See a strange looking cloud? Here’s what each cloud can mean

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – Have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered, “What kind of clouds are those?” Sometimes, they look like little fluffy blobs; other times, they tower like skyscrapers, or maybe the sky has this white, hazy look with wispy clouds scattered around.

While there are 10 basic types of clouds, many more don’t quite fit the norm—and some are pretty rare! Clouds are also grouped by height, and there are three categories: High Clouds (16,500-45,000 feet), Mid-level Clouds (6,500-23,000 feet), and Low Clouds (below 6,500 feet). Then, we have “special clouds,” the more unique ones that don’t fit neatly into these height categories.

High Clouds (16,500-45,000 feet)

These clouds form high up in the atmosphere, and you’ll usually find the Cirrus cloud family here. These clouds are thin, wispy, and often look like strands of cotton candy. Within the cirrus group, we have Cirrus , Cirrostratus , and Cirrocumulus . When you see “cirro” in the name, you look at a high-altitude cloud. These clouds can even predict a change in weather, which is valid for clouds at all levels.

• Cirrus clouds are delicate and feathery, made mostly of ice crystals. Fast winds twist the ice crystals into strands, giving them a wispy shape. They usually mean a change in the weather is coming soon.
• Cirrostratus clouds are thin but cover the whole sky, almost like a veil. When you see them, you may also notice a halo around the sun or moon, indicating rain or snow is coming in about 24 hours.
• Cirrocumulus clouds are thin and patchy, sometimes looking like ripples or little grains. They usually mean fair but cold weather, but if you’re in the tropics, they might warn of an approaching hurricane.

Mid-Level Clouds (6,500-23,000 feet)

These clouds are often gray and shapeless and can bring rain. They are generally attached to the prefix alto, which means middle altitude. Nimbostratus is not included in this name group but is considered a mid-level cloud, allowing it to remain in the group.

• Altocumulus clouds are common at this level, and they sometimes create what’s called a “mackerel sky.” These clouds form in patchy layers, often lined up in rows, and while they’re made of liquid water, they don’t usually bring rain.

• Altostratus clouds are gray or blue-gray, and they cover the sky completely. They’re composed of many water droplets and ice crystals, which usually means that steady rain or snow is coming.
• Nimbostratus clouds are thick, dark, and gray, fading into rain or snow as they grow heavier. These clouds are so dense they often block out the sun, bringing gloomy conditions with continuous precipitation.

Low Clouds (Below 6,500 feet)

Low clouds are the ones we tend to see most often, especially in warmer climates. These clouds lie at lower altitudes and are mostly comprised of water droplets. Although, if theses clouds occur when it is cold enough, they can be comprised of ice particles and even snow.

• Cumulus clouds are probably the ones you notice on a daily basis, especially during the summer—big, fluffy cotton balls that sometimes look like fun shapes. These clouds usually indicate fair weather and can create beautiful sunsets.

• Stratus clouds look like thin white sheets covering the whole sky, and while they don’t usually bring rain, they can show up as fog if you’re in higher elevations.
• Cumulonimbus clouds are the giants of the sky, towering high and signaling thunderstorms. These are the clouds you can see from miles away, often forming on hot days when warm, moist air rises rapidly. They predict heavy rain, hail, and sometimes even tornadoes.
• Stratocumulus clouds are patchy and often have a honeycomb-like appearance. They usually mean fair weather for now, but they might be a warning of a storm ahead.

Special Clouds

Finally, we have the more unusual clouds that don’t fit into the 3 cloud groups as they have special characteristics about them. These are not the only types of special clouds that occur but are more notable ones that we may see depending on or location but other clouds such as wall clouds, shelf clouds, and fractus clouds are included in this category.

• Contrails are streaks in the sky left by planes. Even though they don’t predict weather, they do tell us something about the moisture levels up in the atmosphere. NOAA has a cool simulation here . You can use this simulation to play around with the atmospheric conditions and see what the best conditions are for contrails to form behind planes!
• Mammatus clouds have these pouch-like shapes hanging down from the sky, and they show up when cold air sinks within the cloud. If you see these, it means severe weather is likely on the way.
• Orographic clouds get their shape from mountains or hills, where air is forced to move up and around the terrain. They’re often a sign that conditions might be right for afternoon storms.
• Lenticular clouds are often form over tall mountains. They look like lenses or flying saucers, These don’t really predict the weather.

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