Which type of air mass is primarily associated with frontal thunderstorms?

Frontal thunderstorms are primarily associated with the Maritime Tropical air mass. This type of air mass originates over warm ocean waters and carries high levels of moisture. As it moves into a region where it interacts with colder air masses, such as a Continental Polar air mass, it leads to the lifting of moist air, creating the conditions necessary for thunderstorms.

The warmth and humidity of the Maritime Tropical air mass provide the energy needed for convection, which is a critical element in the development of thunderstorms. Once the warm, moist air rises, it cools and can condense to form clouds and precipitation, characteristic of thunderstorms.

The other types of air masses—Continental Polar, Continental Tropical, and Maritime Polar—do not typically provide the same conditions necessary for frontal thunderstorms. Continental Polar air is cold and dry, which is not conducive to thunderstorm development. Continental Tropical air is warm but lacks the moisture needed for significant storm activity. Maritime Polar is cool and often moist, but it does not usually have the same warmth and instability as Maritime Tropical air, which is more effective in producing thunderstorm activity when it meets a cold front.