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High clouds |
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Cirrus (Ci) |
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Cirrostratus (Cs) |
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Cirrocummulus (Cc) |
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Middle clouds |
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Altostratus (As) |
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Altocummulus (Ac) |
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Low clouds |
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Stratus (St) |
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Stratocummulus (Sc) |
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Nimbostratus |
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Clouds with vertical development |
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Cummulus (Cu) |
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Cummulonimbus (Cb) |
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Wispy clouds blown by the wind into long
streamers |
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Generally point to fair weather |
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Like other high clouds composed largely of ice
crystals |
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Small rounded white puffs which occur
individually or in rows |
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Seldom cover the entire sky |
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Thin sheets of clouds |
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Often cover entire sky |
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Sun and moon visible through them |
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Gray and puffy, sometimes in parallel bands |
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May indicate later thunderstorms |
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Composed mostly of water droplets and some ice,
depending on temperature |
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Gray or blue-gray cloud |
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Often covers entire sky |
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Composed of ice and water |
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Dark gray cloudy layer |
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Continuous light to moderate rain or snow |
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Low lumpy clouds with blue sky visible between
them |
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Uniform grey cloud that covers the entire
horizon |
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Usually no precipitation, but may be mist or
drizzle |
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Looks like floating cotton with a flat base |
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Blue sky visible between them |
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Thunderstorm cloud |
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Large vertical extent, e.g., 600m - 10,000m |
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Isolated or part of a line of clouds |
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Clouds are classified by height and vertical
structure into four groups. |
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There are ten basic cloud types, which you
should know. |
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