​FAMILIAR CLOUDS

​As part of the water cycle on Earth, water can fall from the sky as precipitation. There are four forms of precipitation: rain, snow, sleet, and hail. All precipitation falls from clouds.

​1. CIRRUS

​2. STRATUS

​3. CUMULUS

​4. CUMULONIMBUS

​I. There are four types of clouds you should be familiar with:
---cumulus, cumulonimbus, stratus, and cirrus.

1. Cumulus clouds are the puffy white cotton ball clouds you see outside on most days.
- These clouds do not bring precipitation, but they can grow large enough to become darker, taller cumulonimbus clouds.
2. Cumulonimbus clouds are often called thunderheads.
3. Stratus cloud are layers of low clouds that cover the entire sky: these are the kinds of clouds that can bring all-day steady rains.
4. Cirrus clouds are high, wispy clouds. These clouds do not bring precipitation.

​High cirrus clouds look like wisps of hair blowing across the sky. Cirrus clouds do not bring precipitation but can mean that precipitation is on the way.

​Stratus clouds cover the sky in layers. Stratus clouds can bring all-day rain or snow.

​Cumulus clouds are fluffy white fair-weather clouds.

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Cumulonimbus clouds are tall thunderclouds rising high in the atmosphere bringing stormy wind and rain.