NIFE WEATHER FINAL EXAM 2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔How does air move around a high-pressure and low-pressure system? -
✔✔Clockwise around high and out of the system
Counter around low and into the system
✔✔Gradient winds are found at what altitude and how do they flow with respect to the
PGF? - ✔✔-Above 2000' AGL and perpendicular to the PGF
-Parallel to isobars
✔✔Surface Winds are found at what altitude and how do they flow with respect to the
PGF? - ✔✔-Below 2000' AGL and at a 45 degree angle across isobars
-Coriolis Force attempts to turn the air as it flows; however, surface friction reduces the
speed of the wind and only allows the CF to rotate it 45 degrees
✔✔Describe Buys Ballot's Law - ✔✔If the wind is at your back, the area of lower
pressure will be to your left
✔✔What is the Jet Stream? - ✔✔-A narrow band of strong winds of 50 knots or more in
the upper portion of the Troposphere
-Winds average 100-150 knots (can be in excess of 250 knots)
-Average height is 30,000'MSL
-1000-3000 miles long, 100-400 miles wide, and 3000 to 7000 feet in depth
-Flow is generally West to East
-Strongest winds are at the core (inside)
✔✔What happens to the jet stream in the winter? - ✔✔-Position changes to further
south
-Core descends to a lower altitude
-Speed is faster than in the summer
✔✔Describe a Sea Breeze - ✔✔-During the day, land heats up faster than water
-Less dense air rises over the ground (creating low pressure) and is replaced by cooler,
more dense air from the water
-Air then cools over the water and descends, repeating the cycle
-15-20 knots
✔✔Describe a Land Breeze - ✔✔-During the day, water retains heat more than the
ground
-Less dense air over the water rises and is replaced by cooler, less dense air from land
-Air then cools down over the land and repeats the cycle
-Weaker than a sea breeze
,✔✔Clouds may be defined as ___________. - ✔✔-The visible manifestation of weather
-The most important element in the formation of clouds is water vapor
✔✔Describe how clouds form - ✔✔-Clouds form when air becomes saturated either by
1) being cooled to dew point or 2) the addition of moisture
-Most clouds form from some lifting process followed by atmospheric cooling
-Water vapor condenses on condensation nuclei
✔✔How are clouds classified? - ✔✔According to their appearance, form, and altitude of
their bases
✔✔What is the altitude of Low Clouds? - ✔✔Surface to 6500' AGL
✔✔What is the altitude of Middle Clouds? - ✔✔6500' to 20,000' AGL
✔✔What is the altitude of High Clouds? - ✔✔Above 20,000' AGL
✔✔Special clouds are _________ - ✔✔Clouds with extensive vertical development
✔✔What part of a cloud determines its classification based on altitude? - ✔✔Cloud
base
✔✔What is the general description of cumuliform clouds? - ✔✔Lumpy, billowy clouds
with a definite pattern/structure
✔✔What is the general description of stratiform clouds? - ✔✔Uniform base, formed in
horizontal, sheet-like layers
✔✔What are the characteristics of low clouds? - ✔✔-Bases range from surface to
6,500'AGL
-Mainly composed of water droplets
-Most serious hazard is proximity to the ground
-Hide terrain and thunderstorms
-Possible icing
-No to moderate turbulence
-Light rain/drizzle
-Visibility is a few feet
(Nimbo/nimbus clouds will produce violent/heavy precipitation)
✔✔What are the characteristics of Middle Clouds? - ✔✔-Bases between 6,500' and
20,000'AGL
-Have the prefix alto (light)
-Composed of ice crystals, water droplets, or a mix
-Visibility from a few feet to 0.5 miles
-Possible turbulence
, -Icing is common
-Rain, rain and snow, or snow is possible
-Virga (precip evaporates before reaching ground)
✔✔What are the characteristics of High clouds? - ✔✔-Bases average 20,000 to
40,000'AGL
-Prefix cirro or cirrus
-Little effect on flying except for moderate turbulence or limited visibility
-Composed of mostly ice crystals
-No precipitation and do not constitute an icing hazard
✔✔What are the characteristics of Special Clouds with Extensive Vertical
Development? - ✔✔-Towering cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds
-Bases found in low to middle cloud heights and tops extend through high cloud
-Nimbostratus: continuous rain, snow, or ice; fog and poor visibility with slow clearing
ceilings
-Cumulus: clouds nearing thunderstorm stage; heavy rain, moderate turbulence, and
icing
-Cumulonimbus: thunderstorm clouds; extreme turbulence, hail, icing, lightning, etc
✔✔Describe the three characteristics of precipitation - ✔✔1) Shower: sudden beginning
and ending; abruptly changing intensity or sky conditions; (cumuliform)
2)Continuous: steady; intensity changes gradually; (stratiform)
3) Intermittent: stops and restarts at least once during the hour; showery or steady;
(either type of cloud)
✔✔Describe each of the methods of lifting - ✔✔1) Convergence: convergence of two air
masses, or parts of a single air mass that force the air upwards
2) Frontal: cold fronts lift the air ahead
3) Orographic: force of the wind against a mountainside pushes the air upward
4) Thermal (convective): cool air is over a warm surface and is heightened by intense
solar heating
FOCT
✔✔What cloud type is associated with unstable conditions? What cloud type is
associate with stable conditions? - ✔✔Unstable: Cumuliform
Stable: Stratiform
✔✔Describe the three types of atmospheric stability. - ✔✔-Neutrally stable: air is lifted
and remains in place after lifting action is removed
-Stable: air is lifted and returns to original position after lifting action is removed
-Unstable: air is lifted and continues to rise (free convection) after the lifting action is
