Clouds of the Day - April 23, 2020

Today began with fog and low clouds…

Fog early in the day gave way to a layer of stratus.

Stratus is a low layered type cloud. Stratus forms at all levels of the atmosphere where condensation of water occurs.

Stratus is not a precipitating cloud. Sometimes driZzle occurs from stratus but cloud droplets do not grow to raindrop size.

If rain is falling from what looks like stratus it is falling from a much thicker cloud that extends into the mid-levels. It is a Nimbostratus cloud.

Then the Sun came out…..

Holes appeared in the stratus as drier air was mix into the cloud layer.

The cloud type changed from stratus to stratocumulus

Clouds gradually evaporated.

Stratocumulus and cumulus dotted the sky as drying continued.