Clouds

Revised and edited by Tracy Sikes, Mount Bethel Elementary

How do clouds form?
When water vapor in the air becomes liquid
water or ice crystals.

Condensation
When the water vapor reaches the
high cool air, it turns into water
drops that form the clouds.
This is condensation and is part of
the water cycle.

TYPES OF CLOUDS
There are many types of clouds.
Clouds are classified by:
1. Their color
2. Their shape and size
3. Where they form in the
atmosphere.

STRATUS
Sheets of low, grey clouds that bring light
snow, rain, or drizzle.

FOG
A cloud in contact with the ground. Fog is a
type of Stratus cloud.

NIMBOSTRATUS
Thicker layer than stratus clouds that
completely block out the sun. They cause
steady rain or snow.

CUMULUS

White and puffy clouds that usually
mean good weather.

CUMULUS
Cumulus clouds are fun to watch.
People often see “pictures” in the
sky made by Cumulus clouds.

CUMULONIMBUS
Dark, towering clouds that are also called
“thunderheads”. These clouds produce
heavy rain, thunder, and lighting.

CUMULONIMBUS
Often referred to as Nimbus.

CIRRUS
Thin, featherlike clouds that are made of ice
crystals high in the atmosphere. Usually means a
change in the weather is coming.

CIRRUS CLOUDS

What does the color of a
cloud tell you?
The color of a cloud lets you know
how much water it contains.
White clouds have little water.
Dark clouds usually mean
heavy rain.
Grey clouds can mean
snow or rain.

Where do clouds
form?
Clouds form along weather fronts.