Met Office

Clouds

Find out more about the clouds in the sky including what clouds are made of and the different types of clouds.

  • How do clouds form?

    What are clouds?

    Interested in weather observations? Find out about cloud formation and what clouds are made of.

  • Cloud spotting guide

    Cloud spotting guide

    Use our cloud spotting guide and video to help identify different types of clouds in the sky.

  • Low-level clouds

    Low-level clouds

    Help with identifying low-level clouds - cumulus, cumulonimbus, stratocumulus and stratus.

  • Mid-level clouds

    Mid-level clouds

    Information on spotting medium-height clouds - altocumulus, altostratus and nimbostratus.

  • High-level clouds

    High clouds

    Identifying cirrus, cirrocumulus and cirrostratus clouds. All high-level clouds - where the base is above 20,000 ft - are a type of cirrus cloud.

  • Other clouds

    Guide to observing other cloud phenomena including noctilucent night clouds and contrails.

Last Updated: 5 July 2012

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