The list of cloud types groups all genera as high (cirro-, cirrus), middle (alto-), multi-level (nimbo-, cumulo-, cumulus), and low (strato-, stratus). These groupings are determined by the altitude level or levels in the troposphere at which each of the various cloud types is normally found.

Apr 27, 2022 · Four common types are cumulus, stratus, nimbus, and cirrus. Alternatively, clouds get names from their height: high (cirrus or ciro-), middle (alto-), low (stratus, strato-), and multilevel (cumulus, cumulo-, nimbo-).

Mar 28, 2023 · From his Essay of the Modifications of Clouds (1803), Luke Howard divided clouds into three categories: cirrus, cumulus, and stratus, plus a fourth special type, nimbus. While clouds appear in infinite shapes and sizes, they fall into some basic forms.

Mar 11, 2025 · Altostratus clouds are "strato" type clouds (see below) that possess a flat and uniform type texture in the mid levels. They frequently indicate the approach of a warm front and may thicken and lower into stratus, then nimbostratus resulting in rain or snow.

May 3, 2024 · Altocumulus are often spotted on warm and humid mornings, especially during summer. They can signal thunderstorms to come later in the day. You may also see them ahead of cold fronts, in which case they signal the onset of cooler temperatures. Nimbostratus clouds cover the sky in a dark gray layer.

Aug 1, 2023 · Learn about the different types of clouds, how to identify them, and discover the weather they forecast in this comprehensive cloud guide.

Altostratus clouds are “strato” type clouds (see below) that possess a flat and uniform type texture in the mid levels. They frequently indicate the approach of a warm front and may thicken and lower into stratus, then nimbostratus resulting in rain or snow.

Mar 28, 2023 · Altocumulus (Ac), altostratus (As), and nimbostratus (Ns) are mid-level clouds composed primarily of water droplets. However, they can be composed of ice crystals when temperatures are low enough. In Latin, alto means 'high' yet altostratus and altocumulus clouds are classified as mid-level clouds.

At the completion of this section, you should be able to name and describe the three basic cloud types (cirrus, stratus, and cumulus). You should also be able to describe the meaning of the prefixes cirro, alto, cumulo, and nimbo (and the suffix …

Further classification identifies clouds by height of cloud base. For example, cloud names containing the prefix "cirr-", as in cirrus clouds, are located at high levels while cloud names with the prefix "alto-", as in altostratus, are found at middle levels.