Video narration
Have you looked up from a playground, window, or walk and wondered why clouds have strange names and what they say about the weather? Sort them first by height: high, middle, low-and towering clouds that can cross several levels. Now read the shapes. Cirrus are high, thin, wispy streaks, often made of ice crystals. Cumulus are usually lower, puffy clouds with flat bottoms, common on sunny days. Stratus are low, smooth layers that can bring fog, mist, or drizzle. The names aren't random: they are clues to height and shape. When clouds build tall, dark, and dense, they're cumulonimbus-storm clouds linked with heavy rain, lightning, and sometimes hail. So, on your next walk, look for wispy, puffy, flat, or towering. That's your quick sky map: cirrus, cumulus, stratus, and cumulonimbus each suggest a different kind of weather, though none guarantees a forecast.