What are Cirrus Clouds?

About Cirrus Clouds:

• They are delicate, feathery clouds that are made mostly of ice crystals.
• They are thin and wispy in appearance, often appearing as delicate, high-altitude filaments or strands.
• Their wispy shape comes from wind currents, which twist and spread the ice crystals into strands.
• They are usually white or have a light grey colour. In the daytime, they are whiter than any other cloud in the sky.
• They are commonly known as "mare's tails" because they are shaped like the tail of a horse. 
• Typically found at heights greater than 20,000 feet (6,000 metres), cirrus clouds are composed of ice crystals that originate from the freezing of supercooled water droplets.
• They generally occur in fair weather and point in the direction of air movement at their elevation.

Other Main Cloud Types:

• Cumulus clouds:
  • They are puffy clouds that look like puffs of cotton with a distinct white or light grey appearance.
  • They have a relatively short life cycle. They form, grow, and dissipate relatively quickly under stable atmospheric conditions.
  • Cumulus clouds that do not get very tall are indicators of fair weather. If they do grow tall, they can turn into thunderstorms.
  • The bottom of cumulus clouds are fairly close to the ground.
• Stratus clouds:
  • They are low-level cloud formations that are characterised by their uniform and featureless appearance.
  • They look like flat sheets of clouds.
  • They typically cover the sky like a continuous, greyish or whitish blanket and are often associated with overcast or cloudy weather conditions.
  • They may stay in one place for several days.
  • They form at altitudes below 6,500 feet (2,000 metres) above sea level.

What is a thunderstorm?

• A thunderstorm is a weather phenomenon characterised by the occurrence of lightning, thunder, heavy rain, and sometimes strong winds or hail.
• It is a type of storm that develops when warm, moist air rises rapidly in an unstable atmosphere. It is the result of convection.
• Thunderstorms can vary in intensity, size, and duration, ranging from isolated, short-lived events to long-lasting, widespread systems.