The sky speaks…

 The sky speaks… and clouds are its language!

Observing the type of cloud can reveal a lot about the climate and even anticipate changes in the weather. They form when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into tiny droplets or ice crystals. The height of the base, shape, and color are important clues to identify each type:

Cumulus – Isolated clouds with a flat base and well-defined contours. White when illuminated by the sun, they bring good weather, but can also cause brief showers. Formed by water droplets with ice crystals on top.

Congestus – Imposing in shape and with a protruding top, they show great vertical development. They indicate strong instability and often precede storms.

Cumulonimbus – Veritable mountains in the sky, with an anvil-shaped top. Dark, laden with water and hail, they are responsible for severe storms with lightning and thunder.

Altostratus – Like a gray or bluish sheet, they sometimes allow the sun to peek through thinner spots. Formed by raindrops and ice crystals, they indicate changes in the weather.

Altocumulus – Fibrous rolls or sheets, gray or white, with their own shadows. They reveal parts of the sky and rarely contain ice crystals.

Cirrus – Thin, silky, and formed only by ice crystals. They appear to converge on the horizon and can arise from the evolution of the top of a cumulonimbus. They often herald climate change.