Weather

Uncle Mike's Tips

nacreous		Mother of pearl clouds found very high over mountains, usually lit by sunlight.
noctilucent		Very high bluish clouds, probably cosmic dust. Normally only seen in high latitudes.

NAME	HEIGHT	DESCRIPTION	REMARKS
stratus	0-1500ft	Whitish, grey layer, often covering hills.	May give drizzle.
cumulonimbus	1500-6500ft	Huge towers of heavy dense clouds. The tops are flat, usually spreading.	Often bring showers and thunder.
cumulus	1500-6500ft	Detached dense clouds with sharp outlines and rising domes, mounds or towers.	Associated with sunny weather and scattered showers.
stratocumulus	1500-6500ft	Grey or white rolling patches or sheets.	Bring dull weather, sometimes with drizzle.
nimbostratus	3000-10000ft	Dark grey cloud layer, usually diffused by rain or snow.	Ragged patches of stratus may occur below the layer.
altostratus	3000-10000ft	Flat, thick blue-grey sheet.	Indicates rain or snow if associated with cirrostratus.
altocumulus	6500-23000ft	White or grey rounded clouds,	Usually break up leaving good weather.
cirrostratus	16500-45000ft	A transparent milky veil which can be fibrous or smooth.	Indicates rain later.
cirrocumulus	16500-45000ft	Thin rippled sheets of rounded clouds.	Form on the edge of unsettled weather.
cirrus	16500-45000ft	Fibrous or hairlike clouds with a silky sheen.	An indication of bad weather to follow with strong winds at the cloud level.