Learn How to Identify Cloud Type

Learn How to Identify Cloud Types

Clouds are beautiful aren’t they? I love clouds. From low hanging wisps to roaring thunderheads. If the majesty of the earth are it’s mountains, then the majesty of the sky must certainly be clouds.

Cloud Names: Cumulus, Stratus, Cirrus, and Nimbus

Clouds are named based on the Latin word for what they look like to an observer on the ground.

Cumulus = heaped, or bunched up
Stratus = layered, in layers
Cirrus = curl, or curl of hair, strand of hair
Nimbus = rain, or wet

Clouds are also identified and named by the height of their cloud base. The prefix Cir- meaning high level, and Alto-identifying it as a mid level cloud. Just by learning these Latin words you will be able to look into the sky almost anytime and name the cloud formation of the day.

High Level Clouds: Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, and Cirrostratus

High-level clouds form above 20,000 feet and are made of ice crystals. These are Cirrus clouds. Remember, like strands or curls of hair, thin and wispy.

Cirrus

These are Cirrocumulus clouds. Remember the name modifier, these are high and thin, but also bunched or heaped together in lumps, not like hair at all.

Cirrocumulus

The last high level type is the Cirrostratus. Hazy, like a veil, possibly with a halo because of the effect it has on light from the Sun.

Cirrostratus

Mid Level Clouds: Altocumulus, and Altostratus

Mid level clouds appear between 6500 and 20000 feet. Generally consisting of water droplets, they may sometimes be ice crystals if the temperature is low enough.

These are Altocumulus clouds, alto “high” or “higher than most” and cumulus “heaps”. These clouds are bunched up masses, although they are larger and darker than the Cirrocumulus, but smaller than the Stratocumulus.

Altocumulus

Altostratus clouds tend to be uniform and gray. Sheet-like across the sky. These are the clouds that are dangerous for airplanes because they can cause ice to form.

Altostratus

Low Level Clouds: Cumulus, Stratus, Stratocumulus, Nimbostratus, and Cumulonimbus

Low level clouds usually have bases that are below 6500 feet. The consist of water droplets, although again if the temperature is cold enough there may be ice crystals.

Cumulus clouds are, in general, what everyone thinks of when the word cloud comes to mind.

Cumulus

Stratus clouds, again, identified by the name meaning layers, are usually uniform in their appearance, as though a sheet had been stretched across the sky. Stratus clouds are what most people think of as a cloudy day.

Stratus

Below, stratocumulus clouds may indicate bad weather coming. They appeared clumped together in layers. Again, the key to remembering the names of clouds is to remember those four Latin words and a couple modifiers.

Stratocumulus

Nimbostratus clouds are, can you guess? Nimbo-, meaning rain, and -stratus meaning layers. These are the grey overcast cast clouds of your typical rainy weather.

Nimbostratus

They mean moderate to heavy rain, or snow if conditions are right.

Some of the most dramatic clouds are Cumulonimbus clouds. While their bases start low like other cumulus clouds they can rise vertically to towering heights. These produce heavy precipitation and are the major lightning producers. These types of clouds can also go on to develop into “super-cells” which are severe type of thunderstorm weather.