Nimbostratus cloud
Common type of rain cloud / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A nimbostratus cloud is a multilevel, amorphous, nearly uniform, and often dark-grey cloud that usually produces continuous rain, snow, or sleet, but no lightning or thunder.[1][2][3]
Quick Facts Abbreviation, Symbol ...
Nimbostratus cloud | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | Ns |
Symbol | |
Genus | Nimbostratus (rain, layered) |
Altitude | 500–5,500 m (2,000–18,000 ft) |
Appearance | Dark and featureless layer cloud full of water vapor; responsible for rain and snow |
Precipitation | Yes: rain, ice pellets, or snow; sometimes virga |
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Although it is usually a low-based cloud, it actually forms most commonly in the middle level of the troposphere and then spreads vertically into the low and high levels. Nimbostratus usually produces precipitation over a wide area.
The prefix nimbo- comes from the Latin word nimbus, which denotes "cloud" or "halo".
Downward-growing nimbostratus can have the same vertical extent as most large upward-growing cumulus, but its horizontal expanse tends to be even greater.