What are the characteristics of a warm front?

A warm front is characterized by a gradual slope as warm air rises over the colder air it is replacing. This is because warmer air is less dense than cold air, and as it moves into an area of colder air, it tends to rise slowly rather than abruptly. This gradual ascent leads to a stable layer of clouds forming, which typically results in steady, light to moderate precipitation that can last for an extended period, as opposed to the short, intense bursts often associated with cold fronts.

The other characteristics mentioned in the alternatives relate more to other meteorological phenomena. For instance, steep slopes and heavy precipitation are more commonly associated with cold fronts, where the colder air mass pushes under the warmer air rapidly, resulting in thunderstorms or intense precipitation. Shelf clouds are indicative of certain storm systems and are not a defining feature of warm fronts. High winds and severe storms also align more with the dynamics of cold fronts and particularly severe weather conditions, rather than the more gentle precipitation typical of warm fronts.