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Cold Front
A cold front is the transition point between cold air on one side and warm air on the other. The transition often happens quickly and can create clouds that precipitate. Rain showers arising along a cold front can be intense but are usually over quickly. A cold front is represented on a weather map as a blue line with blue triangles pointing in the direction of the cold front's travel.
Before a Cold Front Passes
Ahead of a cold front, the air is typically warmer and more humid. In the northern hemisphere, the wind direction of the warm air ahead of a cold front is typically south to southwest. The air pressure before a cold front tends to decrease steadily. Several types of clouds may be present, and there can be short outbursts of light rain.
After a Cold Front Passes
As a cold front passes, the temperature and atmospheric pressure both drop suddenly, and there may be heavy rain and thunderstorms. After the cold front passes, the temperature of the air continues to decrease steadily, and the wind direction changes to west-northwest in the northern hemisphere. The atmospheric pressure rises steadily and clouds begin to clear. Behind a cold front, the air is typically cold and can have low relative humidity, making it dry.
Difference in Wind Direction
When a cold front passes, it is common for the wind to change direction quickly, usually from south-southwest to north-northwest. This change in direction can be a key signal that a cold front has passed, when it is not otherwise obvious. During the cold front, there are gusty winds that shift direction quickly.