NOAA Cloudwise Sky Cover There Are Ten Basic Cloud Types Arranged in Three Divisions Based on the Altitude at Which They Form

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CirrCirrususs Cirrostratus Cirrocumulus

CirrostratusCirrostratus s d u o CirrusCirrus l C

h High1High1 H2H2 H3H3 H4H4 H5H5 H6H6 H7H7 H8H8 H9H9 g

i Cirrus: Straight, nearly Cirrus: Dense white puffs Cirrus: Dense, anvil-shaped Cirrus: Filaments, strands Cirrostratus with or without Cirrostratus with or without Cirrostratus: Veil covering Cirrostratus: Veil not Cirrocumulus: Thin white

High CloudsH straight, or curved filaments, with wispy edges. remains, which were or hooks, increasing in Cirrus: Increasing density Cirrus: Increasing density the whole sky, sometimes a covering the whole sky nor ripples or small puffs, which strands or hooks. originally the upper parts of coverage and generally and coverage, but coverage and covering much of, but halo around the sun or increasing in coverage. may be accompanied by CirrocumulusCirrocumulus Cumulonimbus. thickening as a whole. does not reach midway not the entire sky. moon is present. some Cirrus/Cirrostratus. above the horizon. 20,000 ft. AltostratusAltostr Nimbostratus Altocumulus

AltostratusAltostratus s d u o l C

NimbostratusNimbostratus e AltocumulusAlAltAltoAltocumulumuulul l d Mid1Mid1 M2M2 M3M3 M4M4 M5M5 M6M6 M7M7 M8M8 M9M9 C d

i Altostratus: Full or nearly Altostratus: Thick opaque Altocumulus: Translucent Altocumulus Lenticularis: Altocumulus: One or more Altocumulus: A result of the Altocumulus: In one or Altocumulus: Small towers, Altocumulus: Chaotic sky M full sky cover that is gray, coverage, no precipitation, bands or patches in a Lens or almond shaped, layers of translucent or spreading tops of Cumulus more opaque layers, which can be similar to with multiple layers and Middle CloudsM Y shapeless and translucent; or Nimbostratus: during relatively continuous layer. often formed by air moving opaque bands. or sides of Cumulonimbus. sometimes with Altostratus small Cumulus with wispy kinds of Altocumulus at

CM produces no halo. precipitation or virga. over hills or mountains. or Nimbostratus. trails of virga. several altitudes.

MY 6,500 ft. Cumulus Cumulonimbus Stratocumulus Stratus Cumulus / Stratocumulus Cumulonimbus

CMY

K s

StratocumulusStratocumulus d u o l

CumulonimbusCumulonimbus C

Low1Low1 L2L2 L3L3 L4L4 L5L5 L6L6 L7L7 L8L8 L9L9 StratusStratus CumulusCumulus w o Cumulus: Thin and ragged Cumulus: Moderately tall Cumulonimbus: Very tall Stratocumulus: Spread out Stratocumulus: One or Stratus: In a continuous Stratus- or Cumulus- Cumulus/Stratocumulus: Cumulonimbus: Very tall

Low CloudsL with continuously changing with rounded puffy tops; summits, which lack sharp Cumulus when vertical more layers, not resulting layer, or Stratus fractus: In fractus: Ragged shreds Stratocumulus not from summits with anvil-shaped edges; forms during fair may occur with Cumulus/ outlines and are not development stabilizes; from spreading Cumulus. ragged shreds, or both, during precipitation, usually spreading Cumulus, with upper part. weather by daytime heating. Stratocumulus (L4). anvil-shaped. sometimes can occur along without precipitation. seen below Altostratus Cumulus base at a with Cumulus. or Nimbostratus. different level.

NOAA Cloudwise Sky cover There are ten basic cloud types arranged in three divisions based on the altitude at which they form. Low The percent of sky covered by clouds. Clouds near the horizon appear to be lower, level clouds are Cumulus, Cumulonimbus, Stratus, and Stratocumulus. Middle level clouds are Altocumulus, more numerous and closer together. Altostratus and Nimbostratus. High level clouds are Cirrus, Cirrocumulus and Cirrostratus. Precipitation primarily occurs from Cumulus, Cumulonimbus and Nimbostratus. Phenomena

These ten clouds are further divided into 27 classifications. Many of these classifications represent the same basic cloud type (or combinations of clouds) but in various stages of development, opacity, or sky cover. Cloud Mammatus: Small pouch or Fog: A cloud on the ground Wall Cloud: Rotating, Shelf Cloud: Forms in a Asperitas: Long waves that Virga: Precipitation that pocket-like clouds sinking which lifts from the surface lowered, rain-free base of gust front from a squall line ripple through the base of the evaporates before reaching Sky Clear Few Scattered Broken Overcast into drier air and often seen and becomes Stratus or thunderstorm in area of or thunderstorm. cloud near the dry/moist air the surface. Learn more about clouds at www.weather.gov/jetstream 0% 1 - 25% 26 - 50% 51 - 99% 100% near thunderstorms. dissipates with heat from strongest updraft, under boundary of a thunderstorm. Other www.noaa.gov/education www.weather.gov the sun. which a tornado may form.