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Cloud Types and Classification
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Cirrus
High-altitude clouds, typically above 20,000 feet. Thin and wispy, they indicate fair weather but can signal approaching fronts or storms when they thicken.
Cumulus
Mid-altitude clouds, generally between 2,000 and 7,000 feet. Dense and fluffy with a flat base, they signify fair weather but can develop into cumulonimbus, suggesting thunderstorms.
Stratus
Low-altitude clouds, typically below 2,000 feet. Layered and uniform, these clouds often cover the sky like a blanket, leading to overcast conditions and drizzle.
Cumulonimbus
Towering clouds, extending from a few thousand feet above the surface to more than 50,000 feet. Indicative of severe weather like thunderstorms, hail, or tornadoes.
Altostratus
Mid-altitude clouds, usually between 7,000 and 20,000 feet. They create a uniform white to grayish sheet covering the sky, often preceding steady rain or snow.
Altocumulus
Mid-level clouds, typically between 7,000 and 20,000 feet. They appear as greyish-white with one part darker than the other, often forming in rows or patches and may signal thunderstorms if they thicken.
Stratocumulus
Relatively low-altitude clouds, commonly found below 7,000 feet. Large, dark, and rounded, they are non-threatening and may not bring significant precipitation.
Nimbostratus
Dark, thick, low to mid-level clouds, often extending below 7,000 feet. They cover the sky in a uniform layer and are associated with continuous moderate to heavy precipitation.
Cirrostratus
High-altitude clouds, generally above 20,000 feet. These thin clouds cover the sky with a veil and often produce a halo effect around the sun or moon, indicating an approaching warm front and precipitation.
Cirrocumulus
High-altitude clouds, normally above 20,000 feet. Small, white patches, often arranged in rows, these clouds are rare and do not usually produce precipitation, indicating fair but cold weather.
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