Great Glen Identification Guide Cumulus Stratus Iùl Aithneachaidh a’ Ghlinne Mhòir Sgòth cumulus Sgòth shreathach

Being able to recognise is not only fun, but is Stratus useful for helping you predict the weather during your Latin: layer Altitude: low visit. We have divided types into four families – see Weather: overcast, sometimes drizzling. how many you can spot floating high above Checklist: greyish; featureless and uniform in the lochs, glens and forests. appearance; covers sky like a blanket. Fun fact: mist and are both stratus. Fog is when Cumulus Cirrocumulus visibility is less than 1km; mist is visibility of 1-2 km.

Latin: heap or pile Weather: usually fair but Stratocumulus Altitude: low cold days. Latin: layer of heaps/piles Altitude: low Weather: fine, sunny Checklist: white with no Weather: becoming overcast, or weather is clearing. Checklist: looks like a big shading; rippled look or Checklist: grey, puffy, textured base; covers most of puffy cotton ball; mostly lots of very small puffs; sky; looks like cotton candy or pillow stuffing; when white with a grey bottom; when hand held at arm’s hand held at arm’s length, puffs are approx fist sized. when hand held at arm’s length, puffs are approx Fun fact: during a flight stratus clouds will not cause length, puffs are approx fingernail sized. much turbulence, but are difficult to see through. size of your fist. Fun fact: sometimes Fun fact: glider pilots use referred to as ‘mackerel Altostratus cumulus clouds to find sky’ as it resembles the Latin: high layer uplifts of warm air. markings on the fish. Weather: can turn into -producing nimbostratus Altocumulus Latin: high heap/pile Checklist: grey or blue-grey and mid-level; covers Weather: can mean rain most of sky; appears smooth; usually precedes rain. Checklist: looks like a flock Fun fact: causes a corona around of sheep or lots of cotton the sun (a white or bright coloured disc). balls; small cumulus clouds clustered together; when Cirrostratus hand held at arm’s length, Weather: expect rain in the next 24hrs. puffs approx thumb size. Checklist: transparent and/or milky high clouds; Fun fact: smooth, lens- looks like a veil; sun may have a halo. shaped altocumulus clouds Fun fact: you cast a shadow when under a have been mistaken for cirrostratus cloud; under altostratus, the cloud is too UFOs. thick.

Always check the weather forecast before and during your trip. news.bbc.co.uk/weather/ www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/ outdoorhighlands.co.uk/greatglenway with thanks to the KiwiKids Cloud Guide and www.clouds-online.com Great Glen Identification Guide Precipitating Cirrus & Iùl Aithneachaidh a’ Ghlinne Mhòir Sgòth uisgeach Sgòth bhristeach

Cirrus Cumulus congestus Cumulonimbus Latin: curl of hair Altitude: high Latin: piled up Latin: pile/heap of rain Weather: generally fair weather; usually are first sign Weather: showers. Weather: sudden heavy of a approaching and a corresponding Checklist: looks like a rain/showers; hail, change in the weather. giant ; thunder or lightning. Checklist: bright white; wispy, looks like horses’ tails; appears taller than it is Checklist: dark base; wisps are separate rather than like a veil. wide; still has sharp towering in sky; raining. Fun fact: these are the fastest moving clouds. outline at top. Fun fact: these clouds from cirrus clouds evaporates long before Fun fact: appears with can produce tornadoes. reaching the Earth. rainbows. Nimbostratus Latin: rain layer Contrails Altitude: low to mid Altitude: high Weather: prolonged Weather: show humidity levels high up. continuous rain or snow. Checklist: bright white; in a straight line; visible on a fine day; usually Checklist: dark grey; covers an aeroplane has just passed. most of sky; no sun visible; Fun fact: these are man-made cirrus clouds. They are formed when difficult to see base of water vapour freezes around particulates from the plane’s engines, clouds; steady rain, not creating a long white trail of crystals. There are three types of showers. : Fun fact: these clouds never produce rainbows, hail, thunder or lightning.

How are clouds formed? The sun’s heat evaporates moisture at ground level. As it rises in the sky, this water vapour cools and condenses into water Short lived: Persistent Persistent droplets or ice crystals if very high. When they become too does not stay in non-spreading: spreading: heavy, they fall to the ground as snow, rain or hail. the sky very long stays in the sky a stays in the sky a long

long time time and widens

Always check the weather forecast before and during your trip. news.bbc.co.uk/weather/ www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/ outdoorhighlands.co.uk/greatglenway