© Lorem ipsum dolor sit Nulla in mollit pariatur in, est ut dolor eu eiusmod lorem 2014
Weather Glossary
Cloud Types
High Level Clouds, Cirrus, Cirrustratus, Cirrocumulus
Cirrus is a high level cloud typically between 18,000 to 24,000ft above ground. The appearance is white
wispy cloud during the day with a white sheen. During early morning or during the evening they tend to
take on the color of the sunset or sunrise. Cirrus are also known as Mares Tales. The shape of the Cirrus
cloud follow the flow of the air.
Cirrocumulus are high level cloud-lets which group together at high levels typically between 20,000ft to
40,000ft. They are composed of mostly of ice often forming ripples but unlike other some other cloud
types don’t have any shading. They are also fairly rare.
Cirrostratus are another high level cloud which are transparent and often the only indication of their
presence is a halo around the sun or moon. They cover large areas of the sky and can be fibrous or
smooth in nature. Unlike Nimbus stratus when the sun shines through them a shadow will still be cast.
These high level clouds tend to be found between 18,000 and 24,000fT.
© Lorem ipsum dolor sit Nulla in mollit pariatur in, est ut dolor eu eiusmod lorem 2014
Weather Glossary
Cloud Types
High Level Clouds, Cirrus, Cirrustratus, Cirrocumulus
Cirrus is a high level cloud typically between 18,000 to 24,000ft above ground. The appearance is
white wispy cloud during the day with a white sheen. During early morning or during the evening
they tend to take on the color of the sunset or sunrise. Cirrus are also known as Mares Tales.
The shape of the Cirrus cloud follow the flow of the air.
Cirrocumulus are high level cloud-lets which group together at high levels typically between
20,000ft to 40,000ft. They are composed of mostly of ice often forming ripples but unlike other
some other cloud types don’t have any shading. They are also fairly rare.
Cirrostratus are another high level cloud which are transparent and often the only indication of
their presence is a halo around the sun or moon. They cover large areas of the sky and can be
fibrous or smooth in nature. Unlike Nimbus stratus when the sun shines through them a
shadow will still be cast. These high level clouds tend to be found between 18,000 and 24,000fT.
© Lorem ipsum dolor sit Nulla in mollit pariatur in, est ut
dolor eu eiusmod lorem 2014
Weather Glossary
Cloud Types
High Level Clouds, Cirrus, Cirrustratus,
Cirrocumulus
Cirrus is a high level cloud typically between 18,000 to 24,000ft above
ground. The appearance is white wispy cloud during the day with a white
sheen. During early morning or during the evening they tend to take on
the color of the sunset or sunrise. Cirrus are also known as Mares Tales.
The shape of the Cirrus cloud follow the flow of the air.
Picture by J T Groocock
Cirrocumulus are high level cloud-lets which group together at high
levels typically between 20,000ft to 40,000ft. They are composed of
mostly of ice often forming ripples but unlike other some other cloud
types don’t have any shading. They are also fairly rare.
Picture courtesy of the Met Office taken by Jane Corey
Cirrostratus are another high level cloud which are transparent and
often the only indication of their presence is a halo around the sun or
moon. They cover large areas of the sky and can be fibrous or smooth in
nature. Unlike Nimbus stratus when the sun shines through them a
shadow will still be cast. These high level clouds tend to be found
between 18,000 and 24,000fT.
Picture courtesy of the Met Office taken by Matthew Clark
