Weather Tidbits: Backdoor Cold Fronts

We’ll be discussing backdoor cold fronts in this edition of Weather Tidbits. Most weather systems, including cold fronts, generally move from west to east. But sometimes, a weather feature, like a front, can come from the east. Since the westward movement is more traditional, a cold front coming from the east is said to come from the “backdoor”. Thus, a cold front coming in from the north and east is considered a backdoor cold front. Locally on Delmarva, a backdoor cold front usually moves in by a high-pressure system that moves into the Gulf of Maine and directs easterly, onshore winds toward the Mid-Atlantic. This usually results in cooler but humid conditions, along with an abundance of clouds. Typically associated with a marine layer.