Term
| The most commontype of high clouds. Made up of ice crystals. They are thin and wispy. Blown by high winds into long streamers they can help predict the wind direction in the upper atmosphere. The name for these wispy looking clouds comes from the Latin word for curl. |
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| Layered puffy clouds that occur at lower elevations. Produce weak intensity rain. |
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| Thick puffy clouds that can be found at middle altitudes |
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| Low-lying clouds that are generally producers of continually falling light to moderate rain or snow. |
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| Small cotonny rows of cloud tufts that are made of ice crystals and found at high elevations. Usually seen in winter and indicate fair, but cold weather. |
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| These clouds can rise to heights of more than 30,000 feet. Some people call these clouds thunderheads because they can bring heavy rain, lightening, and thunder. |
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| These clouds appear as a general overcast and can produce widespread mist or drizzle. |
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| Mid-level clouds that usually cover the entire sky and often form ahead of storms with continuous rain or snow. |
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| Clouds of vertical development, they get their name from the Latin word for pile or heap. The lowest are the puffy clouds are the puffy clouds that resemble pieces of floating cotton. Often called "fair-weather clouds" |
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| Wispy, thin sheets of cloud that are made of ice crystals and found spreading at high elevations. Usually come 12-24 hours before a rain or snow storm. |
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Cirro
Since its so cold at this elevation, these are formed of ice crystaslslslslslssls |
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Alto
Formed mainly of water droplets but can be ice crystals when the temp is cold enough |
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Strato
Mostly made of water droplets
Can be ice particles and snow in cold temperatures |
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| Clouds with vertical growth? |
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Definition
Cumulo
Can grow to heights in excess of 39,000 feey releasing incredible amounts of energy through the condensation of water vapor within the cloud itself |
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