Synoptic investigation of east coast backdoor cold fronts

Abstract

Results are presented from a synoptic study of "back-door" cold fronts along the east coast of the united States in the years 1963 to 1972. The investigation set forth the climatology of back-door cold fronts with respect to: 1) frequency, 2) six hourly speed of movement, and 3) southern penetration. The individuality of fronts us treated with respect to: 1) temperature and dew-points changes, 2) pressure tendencies, 3) windshifts, 4) precipitation, 5) vertical extent, and 6) surface/500-mb relationships. Findings include: 1) highest frequency of occurrence is late spring and early fall, 2) speed of movement is greater in nighttime hours and in spring and fall, 3) deep southern penetration is most likely to occur in June, 4) precipitation is more associated with a 500-mb short-wave trough and position and/or motion of the surface front, 5) fronts continue southward penetration until parallel to 500-mb flow and 6) southernmost penetration of fronts is coincident with movement of the high center behind (i.e., north of) the front eastward off the coast. A detailed discussion of the 2 April case is presented