Types of Clouds and Their Weather Clues

1. High-Level Clouds (5–13 km / ~16,500–40,000 ft)

• Cirrus: Thin, wispy formations made of ice crystals. Often signal an approaching change in weather, like a warm front.

• Cirrostratus & Cirrocumulus: Cirrostratus appears as a sky-wide veil, often producing a halo around the sun or moon - typically seen 12–24 hours before rain. Cirrocumulus, with its “mackerel sky” texture, may hint at a storm in tropical regions. 

2. Mid-Level Clouds (2–7 km / ~6,500–23,000 ft)

• Altostratus: Gray-blue sheets frequently signaling continuous rain or snow ahead. 

• Altocumulus: Layered and patchy, these clouds indicate fair weather but can also suggest thunderstorms later, especially on warm mornings. 

3. Low-Level Clouds (<2 km / <6,500 ft)

• Stratus: Uniform, gray layers covering the sky that may bring drizzle or light rain. 

• Stratocumulus: Layered yet chunky - these clouds often provide overcast skies with occasional drizzle, and they reflect sunlight, causing cooling below. 

4. Vertical and Precipitation Clouds

• Cumulus: Puffy, cotton-like clouds. Small ones mean fair weather; when they grow tall, they can become storm-producing cumulonimbus. 

• Nimbostratus: Thick, dark clouds that block sunlight. Expect steady rain or snow without thunder. 

5. Special Cloud Features

• Mammatus Clouds: Look like pouches hanging from cloud bases. Often appear near severe storms and indicate atmospheric instability. 

• Noctilucent Clouds: The highest in our atmosphere (~76 km up), these luminous evening clouds are made of ice crystals and glow after sunset.

  Why Clouds Matter?

  Cloud spotting is more than just sky-gazing - it's a time-tested method of predicting weather. From ancient Babylonian and Aristotelian observations to modern meteorology, recognizing cloud patterns remains a reliable and accessible way to forecast short-term weather.