List of Cloud Types - Cloud Classification Cirrus - Cirrostratus - Cirrocumulus -Altocumulus - Altostratus - Nimbostratus - Cumulonimbus - Stratocumulus

List of Cloud Types

What Are the Different Types of Clouds?

Altocumulus

Altocumulus clouds have several patchy white or gray layers, and seem to be made up of many small rows of fluffy ripples. They are lower than cirrus clouds, but still quite high. They are made of liquid water, but they don’t often produce rain.

altocumulus

Altostratus

Altostratus clouds are gray or blue-gray mid-level clouds composed of ice crystals and water droplets. The clouds usually cover the entire sky.

altostratus

Cirrus

Cirrus clouds are delicate, feathery clouds that are made mostly of ice crystals. Their wispy shape comes from wind currents which twist and spread the ice crystals into strands.

cirrus

Cirrostratus

Cirrostratus clouds are thin, white clouds that cover the whole sky like a veil. These clouds are most commonly seen in the winter, and can cause the appearance of a halo around the sun or the moon.

cirrostratus

Cirrocumulus

Cirrocumulus clouds are thin, sometimes patchy, sheet-like clouds. They sometimes look like they’re full of ripples or are made of small grains.

cirrocumulus

Cumulus

Cumulus clouds look like fluffy, white cotton balls in the sky. They are beautiful in sunsets, and their varying sizes and shapes can make them fun to observe!

cumulus

Cumulonimbus

Cumulonimbus clouds grow on hot days when warm, wet air rises very high into the sky. From far away, they look like huge mountains or towers.

cumulonimbus

Nimbostratus

Nimbostratus clouds are dark, gray clouds that seem to fade into falling rain or snow. They are so thick that they often blot out the sunlight.

nimbostratus

Stratocumulus

Stratocumulus clouds are patchy gray or white clouds that often have a dark honeycomb-like appearance.

stratocululus