How do surface winds typically change after a cold front passes?

After a cold front passes, the behavior of surface winds is influenced by the shift in pressure systems associated with the front's passage. Typically, winds shift from a warmer direction ahead of the front to a cooler direction behind it.

In this scenario, when a cold front advances, the winds that were initially from the south-southwest are replaced with winds that come from the northwest. Specifically, they can shift to a more westerly direction. This transition occurs because the colder, denser air mass replaces the warmer air mass, leading to a change in wind direction as high-pressure air moves in to replace the low-pressure area created by the departing cold front.

Understanding this shift is important in aviation for anticipating weather changes and preparing for variations in flying conditions. The choice indicating a change from south-southwest to west-northwest most accurately reflects this typical behavior after a cold front passage.