TYPES OF CLOUDS

Low Level Clouds Stratus

Stratocumulus

Nimbostratus

Stratus

A low grey cloud that has a flat base.

Stratocumulus

Large dark, rounded masses, usually in groups, lines, or waves

Nimbostratus

Formless cloud layer that is almost uniformly dark grey.

Middle Level Clouds Altocumulus

Altostratus

AltocumulusGrey, puffy masses, sometimes rolled out in parallel waves or bands.

Altostratus

Grey or blue-grey clouds that usually cover the entire sky.

High Level Clouds Cirrus

Cirrocumulus

Cirrostratus

Cirrus

Thin and whispy clouds.

Cirrocumulus

A patch or layer of cloud consisting of tiny individual cloudlets.

Cirrostratus

Sheet-like and nearly transparent.

Vertical Development

Clouds Cumulus

Cumulonimbus

Cumulus

Noticeable vertical development and clearly defined edges.

Cumulonimbus

Towering vertical cloud that is very tall, dense, and involved in thunderstorms and other inclement weather.

Special Clouds Fog

Mammatus

Lenticular

Contrails

Fog

Suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface.

Mammatus

Cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud.

Lenticular

Stationary lens-shaped clouds

ContrailsArtificial clouds that are the visible trails of condensed water vapour made by the exhaust of aircraft engines.