High Clouds
(bases starting at an average
of 20,000 feet)
Cirrus: Thin feather-like crystal
clouds.
Cirrocumulus:
Thin clouds that appear as small "cotton patches."
Cirrostratus:
Thin white clouds that resemble veils.
Middle Clouds
(bases starting at about
10,000
feet)
Altocumulus:
Gray or white layer or patches of solid clouds with rounded shapes.
Altostratus:
Grayish or bluish layer of clouds that can obscure the Sun.
Low Clouds
(bases starting near Earth's
surface to 6,500 feet)
Stratus:
Thin, gray sheet-like clouds with low bases; may bring drizzle and
snow.
Stratocumulus: Rounded cloud masses
that form on top of a layer.
Nimbostratus:
Dark, gray shapeless cloud layers containing rain, snow, and ice
pellets.
Clouds with
Vertical
Development
(high
clouds that form at almost any altitude and reach up to 14,000 feet)
Cumulus: Fair-weather clouds
with flat bases and dome shaped tops.
Cumulonimbus:
Large, dark, vertical clouds with bulging tops that bring showers,
thunder, and lightning.
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