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Clouds are given different names based on their shape and their height in the sky. Some clouds are puffy like cotton while others are grey and uniform. Some clouds are near the ground, while others are near the top of the troposphere. The diagram on the right shows where different types of clouds are located in the sky.

How Are Clouds Classified?

Most clouds can be divided into groups (high/middle/low) based on the height of the cloud's base above the Earth's surface. Other clouds are grouped not by their height, but by their unique characteristics, such as those that form over mountains ( lenticular clouds) or beneath existing clouds ( mammatus clouds).

The table below provides information about cloud groups and any cloud types associated with them. Click on the cloud images in the table to learn more about each cloud type.

*Cloud heights in the table above are for the mid-latitudes. In the polar regions, the top of the troposphere is lower, so clouds are lower. In the tropics, the top of the troposphere is higher, so clouds are higher. A few other clouds are found in higher layers of the atmosphere. Polar stratospheric clouds are located in a layer of the atmosphere called the stratosphere. Polar mesospheric clouds, which are also called noctilucent clouds, are located in the atmospheric layer called the mesosphere.

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Clouds are given different names based on their shape and their height in the sky. Learn about each cloud type and how they are grouped.

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https://coolscienceexperimentshq.com/make-a-cloud-form-in-a-jar/

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US Dept of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service Owlie Skywarn 1325 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 Comments? Questions? Please Contact Us.

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If you're a regular viewer of weather broadcasts, you've probably heard this from a TV meteorologist: "overcast conditions are expected as a warm front approaches from the south." Or: "showers and thunderstorms will occur today as a cold front slides through the region." Usually, when a front approaches, cloudy skies along with precipitation are associated with it. But have you ever wondered how these weather fronts tick?

Basically, a weather front represents a boundary between two different air masses, such as warm and cold air. If cold air is advancing into warm air, a cold front is present. On the other hand, if a cold air mass is retreating and warm air is advancing, a warm front exists. Otherwise, a stationary front is present if the cold air is neither advancing nor retreating from the warm air mass.
Low Pressure System Graphic Courtesy of NOAA.
In a cold front set-up, the boundary between the cold and warm air masses is relatively steep (see below), typically causing the warm air in front of it to rise rapidly. This rising air creates energetic, billowing cumulonimbus clouds leading to showers and thunderstorms. After the cold front passes, skies typically clear rapidly and temperatures cool due to the advancing cool air.
Cold and Warm Front Schematics courtesy of NOAA.
With a warm front, boundary between warm and cold air is more gradual than that of a cold front, which allows warm air to slowly rise and clouds to spread out into gloomy, overcast stratus clouds. Precipitation ahead of a warm front typically forms into a large shield of steady rain or snow. After the warm front passes, fair and milder weather is typical, however, a cold front is likely not far behind.

A front's strength can be assessed by the difference in temperatures between the two air masses or temperature gradient. Basically, the larger the temperature gradient (as in 30s on one side and 60s on the other) the stronger the front is (example of a strong front above). Of course, a stronger front leads to a greater potential of precipitation, while a weak front may only bring a few clouds, a decrease in humidity, and/or a shift in winds. Fronts are also associated with low pressure systems, which you can learn more about here.

Learning about weather is fun! And now, you can listen to weather discussions and topics in The Weather Lounge, a new podcast with meteorologists and hosts Brad Miller and Mike Mihalik. Listen here:

You can always find more weather information from us on Facebook and Twitter.

Also be sure to check out our YouTube Channel for weekly weather updates.

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Find out how fronts work and what weather to expect.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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My goal is to help you make science fun, easy to teach and exciting to learn.

I founded Cool Science Experiments Headquarters in 2015 to share the wonder of science with classrooms across the world. Our experiments and resources are specifically created with teachers in mind, and help to engage and inspire students.

Learn more about me and Cool Science Experiment Headquarters HERE.

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Making Science Fun, Easy to Teach and Exciting to Learn!

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Kidtopia--a Google custom safe search engine for elementary age students

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Kidtopia is a Google custom student safe search engine for preschool and elementary students, indexing only educator approved web sites.

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Need help while kids are at home with you? Check out our lessons, games, and videos to keep them engaged in science. Click on the link or thumbnail below to get things started.
Note: These activities can be completed at home, but please be sure to follow the latest social-distancing and other health safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and your local health authorities.
Quick links:

NWS Education
Learn all about weather science and safety at weather.gov/owlie/, with lots of weather resources and activities!

Everything you've ever wanted to know about weather is at your fingertips! Check out JetStream, the NWS Online School for Weather, at weather.gov/jetstream/ to explore experiments, science-based lessons, and everything from the atmosphere to tornadoes to hurricanes.

View pre-recorded webinars that hurricane specialists from the National Hurricane Center presented to an audience of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.
https://www.youtube.com/user/NWSNHC

Be a Force of Nature! Keep you and your family safe during every season! Learn about the weather hazards in your area and how to stay safe. http://www.weather.gov/safetycampaign

Do you love the weather? Interested in actually participating in science? Well, citizen science may be for you! Check out the opportunities to report weather observations. http://www.weather.gov/media/wrn/citizen_science_page.pdf

Explore a wide range of topical material, from the atmosphere to the oceans! Materials are organized by themes, collections, and content types. Linked resources are organized into collections with a toolkit of materials and activities. https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections

NOAA Data in the Classroom

Data in the Classroom from NOAA allows students to use real-time data to explore today's most pressing environmental issues and develop problem-solving skills employed by scientists. Access online and classroom-ready curriculum activities with easy-to-use data exploration tools.
dataintheclassroom.noaa.gov/

Check out satellite imagery, surface observations, and model outputs from around the world at your fingertips. The Science on a Sphere Explorer (SOSx) enables an exhibit-quality replication of the Science on a Sphere to be shown on a classroom flat screen. sos.noaa.gov/SOS_Explorer/

Check out SciJinks to find fun games, exciting videos, and more! Make weather and Earth science fun and adventurous!
https://scijinks.gov/

Severe weather can be scary sometimes, but also exciting! This area of meteorology is also not limited to just tornadoes. Scientists at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) provide all you need to know about thunderstorms, lightning, floods, hail, and more at
https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/

The MetEd website provides education and training resources to benefit the operational forecaster community, university atmospheric scientists and students, and anyone interested in learning more about meteorology, weather forecasting, and related geoscience topics! Check out these free training courses and resources at multiple skill levels!
https://www.meted.ucar.edu/index.php

Science and information for a climate smart nation.
https://www.climate.gov/teaching

Check out games.noaa.gov/welcome.html to find interactive games and activities focused on ocean and air themes!

Put your new knowledge to the test! Check out Weather Lab from the Smithsonian Science Education Center to try out forecasting weather over North America! https://ssec.si.edu/weather-lab

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Need help while kids are at home with you? Check out our lessons, games, and videos to keep them engaged in science. Click on the link or thumbnail below to get things started.

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Kids learn more about the science of the weather. Sunshine, rain, snow, cold, hot, and windy.