Clouds

Low Altitude Clouds Form below 2000 meters. Forms when warm, moist air rises, expands and cools. Made of water droplets only! There are 5 different types of clouds here.

Cumulus Clouds They are often described as "puffy" or "cotton-like", or "poofy" in appearance. Cumulus clouds can appear alone, in lines, or in clusters (groups). They may be associated with severe weather such as hail and tornadoes (cumulonimbus) but often mean fair, sunny weather

Cumulus Clouds

Stratus Clouds Layered, sheet-like clouds. These clouds are layered horizontally (left to right). More specifically, the term stratus is used to describe flat, hazy, plain looking clouds. Can vary from dark gray to nearly white in terms of color. Can bring a small amount of precipitation with them.

Stratus Clouds

Stratocumulus Clouds Usually characterized by large dark, rounded masses of clouds – found in in groups or lines. These clouds usually produce NO precipitation, but are often seen at the beginning or end of a front (before or after a storm). These clouds appear very large in the sky to the people who are viewing them.

Stratocumulus Clouds

Fog – A cloud on the ground. Fog reduces visibility for driving or flying conditions. The foggiest place in the world is the Grand Banks off the island of Newfoundland. The foggiest land areas in the world are Menomonie, Wisconsin, Point Reyes, California, and Argentia.

Fog

Nimbostratus Clouds A Nimbostratus cloud has no distinct shape to it and is almost uniformly dark gray all over. "Nimbo" is from the Latin word "nimbus", meaning rain. These clouds are dark because they are storm clouds!

Nimbostratus Clouds

Middle Altitude Clouds Form between 2000 – 6000 meters above Earth. Made of water droplets and ice crystals because the air is colder at these altitudes. Some middle altitude clouds can form precipitation. There are 2 main types of clouds here.

Altocumulus Clouds These types of clouds appear in sheets, patches or bunched together. They are usually larger and appear white or grey in color. Altocumulus clouds shows that convection is occurring in the atmosphere. May also cause rain if they are high enough in the atmosphere.

Altocumulus Clouds

Altostratus Clouds These clouds are usually lighter in color and almost transparent - so sunlight can often be seen through them. They frequently cover the whole sky and are similar to lower altitude stratus clouds. Altostratus clouds can be potentially dangerous, because they can cause ice to build up on the wings of an airplane.

Altostratus Clouds

High Altitude Clouds Form higer than 6000 meters above Earths surface. Made of ice crystals only because the temperatures at this height are below freezing. There are 4 types of clouds here.

Cirrus Clouds Cirrus clouds are characterized by a thin, wispy look to them. Almost like strands of string in the sky. Many cirrus clouds produce a small amount of precipitation (ice crystals) that are suspended in the air and do NOT reach the ground.

Cirrus Clouds

Cirrostratus Clouds These types of clouds never bring precipitation with them and have a thin, whitish, veil-like structure (just like cirrus clouds). Sometimes these clouds are so big that you cannot tell them apart from one another (they blend in). Can form a halo, which is a glowing look that surrounds a cloud when sunlight hits the water vapor within the cloud. Cirrocumulus clouds usually do not last long and could carry small amounts of precipitation along with them (mostly ice because it is very cold at this altitude).

Cirrostratus Clouds

Cirrocumulus Clouds Forms when convection currents at high altitudes mix to produce a cirrocumulus cloud. These are usually very large clouds that include droplets of super cooled water in them, allowing ice crystals to form.

Cirrocumulus Clouds

Cumulonimbus Clouds A tall, dense cloud that carries along thunderstorms and other intense weather conditions. Cumulonimbus means "column of rain“ – so precipitation will always be involved. These clouds can form alone, in clusters, or along a cold front. They create lightning through the center of the cloud and if conditions are right can further develop into a super cell, which is a severe thunderstorm .

Cumulonimbus Clouds