Plain English Meaning

A cold front that is moving quickly, shoving warm air violently upward and creating a short, sharp burst of severe weather — strong storms, gusty winds, and heavy rain — that passes through fast and is followed by clearing skies and cooler air.

Full Definition

A cold front advancing at roughly 30 knots or more, in which the cold air pushes under the warmer air ahead of it so steeply that the warm air is forced rapidly upward, producing a narrow but intense band of weather along and just ahead of the front. Typical conditions include towering cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds, heavy showers, thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail, and sometimes squall lines, followed by rapid clearing and a sharp drop in behind the front.