A wave cyclone normally forms on which type of front?

A wave cyclone typically forms on a stationary front. This type of front occurs when two air masses meet and neither mass is dominant enough to replace the other. The interaction between the cold and warm air along the stationary front leads to the development of wave cyclones as the air masses begin to move and create areas of low pressure. As the warm air rises over the colder air, it can lead to the formation of clouds and precipitation, characteristic of cyclone development.

In contrast, while cold and warm fronts can also be associated with cyclonic activity, they typically lead to different types of weather patterns. Cold fronts can produce thunderstorms as they push into warmer air, and warm fronts lead to gradual weather changes as warm air rises over cold air. An occluded front does occur later in the life cycle of a cyclone when the cold front catches up to a warm front, but it is not the primary setting for initial cyclone formation. Therefore, the stationary front provides the right conditions for the early stages of a wave cyclone's development.