Weathering Clouds

• Clouds form when water vapor condenses into tiny water droplets or ice crystals.

• After clouds form, the tiny water droplets or ice crystals keep combining.

• When the water drops or ice crystals become too heavy, they fall to Earth as a form of precipitation.

All precipitation comes from clouds, but not all clouds make precipitation.

• They all form in the same way

• They all have different shapes

• They all have different heights in the sky.

• They are all related to a certain type of weather.

Stratus Clouds

• Form at a low or medium elevation

• Spread out over large areas

• Layered, they look like a gray sheet covering the sky!

• If they become thicker, they can produce rain or snow

Cumulus Clouds

• Form at low or medium elevations

• Puffy, white clouds with flat bottoms

• Seen during fair weather

• When they become darker, it could mean rain or a thunderstorm is coming!

Cumulonimbus Clouds

• These are cumulus clouds that have grown very tall

• Usually occur on hot, sunny days

• Also called thunderheads, because they usually bring thunderstorms and gusty winds

Cirrus Clouds

• Form at high elevations, more than 3 miles up where it is VERY cold!

• Formed from ice crystals

• Thin, wispy clouds that can look like streamers or feathers

• Seen during fair weather

• Signal an approaching warm front

​Another type of cirrus cloud is called a cirrus uncinus cloud.

• ​The clouds occur at very high altitudes.

• ​They are also known as mares tail because of their likeness to horse tails.