Stationary Fronts
 

Stationary fronts are a stalled boundary between two air masses. 
They show little or no movement at all.  There is little or no 
push from the PFJ.  This is because the polar front jet is 
running parallel to the front in the upper air.  Surface winds 
are also parallel to each other, but running in the opposite 
directions across the front itself (Figure 4-5).  The weather 
associated with a stationary front is similar to what is found 
with a warm front, continuous precipitation and stratiform clouds.  These are found on the north side of the front, as with a warm front.

On the surface, temperatures fall slowly ahead of the front and 
rise gently after passage.  There is a significant temperature 
gradient on either side of the front, as mentioned in the wave 
cyclone process. Following Petterssen’s Rule, this would be the 
ideal area for new cyclogenesis.  Dew points follow the same 
pattern as a warm front: relatively steady before passage, 
rising slowly behind.  Visibility can vary widely, since there 
are many different influences on this front.  Fog, rain, and haze 
are not uncommon.  Surface pressure ahead of the front will 
slowly fall, but become steady during passage.  Following 
passage, pressures will rise slowly.  Surface winds blow parallel
to the front, and veer abruptly across it.  These fronts can 
develop further, becoming cold fronts, warm fronts, or undergoing 
cyclogenesis.