F (8°C). What have you just driven across?
A)a warm front
B)a cold front
C)a mid-latitude cyclone
D)the jet stream

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dark, ominous clouds and the sudden drop in temperature suggest a cold front, which is a leading edge of a colder air mass that replaces a warmer one. The rain and hail also point to the presence of a cold front. The fact that the neighboring county is under a tornado warning also supports the idea of a cold front, as these severe weather events often accompany the frontal boundary.

You Are Driving West in Your Car on a Clear