What Kind of Cloudy Is It?
Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff 
Clouds are little drops of water or ice hanging in the atmosphere. A ceilometer measures the height of clouds.
| Cloud | Descriptive Name | Height | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cirrus | Mare's tails | 4 miles + | thin, feathery |
| Cirrocumulus | Mackerel sky | 4 miles + | small patches of white |
| Cirrostratus | Bedsheet clouds | 4 miles + | thin, white sheets |
| Stratus* | High fogs | 0-1 mile | low, gray blanket |
| Cumulus | Cauliflowers | 1/4-4 miles | flat-bottomed, white puffy |
| Cumulonimbus* | Thunderheads | 1/4-4 miles | mountains of heavy, dark clouds |
| *Indicates rain or snow clouds | |||
