When flying from a cold front to a warm front, which type of precipitation can be expected?

When transitioning from a cold front to a warm front, the expected type of precipitation follows a specific sequence due to the distinct characteristics of these fronts. The correct choice describes the sequence of weather phenomena that can occur as warm, moist air rises over the retreating cold air mass.

As the warm air moves over the cold front, it cools, leading to condensation and the formation of precipitation. Initially, if the temperatures are low enough, snow can occur. As the warm air rises further, it may reach a layer of warmer air above the surface, causing some of that snow to melt into rain. If the surface temperatures are around freezing, the precipitation can initially fall as snow and later transition to freezing rain (FZRA) if it encounters a layer of subfreezing air at the ground level. This creates ice pellets before finally becoming rain as the warmer air continues to dominate.

This dynamic illustrates the importance of temperature profiles in the atmosphere and how they contribute to the type of precipitation we observe. Understanding this process helps pilots anticipate weather conditions and prepare for varying types of precipitation when flying through these frontal systems.