"CLOUDS"

HIGH-LEVEL CLOUDS

High-level clouds are formed in altitudes above 20,000 feet. Because the temperatures are so cold at this elevation, these clouds are formed from ice crystals.

Cirrus clouds are thin and wispy clouds that are blown by high winds.  They usually mean the day will have fair or pleasant weather, and follow the direction that the air moves at the altitude they are found at. 

Cirrostratus clouds are like very thin sheets of clouds that cover large parts of the sky. 

Cirrocumulus clouds look like small round puffs in the sky. Sometimes they are called mackerel clouds because they look similar to fish scales.

MID-LEVEL CLOUDS

Mid-level clouds are found in altitudes between 6,500 to 20,000 feet.  They are formed mainly of water droplets, but can also be made up of ice crystals when the temperature is cold enough.

Altocumulus clouds are composed of water droplets and are gray and puffy. These clouds are usually seen on warm and humid summer mornings and are usually a sign that thunderstorms will follow later in the day.

Altostratus clouds are made up of ice crystals and water droplets.  They can cover the entire sky and form before rain storms.

LOW-LEVEL CLOUDS

Low-level clouds are found below 6,500 feet and although they are mostly made up of water droplets. They can also be composed of ice particles and snow in very cold temperatures. 

Stratus clouds are among the low-lying clouds.  They are gray clouds that cover the entire sky and can be the result of very thick fog lifting in the morning.

Nimbostratus clouds are dark gray clouds that produce falling rain.

VERTICAL CLOUDS

Cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds are both known as vertical clouds. 

Cumulus clouds are also called fair weather clouds and look like floating cotton. They have very flat bases and are not very tall clouds. When cumulus clouds are first formed from droplets, they have very distinct edges, but as they move through the sky, air causes the edges to appear more ragged and broken apart. 

Cumulonimbus clouds can take up several miles across the sky and can reach elevations of 39,000 feet or higher because of very strong updrafts in the atmosphere.

Low level cumulonimbus clouds are made up of water droplets, but at higher elevations, they consist of ice crystals.  Cumulonimbus clouds are they type of clouds that bring lightning, thunder, violent tornadoes and other intense weather situations.