Question 1

As a classic depression passes (you are south of its track), the wind typically…

Accepted Answer

Backs ahead of the warm front, veers at the warm front, veers again at the cold front — Back–veer–veer is the low’s signature. Reading it from deck (with the barometer) tells you which act of the play you are in and what comes next.

Question 2

The classic sign of an approaching warm front is…

Accepted Answer

Cloud lowering and thickening from high cirrus, backing wind, falling barometer — High wispy cirrus thickening and lowering over hours, the glass falling, wind backing — rain arrives as the front does. The cold front behind clears it with squalls and a veer.

Question 3

In the northern hemisphere, air flows around a low pressure system…

Accepted Answer

Anticlockwise and inwards — Anticlockwise round a low (Buys Ballot: back to the wind, low on your left). Lows bring the fronts, the wind and the rain.

Anatomy of a depression

This lesson is part of a paid course