NIFE WEATHER EVALUATION EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔What are the characteristics of a Warm Front? - ✔✔-Boundary of advancing warmer,
less dense air riding up and over a cold air mass
-Creates a broad area of cloudiness 500-700 miles in front of the front
-Slower speed and gradual slope
-Wind shifts from SE to SW (not as sudden)
-Common to see stratiform clouds, steady precipitation that gradually increases
-Low stratus and fog (poor visibility; 300-900 foot ceilings)
-Little to no turbulence except embedded thdrstrms
-Wide area of potential icing (due to shallow slope)
-Drizzle, freezing drizzle, rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow are all possible
✔✔What are the characteristics of a Stationary Front? - ✔✔-Frontal border that shows
little or no movement
-Neither air mass is replacing the other
-Alternating warm and cold front symbols opposing one another (in red and blue)
-180 degree wind shift
-Weather conditions are similar to a warm front but less severe
✔✔What are the characteristics of an occluded front? - ✔✔-Form when a faster moving
cold front overtakes a slower moving warm front
-Two types: warm or cold occluded front depends on which front remains in contact with
the ground
-Both W and C symbols pointing in the same direction (purple)
-180 degree wind shift
-Weather will be a combination of both fronts
✔✔Characteristics of an inactive front - ✔✔-Clouds and precipitation do not accompany
inactive fronts
-Reason for showing them is to indicate the boundary of opposing air masses and it
displays the location of potentially unfavorable flying weather
✔✔What is turbulence? - ✔✔-Any irregular or disturbed flow in the atmosphere
producing gusts and or eddies
-Turbulence intensity is on a subjective scale
✔✔What are the types of turbulence? - ✔✔-Classified according to causative factors
1) Thermal
2) Mechanical
3) Frontal
4) Large-scale wind shear
, ✔✔What is Clear Air Turbulence? - ✔✔-Turbulence in the absence of or outside of
clouds
-Most common above 15,000'MSL
-Most severe CAT is associated with the jet streams
✔✔What are the four categories of turbulence intensity? - ✔✔-Light: slight, erratic
changes in altitude/attitude; rhythmic bumpiness
-Moderate: similar to light but greater intensity; rapid bumps or jolts
-Severe: abrupt changes in altitude/attitude; large variations in IAS
-Extreme: Violently tossed about; impossible to control
✔✔How will a pilot classify turbulence with respect to time? - ✔✔-Occasional: <1/3 of
the time
-Intermittent: 1/3 to 2/3 of the time
-Continuous: more than 2/3 of the time
✔✔Describe Thermal turbulence - ✔✔-Localized vertical convective currents resulting
from surface heating or cold air moving over warm ground
-Strong solar heating of the ground results in vertical air movements, both ascending
and descending
-Dry, barren surfaces such as sandy or rocky wastelands, plowed fields, etc absorb heat
more readily
✔✔Describe Mechanical turbulence - ✔✔-Wind flowing over/around irregular terrain or
obstructions create turbulent eddies
-Strength of turbulence depends on wind speed, roughness of terrain, and ***stability of
the air*** (most important factor)
✔✔Describe Frontal turbulence - ✔✔-Lifting of warm air by a frontal surface leading to
instability
-Abrupt wind shift between warm and cold air masses
-Moist, unstable warm air produce the strongest vertical currents
-Most severe frontal turbulence associated with fast moving cold fronts
✔✔Describe Wind Shear turbulence - ✔✔-Large-scale wind shear turbulence results
from a steep gradient in wind velocity and direction producing eddy currents
-Greater the change in wind speed and/or direction in a given area, the more severe the
turbulence will be
✔✔How can a temperature inversion cause wind shear turbulence? - ✔✔-Inversions
can cause turbulence at the boundary between cold calm air near the surface, and
faster moving warm air above
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔What are the characteristics of a Warm Front? - ✔✔-Boundary of advancing warmer,
less dense air riding up and over a cold air mass
-Creates a broad area of cloudiness 500-700 miles in front of the front
-Slower speed and gradual slope
-Wind shifts from SE to SW (not as sudden)
-Common to see stratiform clouds, steady precipitation that gradually increases
-Low stratus and fog (poor visibility; 300-900 foot ceilings)
-Little to no turbulence except embedded thdrstrms
-Wide area of potential icing (due to shallow slope)
-Drizzle, freezing drizzle, rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow are all possible
✔✔What are the characteristics of a Stationary Front? - ✔✔-Frontal border that shows
little or no movement
-Neither air mass is replacing the other
-Alternating warm and cold front symbols opposing one another (in red and blue)
-180 degree wind shift
-Weather conditions are similar to a warm front but less severe
✔✔What are the characteristics of an occluded front? - ✔✔-Form when a faster moving
cold front overtakes a slower moving warm front
-Two types: warm or cold occluded front depends on which front remains in contact with
the ground
-Both W and C symbols pointing in the same direction (purple)
-180 degree wind shift
-Weather will be a combination of both fronts
✔✔Characteristics of an inactive front - ✔✔-Clouds and precipitation do not accompany
inactive fronts
-Reason for showing them is to indicate the boundary of opposing air masses and it
displays the location of potentially unfavorable flying weather
✔✔What is turbulence? - ✔✔-Any irregular or disturbed flow in the atmosphere
producing gusts and or eddies
-Turbulence intensity is on a subjective scale
✔✔What are the types of turbulence? - ✔✔-Classified according to causative factors
1) Thermal
2) Mechanical
3) Frontal
4) Large-scale wind shear
, ✔✔What is Clear Air Turbulence? - ✔✔-Turbulence in the absence of or outside of
clouds
-Most common above 15,000'MSL
-Most severe CAT is associated with the jet streams
✔✔What are the four categories of turbulence intensity? - ✔✔-Light: slight, erratic
changes in altitude/attitude; rhythmic bumpiness
-Moderate: similar to light but greater intensity; rapid bumps or jolts
-Severe: abrupt changes in altitude/attitude; large variations in IAS
-Extreme: Violently tossed about; impossible to control
✔✔How will a pilot classify turbulence with respect to time? - ✔✔-Occasional: <1/3 of
the time
-Intermittent: 1/3 to 2/3 of the time
-Continuous: more than 2/3 of the time
✔✔Describe Thermal turbulence - ✔✔-Localized vertical convective currents resulting
from surface heating or cold air moving over warm ground
-Strong solar heating of the ground results in vertical air movements, both ascending
and descending
-Dry, barren surfaces such as sandy or rocky wastelands, plowed fields, etc absorb heat
more readily
✔✔Describe Mechanical turbulence - ✔✔-Wind flowing over/around irregular terrain or
obstructions create turbulent eddies
-Strength of turbulence depends on wind speed, roughness of terrain, and ***stability of
the air*** (most important factor)
✔✔Describe Frontal turbulence - ✔✔-Lifting of warm air by a frontal surface leading to
instability
-Abrupt wind shift between warm and cold air masses
-Moist, unstable warm air produce the strongest vertical currents
-Most severe frontal turbulence associated with fast moving cold fronts
✔✔Describe Wind Shear turbulence - ✔✔-Large-scale wind shear turbulence results
from a steep gradient in wind velocity and direction producing eddy currents
-Greater the change in wind speed and/or direction in a given area, the more severe the
turbulence will be
✔✔How can a temperature inversion cause wind shear turbulence? - ✔✔-Inversions
can cause turbulence at the boundary between cold calm air near the surface, and
faster moving warm air above
