The weather changes from day to day. Some days it is cloudy and rainy. Other days it is sunny and warm. People can predict weather by looking at the clouds in the sky. They can also use tools to observe and predict weather.

Clouds are groups of tiny water droplets or ice crystals in the sky. There are many types of clouds. We are going to focus on four.

Four types of clouds Cirrus Cumulus Cumulonimbus Click on a cloud type to learn more about it Stratus Continue to more clouds

Stratus Clouds… View from below View from level View from above Are low level Are in flat layers Can look like fog Look like a blanket Can be dark gray to white Back to cloud selection slide Continue to next slide

Cumulus Clouds are… Mid-level BIG Puffy Have flat bottoms Back to cloud selection slide Continue to next slide

Cirrus Clouds are… Thin and wispyFeather like, finger likeHigh-level Back to cloud selection slide Continue to next slide

Cumulonimbus Clouds are… Tall Stretch high into sky Gray in color Back to cloud selection slide Continue to next slide

There are many other types of clouds. Most are a combination of the four you just read about. Click here to view a movie on clouds. Choose a cloud to read more about it.

Cirrocumulus High altitude cloud Small rounded puffs that appear in long rows As big as the width of your little finger Seen in the winter Indicate fair but cold weather

Cirrus Highest clouds White and feathery Usually mean fair weather

Altocumulus Mid-level clouds Part of it is shaded Commonly followed by thunderstorms later in the day

Altostratus Middle cloud Color is gray or blue- gray The sun shines through them Frequently cover the whole sky Usually comes before rain or snow

Stratocumulus Low clouds Lumpy, layer clouds Can be dark gray to light gray Form in rows with sky visible in between Looks about the size of your fist

Stratus Low clouds Fog is a stratus cloud at ground level Look like a low gray blanket Bring rain or snow

Cumulus Low clouds Puffy Usually mean fair weather unless they grow tall

Cumulonimbus Extend through all levels Dark clouds Cause rainstorms “Thunder clouds”

Resources Cloud Pictures: Cloud Information us.htmlhttp:// us.html lus.htmlhttp:// lus.html Movie

Stratus clouds are… View from below View from level View from above Low levelFog likeFlat, layer likeLooks like a blanket Can be dark gray to white