Final answer:
The lack of precipitation around a north-south cold front can be attributed to the front's rapid movement, which doesn't allow showers and storms to linger. A stationary front, on the other hand, leads to long-lasting cloudiness and precipitation because it forces moist air to rise and condense.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the reasons for the lack of precipitation (no P) around a north-south cold front and the large area of precipitation around a stationary front in the northeast. In meteorology, cold fronts typically move faster and can cause a line of showers and storms that clear out quickly.
This could be one reason for the lack of lingering precipitation around the cold front. However, a stationary front is characterized by two air masses that are not moving appreciably relative to each other. This can lead to prolonged periods of cloudiness and precipitation because the front acts as a barrier that forces any moist air to rise and condense into rain or snow over an extended period, resulting in significant precipitation.