Everyday skies · genus
Cumulus
Little heaps of possibility
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photo taken by Glg
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Full credit
Own work
Displayed at reduced resolution. See the original file for full licensing information.
Full credit
Own work
Displayed at reduced resolution. See the original file for full licensing information.
Full credit
Own work
Displayed at reduced resolution. See the original file for full licensing information.
Swipe or scroll sideways to explore the photographs. Photos may include other cloud types; names and credits come from their source records.
Spot it
Separate puffs with bright rounded tops and flatter, shaded bases.
How it forms
Rising moist air cools until droplets form.
Read the sky
Small puffs often accompany fair weather; growing towers deserve another look.
Where to look
Look over sun-warmed land or near sea-breeze boundaries.
Little sky facts
Reveal fact 1
Cumulus is a heap-shaped cloud.
Reveal fact 2
The bright top and darker base can belong to the same cloud.
Reveal fact 3
Cloud towers can grow upward from small beginnings.
Reveal fact 4
A cloud’s appearance changes as droplets form and evaporate.
Try this
Trace the silhouette without lifting your finger.
Draw your own cloud ↗Read a little deeper
Met Office · formation and weather
Conditions described here are places to look, not a global frequency ranking. Use local weather forecasts and warnings for decisions. Never look directly at the Sun.