TL;DR Too Long; Didn't Read Rain or "nimbus" clouds may appear as low, sheeted "stratonimbus" producing sprinkles or steady drizzle or as tall "cumulonimbus" clattering with thunder and flashing with lightning. Facts on Cirrostratus Clouds. What Makes Rain Clouds Dark? Three Different Types of Clouds. Rain Clouds Vs. Snow Clouds. What Are Rain Clouds? Warning Signs of Storms. Clouds form when air becomes saturate d, or filled, with water vapor.
Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air, so lowering the temperature of an air mass is like squeezing a sponge. Clouds are the visible result of that squeeze of cooler, moist air. Moist air becomes cloudy with only slight cooling. With further cooling, the water or ice particle s that make up the cloud can grow into bigger particles that fall to Earth as precipitation.
Types of Clouds Because certain types of clouds are associated with certain types of weather , it is possible to forecast the weather by observing and understanding these different types of clouds. Clouds are classified into three main groups: cirrus , stratus , and cumulus. Cirrus clouds are wispy, curly, or stringy. They are found high in the atmosphere—typically higher than 6, meters 20, feet —and are usually made of ice crystals.
Cirrus clouds usually signal clear, fair weather. Their shape often indicates the direction the wind is blowing high in the atmosphere. Stratus clouds are horizontal and stratified, or layered. Stratus clouds can blanket the entire sky in a single pattern. They usually occur close to the Earth. Stratus clouds often form at the boundary of a warm front , where warm, moist air is forced up over cold air.
This movement produces clouds as the moist air is cooled across the entire front. The presence of stratus clouds usually means a chilly, overcast day. If precipitation falls from stratus clouds, it is usually in the form of drizzle or light snow. Cumulus clouds are large and lumpy. Their name comes from the Latin word meaning "heap" or "pile.
Cumulus clouds are created by strong updrafts of warm, moist air. Most forms of heavy precipitation fall from cumulus clouds. The weather they bring depends on their height and size. The higher the base of a cloud is, the drier the atmosphere and the fairer the weather will be. Clouds located close to the ground mean heavy snow or rain.
Variations Clouds are also classified according to how high they are in the atmosphere and what kind of weather they produce. The prefix "cirro-" refers to clouds that lie more than 6, meters 20, feet above the Earth. The prefix "alto-" indicates clouds whose bases are between 2, and 6, meters 6,, feet above the Earth, such as altocumulus and altostratus clouds. They are considered "mid-level" clouds and are mostly made of liquid water droplets, but can have some ice crystals in cold enough temperatures.
The prefix "nimbo-" or the suffix "-nimbus" are low-level clouds that have their bases below 2, meters 6, feet above the Earth. Clouds that produce rain and snow fall into this category. Nimbostratus clouds bring continuous precipitation that can last for many hours. These low-level clouds are full of moisture. However, due to their unique shape, many times they have been mistaken for UFO sightings! Finally, we have mammatus clouds. These almost look like little pouches or bubbles of cloud hanging from the above cloud deck.
Though their formation is still not completely known, they are generally associated with severe weather and usually extend from cumulonimbus clouds.
Thus, you should always be alert for stronger thunderstorms if you ever see mammatus clouds! Such clouds also inform pilots of turbulent flying conditions and they are instructed to avoid the area.
Hopefully you can appreciate those beautiful, puffy masses of water in the sky whether you are an avid weather enthusiast or just curious when weather threatens. Not only can clouds make great photographs, but they can also provide insight into approaching weather, so keep an eye to the sky! Are you obsessed with weather? Now you can listen to more weather discussions and topics in The Weather Lounge , a new podcast with hosts Brad Miller and Mike Mihalik, both of whom are also meteorologists.
Listen here:. You can always find more weather information from us on Facebook and Twitter. Also be sure to check out our YouTube Channel for weekly weather updates. The lowering clouds indicate that the front is drawing near, giving a period of rain in the next 12 hours. Stratus is a low continuous cloud sheet covering the sky. Stratus forms by gently rising air, or by a mild wind bringing moist air over a cold land or sea surface.
Stratus cloud is thin, so while conditions may feel gloomy, rain is unlikely, and at most will be a light drizzle. Our final two cloud types will not help you predict the coming weather, but they do give a glimpse of the extraordinarily complicated motions of the atmosphere. Smooth, lens-shaped Lenticular clouds form as air is blown up and over a mountain range.
Once past the mountain, the air sinks back to its previous level. As it sinks, it warms and the cloud evaporates. But it can overshoot, in which case the air mass bobs back up allowing another Lenticular cloud to form. This can lead to a string of clouds, extending some way beyond the mountain range.
The interaction of wind with mountains and other surface features is one of the many details that have to be represented in computer simulators to get accurate predictions of the weather.
And lastly, my personal favourite.
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