How do warm fronts generally behave in terms of weather patterns?

Warm fronts typically behave in a manner characterized by their gradual movement and the associated weather patterns, which often include prolonged periods of light to moderate precipitation, such as drizzle. As a warm front advances, the warmer, less dense air is forced to rise over the cooler air ahead of it, leading to the formation of clouds and gradually increasing precipitation.

This ascent of warm air creates stratiform clouds and can result in a stable atmosphere where prolonged light rain or drizzle occurs, rather than sudden and severe weather phenomena. The gradual nature of the warm front’s movement tends to mean that the weather changes are similarly gradual, with shifting conditions often experienced over a period of hours rather than suddenly.

In contrast, severe thunderstorms are more commonly associated with cold fronts, which can cause rapid changes in weather conditions and are known for their intense vertical development and associated severe weather. Clear skies typically do not accompany the advance of a warm front; instead, clouds and precipitation are prevalent as the front approaches. Rapid movements with heavy rainfall are more characteristic of cold fronts rather than warm fronts.