Description of the Cloud

High altitude clouds that are typically detached from one another and almost always made of tiny ice crystals. Cirrus is Latin for "wisp of hair" and refers to the clouds fibrous appearance.

Thin high altitude clouds forming patchy or lightly tufted sheets. Usually slightly wavelike in appearance.

Cirrus clouds that form an even continuous layer that covers a wide portion of the sky.

Mid level clouds forming patches or sheets that are composed of numerous small rounded or wavelike clouds. The clouds may or may not merge and are almost always made of water droplets.

Mid level clouds that form smooth sheets which cover much of the sky. Altostratus are often quite thick (frequently 1,000' to 3,000' thick) and can completely obstruct a ground view of the sun. Altostratus is typically thicker and darker than cirrostratus and smoother than low level stratus clouds.

Stratus is typically a flat layered cloud that forms at low altitudes (can even form at the ground surface). Stratus is typically gray with a ragged to almost smooth appearance. Stratus is latin for "layer".

Low gray patchy clouds are called Stratocumulus. The patchy clouds are frequently rounded and merged into large rolling sheets. Stratocumulus are among the most common cloud formations.

Cumulus humilis is the smallest of the cumulus cloud formations. A cumulus humilis cloud is wider than it is tall. Humilis precedes mediocris in the growth of a cumulus cloud. Cumulus is Latin for "heap" and refers to the clouds lumped form. Humilis is Latin for "humble".

Cumulus mediocris is a moderately sized cumulus cloud that occurs between humilis and congestus in the growth of large clouds. The height and width of a cumulus humilis cloud are about the same. Mediocris is Latin for "moderate".

Cumulus congestus are towering clouds that are taller than they are wide. Warm unstable atmospheric conditions can allow congestus clouds to grow into even larger Cumulonimbus clouds.

Cumulonimbus are giant rain producing clouds that can grow up to 30,000' in height. These clouds can also produce lightning and strong winds. Nimbus is Latin for "rain".

Cumulonimbus incus is the king of the clouds. This mountainous giant can produce heavy rains, fierce winds and devastating lightning. Cumulonimbus incus clouds can grow through the troposphere to the tropopause and reach a total elevation of 60,000'. Incus is Latin for "anvil" and refers to the clouds wedge shaped crown.