Weather Maps
Weather Front Map Symbols: Cold Fronts, Warm Fronts, Stationary Fronts, and Occluded Fronts
How to read common weather front symbols on maps and what each front can mean for wind, temperature, rain, storms, and clouds.
Quick answer: Weather front symbols mark boundaries between air masses and help explain changes in wind, temperature, clouds, and precipitation.
Cold fronts
A cold front is often drawn with blue triangles pointing in the direction it is moving.
It can bring wind shifts, cooler air, showers, or storms depending on the setup.
Warm and stationary fronts
Warm fronts use red semicircles, while stationary fronts show alternating symbols on opposite sides.
They can focus clouds, rain, fog, or temperature contrasts.
Occluded fronts
Occluded fronts occur when a cold front catches a warm front in a mature storm system.
They often appear near stronger low-pressure systems.