The OPAL Cloud Guide

High clouds

Cirrocumulus Cirrus Cirrostratus

Use the
Medium clouds

photographs on this
side and the table
overleaf
to help you
identify the clouds
in the sky

Altocumulus Altostratus
Low clouds

Cumulus Stratocumulus Stratus

Rainy clouds

Cumulonimbus Nimbostratus

Cloud chart 13Jan2011.indd 1 18/01/2011 09:13:47

 To help identify the type of cloud in the sky, ask yourself these questions

1 Is the base of the cloud high, medium or low? (left-hand column of the table below)
2 Is the cloud flat with few features, is it bubbly, or does it have some other sort of structure?
(select from descriptions in top row)
3 Is rain falling or does it seem likely to fall? (select from lowest row)

Then use the table below, and photographs overleaf, to identify it.

Cloud Bubbly Other sort of Flat with few

base appearance structure features
Cirrocumulus Cirrus Cirrostratus
Above 6000 metres

Not a common type. Sometimes delicate, A veil of white thin

Sometimes dappled hair-like strands. cloud. Sun clearly
HIGH

or rippled. Sun visible. Sometimes thicker visible with shadows.

blobs. Often with halo.

Altocumulus Altostratus
Below 2000 metres 2000 to 6000 metres

Broken into small flat Thicker than

MEDIUM

clouds, often regularly cirrostratus; sun

arranged. No rain or visible as disc. No
snow. shadows or halo.

Cumulus Stratocumulus Stratus

Small cumulus have Common. Sometimes Grey, flat and boring,
cotton wool shape. covering whole sky, no sun visible. Drizzle
LOW

Often grow to bunch sometimes more like may fall. Called hill fog
together. No rain. flattened cumulus. on high ground.

Cumulonimbus Nimbostratus
Cumulus grown tall Thick dark stratus,
Rain falling

and dark. Showers giving rain which

LOW

likely. Top can be is often heavy and

very high, sometimes prolonged. Difficult to
feathery or flat. photograph.

Written by Geoff Jenkins. All photographs (except Cumulonimbus) are © Geoff Jenkins 2011. Cumulonimbus photograph
is © Steve Robson 2011.

Cloud chart 13Jan2011.indd 2 18/01/2011 09:13:47