Photo: NOAA
Cumulonimbus
Clouds, along with wind, are two of the most important factors in local conditions that can be used for short-period weather forecasting.
The way the boater uses clouds is to record their appearance in a weather log every three hours, then determine, based on the change in logged conditions, what the clouds tell about local weather. This cumulonimbus cloud takes up a large range of the troposphere and can signal precipitation accompanied by lightning.
Stratus
Stratus clouds are low in height, below 6,500 feet and layered in appearance.
The name comes from the Latin word strato, meaning “layered.”
Photo: Simon Eugster
Altostratus
Altostratus clouds are midheight—from 6,500 to 18,000 feet—and appear layered.
The name is derived from the Latin words strato (layered) and alto, meaning “middle.”