removed
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔How does air move around a high-pressure and low-pressure system? -
✔✔Clockwise around high and out of the system
Counter around low and into the system
✔✔Gradient winds are found at what altitude and how do they flow with respect to the
PGF? - ✔✔-Above 2000' AGL and perpendicular to the PGF
-Parallel to isobars
✔✔Surface Winds are found at what altitude and how do they flow with respect to the
PGF? - ✔✔-Below 2000' AGL and at a 45 degree angle across isobars
-Coriolis Force attempts to turn the air as it flows; however, surface friction reduces the
speed of the wind and only allows the CF to rotate it 45 degrees
✔✔Describe Buys Ballot's Law - ✔✔If the wind is at your back, the area of lower
pressure will be to your left
✔✔What is the Jet Stream? - ✔✔-A narrow band of strong winds of 50 knots or more in
the upper portion of the Troposphere
-Winds average 100-150 knots (can be in excess of 250 knots)
-Average height is 30,000'MSL
-1000-3000 miles long, 100-400 miles wide, and 3000 to 7000 feet in depth
-Flow is generally West to East
-Strongest winds are at the core (inside)
✔✔What happens to the jet stream in the winter? - ✔✔-Position changes to further
south
-Core descends to a lower altitude
-Speed is faster than in the summer
✔✔Describe a Sea Breeze - ✔✔-During the day, land heats up faster than water
-Less dense air rises over the ground (creating low pressure) and is replaced by cooler,
more dense air from the water
-Air then cools over the water and descends, repeating the cycle
-15-20 knots
✔✔Describe a Land Breeze - ✔✔-During the day, water retains heat more than the
ground
-Less dense air over the water rises and is replaced by cooler, less dense air from land
-Air then cools down over the land and repeats the cycle
-Weaker than a sea breeze
,✔✔Clouds may be defined as ___________. - ✔✔-The visible manifestation of weather
-The most important element in the formation of clouds is water vapor
✔✔Describe how clouds form - ✔✔-Clouds form when air becomes saturated either by
1) being cooled to dew point or 2) the addition of moisture
-Most clouds form from some lifting process followed by atmospheric cooling
-Water vapor condenses on condensation nuclei
✔✔How are clouds classified? - ✔✔According to their appearance, form, and altitude of
their bases
✔✔What is the altitude of Low Clouds? - ✔✔Surface to 6500' AGL
✔✔What is the altitude of Middle Clouds? - ✔✔6500' to 20,000' AGL
✔✔What is the altitude of High Clouds? - ✔✔Above 20,000' AGL
✔✔Special clouds are _________ - ✔✔Clouds with extensive vertical development
✔✔What part of a cloud determines its classification based on altitude? - ✔✔Cloud
base
✔✔What is the general description of cumuliform clouds? - ✔✔Lumpy, billowy clouds
with a definite pattern/structure
✔✔What is the general description of stratiform clouds? - ✔✔Uniform base, formed in
horizontal, sheet-like layers
✔✔What are the characteristics of low clouds? - ✔✔-Bases range from surface to
6,500'AGL
-Mainly composed of water droplets
-Most serious hazard is proximity to the ground
-Hide terrain and thunderstorms
-Possible icing
-No to moderate turbulence
-Light rain/drizzle
-Visibility is a few feet
(Nimbo/nimbus clouds will produce violent/heavy precipitation)
✔✔What are the characteristics of Middle Clouds? - ✔✔-Bases between 6,500' and
20,000'AGL
-Have the prefix alto (light)
-Composed of ice crystals, water droplets, or a mix
-Visibility from a few feet to 0.5 miles
-Possible turbulence
, -Icing is common
-Rain, rain and snow, or snow is possible
-Virga (precip evaporates before reaching ground)
✔✔What are the characteristics of High clouds? - ✔✔-Bases average 20,000 to
40,000'AGL
-Prefix cirro or cirrus
-Little effect on flying except for moderate turbulence or limited visibility
-Composed of mostly ice crystals
-No precipitation and do not constitute an icing hazard
✔✔What are the characteristics of Special Clouds with Extensive Vertical
Development? - ✔✔-Towering cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds
-Bases found in low to middle cloud heights and tops extend through high cloud
-Nimbostratus: continuous rain, snow, or ice; fog and poor visibility with slow clearing
ceilings
-Cumulus: clouds nearing thunderstorm stage; heavy rain, moderate turbulence, and
icing
-Cumulonimbus: thunderstorm clouds; extreme turbulence, hail, icing, lightning, etc
✔✔Describe the three characteristics of precipitation - ✔✔1) Shower: sudden beginning
and ending; abruptly changing intensity or sky conditions; (cumuliform)
2)Continuous: steady; intensity changes gradually; (stratiform)
3) Intermittent: stops and restarts at least once during the hour; showery or steady;
(either type of cloud)
✔✔Describe each of the methods of lifting - ✔✔1) Convergence: convergence of two air
masses, or parts of a single air mass that force the air upwards
2) Frontal: cold fronts lift the air ahead
3) Orographic: force of the wind against a mountainside pushes the air upward
4) Thermal (convective): cool air is over a warm surface and is heightened by intense
solar heating
FOCT
✔✔What cloud type is associated with unstable conditions? What cloud type is
associate with stable conditions? - ✔✔Unstable: Cumuliform
Stable: Stratiform
✔✔Describe the three types of atmospheric stability. - ✔✔-Neutrally stable: air is lifted
and remains in place after lifting action is removed
-Stable: air is lifted and returns to original position after lifting action is removed
-Unstable: air is lifted and continues to rise (free convection) after the lifting action is
removed
