Everyday skies · genus
Stratus
The sky pulls up a blanket
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Own work
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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.
Swipe or scroll sideways to explore the photographs. Photos may include other cloud types; names and credits come from their source records.
Spot it
A low, comparatively featureless grey layer.
How it forms
Moist air becomes saturated in a shallow, stable layer.
Read the sky
It can bring drizzle; a grey sky does not always mean heavy rain.
Where to look
Look in cool, moist lowlands and coastal air.
Little sky facts
Reveal fact 1
Stratus spreads into a layer rather than separate heaps.
Reveal fact 2
Its base can look surprisingly uniform.
Reveal fact 3
It can produce drizzle.
Reveal fact 4
Thin stratus may let the Sun’s outline show through.
Try this
Find a break in the blanket and draw its shape.
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.