the ground, but they can develop past the troposphere in both temperate and tropical latitudes. They are classified as low clouds and include all varieties of cumulus and cumulonimbus. The opposite in type are the horizontal development of stratiform clouds.

Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus is the same type of cloud as cumulus cloud; however it develops vertically. Commonly called a thunderstorm cloud, it regularly brings heavy showers, lightning, thunder, hail, gusty winds a

Cloud Types

A cloud is a visible group of particles of water droplets and/or ice crystals, in the air. Clouds form when water vapor condensates. Condensation nuclei, as in smoke or dust particles, form a surface which water vapor can condense on.

Cumulus One of the basic cloud forms it is a low cloud types. Cumulus is a cloud that develops in a vertical direction from the base up. Cumulus clouds have flat bases and dome like upper surfaces. The base of the cloud is often no more than 3,000 feet above the ground, but the top often varies in height. Small, separate cumulus clouds are associated with fair weather. The top of such a cloud can easily reach 20,000 or more into the troposphere. Under certain atmospheric conditions, these clouds can develop into larger clouds, known as towering cumulus, and may produce a rain shower.

Cirrostratus A cirri form cloud that develops from cirrus spreading out into a thin layer, creating a flat sheet like appearance. It can give the sky a slightly milky or veiled look. When viewed from the surface of the earth, these ice crystals can create a halo effect around the sun or moon. This cloud is a good precursor of precipitation, indicating it may occur within 12 to 24 hours.

Cirrus Cirrus clouds are thin and wispy composed of ice crystals and often appear as veil patches or strands. In the mid-latitudes, cloud bases are usually found between 20,000 to 30,000 feet, and it is the highest cloud that forms in the sky, except for the tops, or anvils, of cumulonimbus, which occasionally build to excessive heights.

Cumuliform Clouds composed of water droplets that exhibit vertical development. The density of the droplets often blocks sunlight, casting shadows on the earth's surface. With increasing vertical height, they are often associated with convection. Bases of these clouds are generally no more than 3,000 feet above the ground, but they can develop past the troposphere in both temperate and tropical latitudes. They are classified as low clouds and include all varieties of cumulus and cumulonimbus. The opposite in type are the horizontal development of stratiform clouds.

Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus is the same type of cloud as cumulus cloud; however it develops vertically. Commonly called a thunderstorm cloud, it regularly brings heavy showers, lightning, thunder, hail, gusty winds an

cloud is often no more than 3,000 feet above the ground, but the top often varies in height. Small, separate cumulus clouds are associated with fair weather. The top of such a cloud can easily reach 20,000 or more into the troposphere. Under certain atmospheric conditions, these clouds can develop into larger clouds, known as towering cumulus, and may produce a rain shower.

Cirrostratus A cirri form cloud that develops from cirrus spreading out into a thin layer, creating a flat sheet like appearance. It can give the sky a slightly milky or veiled look. When viewed from the surface of the earth, these ice crystals can create a halo effect around the sun or moon. This cloud is a good precursor of precipitation, indicating it may occur within 12 to 24 hours.

Cirrus Cirrus clouds are thin and wispy composed of ice crystals and often appear as veil patches or strands. In the mid-latitudes, cloud bases are usually found between 20,000 to 30,000 feet, and it is the highest cloud that forms in the sky, except for the tops, or anvils, of cumulonimbus, which occasionally build to excessive heights.

Cumuliform Clouds composed of water droplets that exhibit vertical development. The density of the droplets often blocks sunlight, casting shadows on the earth's surface. With increasing vertical height, they are often associated with convection. Bases of these clouds are generally no more than 3,000 feet above the ground, but they can develop past the troposphere in both temperate and tropical latitudes. They are classified as low clouds and include all varieties of cumulus and cumulonimbus. The opposite in type are the horizontal development of stratiform clouds.

Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus is the same type of cloud as cumulus cloud; however it develops vertically. Commonly called a thunderstorm cloud, it regularly brings heavy showers, lightning, thunder, hail, gusty winds a

ing a flat sheet like appearance. It can give the sky a slightly milky or veiled look. When viewed from the surface of the earth, these ice crystals can create a halo effect around the sun or moon. This cloud is a good precursor of precipitation, indicating it may occur within 12 to 24 hours.

Cirrus Cirrus clouds are thin and wispy composed of ice crystals and often appear as veil patches or strands. In the mid-latitudes, cloud bases are usually found between 20,000 to 30,000 feet, and it is the highest cloud that forms in the sky, except for the tops, or anvils, of cumulonimbus, which occasionally build to excessive heights.

Cumuliform Clouds composed of water droplets that exhibit vertical development. The density of the droplets often blocks sunlight, casting shadows on the earth's surface. With increasing vertical height, they are often associated with convection. Bases of these clouds are generally no more than 3,000 feet above the ground, but they can develop past the troposphere in both temperate and tropical latitudes. They are classified as low clouds and include all varieties of cumulus and cumulonimbus. The opposite in type are the horizontal development of stratiform clouds.

Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus is the same type of cloud as cumulus cloud; however it develops vertically. Commonly called a thunderstorm cloud, it regularly brings heavy showers, lightning, thunder, hail, gusty winds a

30,000 feet, and it is the highest cloud that forms in the sky, except for the tops, or anvils, of cumulonimbus, which occasionally build to excessive heights.

Cumuliform Clouds composed of water droplets that exhibit vertical development. The density of the droplets often blocks sunlight, casting shadows on the earth's surface. With increasing vertical height, they are often associated with convection. Bases of these clouds are generally no more than 3,000 feet above the ground, but they can develop past the troposphere in both temperate and tropical latitudes. They are classified as low clouds and include all varieties of cumulus and cumulonimbus. The opposite in type are the horizontal development of stratiform clouds.

Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus is the same type of cloud as cumulus cloud; however it develops vertically. Commonly called a thunderstorm cloud, it regularly brings heavy showers, lightning, thunder, hail, gusty winds a

the ground, but they can develop past the troposphere in both temperate and tropical latitudes. They are classified as low clouds and include all varieties of cumulus and cumulonimbus. The opposite in type are the horizontal development of stratiform clouds.

Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus is the same type of cloud as cumulus cloud; however it develops vertically. Commonly called a thunderstorm cloud, it regularly brings heavy showers, lightning, thunder, hail, gusty winds and even occasionally tornadoes.

Cirrocumulus A cirri form cloud that develops vertically appearing as a thin sheet of small white puffs with a rippled effect. Cirrocumulus is the least common cloud type, often forming from cirrus or cirrostratus, with which it is associated in the sky.