
Cloud Names & Types ☁️
Cloud Names List ☁️ Cloud Types, Groups & Cloud Formations 🌩️
The cloud names and types in use today date back to a book titled The Modifications of Clouds written in 1802 by amateur meteorologist Luke Howard who used latin words for the main cloud types; cirrus, stratus and cumulus. These were expanded to 10 cloud names and types, called genera which are still in use today, with some extensions by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
- ADDucation’s cloud names List was compiled by A C, last updated .
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Key: CH=High clouds | CM=Medium clouds | CL=Low clouds
Cloud Names ☁️ | Cloud Level: | Height (ft) | Height (m) | Description of Cloud Types for Cloud Spotters: |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cirrus | CH | 20,000+ | 6000+ | Fine, wispy thin clouds made of ice crystals instead of water, which gives them their appearance. |
Cirrostratus | CH | 20,000+ | 6000+ | Sheet-like clouds made of ice crystals that can cover the entire sky. |
Cirrocumulus | CH | 20,000+ | 6000+ | Small, white clouds that look like fish scales lined up in a regular pattern, like small ripples. Sometimes called “Mackerel sky” for this reason. Called Schaefchenwolken in German which means “little sheep clouds”. |
Altocumulus | CM | 6000-20,000 | 2000-6000 | Gray fleecy clouds. |
Altostratus | CM | 6000-20,000 | 2000-6000 | Thin gray layers of clouds that sometimes bring rain. |
Nimbostratus | CM | 6000-20,000 | 2000-6000 | Mostly uniformly dark gray clouds with light to moderate precipitation (rain). |
Stratus | CL | 6500- | 2000- | Gray, low-hanging rain clouds. |
Cumulus | CL | 6500- | 2000- | Fair-weather clouds, cotton ball shaped with flattish bottoms. |
Cumulonimbus | CL | 6500- | 2000- | Cumulonimbus can start near the ground but also grow to over 50,000 feet! |
Stratocumulus | CL | 6500- | 2000- | Common lumpy white to dark gray clouds clumped together as a layer, often accompanied by light rain. |
See also: Geographical Records… | How weather works…
Prefixes and Suffixes for Cloud Names
Cloud names often include a Latin prefix or suffix. These are the most commonly used with their meaning:
Cloud Types | Translation | Description |
---|---|---|
Cirrus | Curl of hair | High up and wispy |
Cirro | Curl of hair | High up and wispy |
Cumulus | Heap | Puffy |
Cumulo | Heap-like | Puffy |
Nimbus | Rain | Rain-bearing |
Nimbo | Rain-bearing | Rain-bearing |
Stratus | Layer | Flat and smooth |
Strato | Layer-like | Flat and smooth |

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