Today, 10 basic cloud forms are recognized, all of which owe a debt to Howard's nomenclature. Some are low-level clouds that exist below 6,500 feet, such as cumulus, stratus, and stratocumulus.

There are three mid-level clouds named Altocumulus, Altostratus, and Nimbostratus. Mid-level clouds are generally composed of water droplets, but they can be made of ice crystals when the ...

Altostratus clouds are gray and usually cover the whole sky. Nimbostratus clouds are dark and produce rain or snow. Low level clouds are found less than 7,000 feet.

Nimbostratus: Thick, dark clouds often associated with steady, all-day rain or snow. They can extend from low to mid-levels of the atmosphere.

Nimbostratus clouds are similar, but higher in the atmosphere. They are thick enough to block sunlight completely, and cause more rain and snow than stratus clouds.

The sky may have caught your attention recently with some uncommon clouds over our area, making it a great time to learn the difference between many types of clouds.

2. The pre-fix "alto" refers to mid-level clouds, but nimbostratus clouds also tend to stay in the mid-levels, not too close to the surface, and not high enough to be composed purely of ice. 3.

There are 10 different types of clouds that can indicate a variety of weather conditions headed into the area. Nimbostratus and stratus clouds indicate moisture is coming, or already here.

Clouds are made of ice particles and water droplets and are suspended in the atmosphere. While cumulus, cirrus, and stratus clouds are most common, some clouds have unique names or are a blend of ...

Today, 10 basic cloud forms are recognized, all of which owe a debt to Howard's nomenclature. Some are low-level clouds that exist below 6,500 feet, such as cumulus, stratus, and stratocumulus.