What characterizes an occluded front?

An occluded front is characterized by a situation where a warm air mass is caught between two colder air masses. In this scenario, as a cold front moves faster than a warm front, it can overtake the warm front, lifting the warm air mass off the ground and creating a complex weather pattern. This phenomenon leads to the warm air being "occluded," or blocked, by the colder air masses on both sides. The result is often a mix of weather conditions, including precipitation and changes in temperature, as the warm air is forced upwards.

Understanding occluded fronts is essential for predicting weather changes, as they often lead to the development of low-pressure systems and can signify the transition into more severe weather conditions.