A Nimbostratus cloud is characterized by a formless cloud layer that is almost uniformly dark gray. "Nimbo" is from the Latin word "nimbus", meaning rain. It is a stratiform cloud that produces rain, developing cloud bases between the surface and 10000 ft (3000 m). Nimbostratus usually has a thickness of 2000 meters. In rare cases, Nimbostratus can be very thin and accompanied by a separate layer of altostratus divided by a cloudless layer. Thoug...
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A Nimbostratus cloud is characterized by a formless cloud layer that is almost uniformly dark gray. "Nimbo" is from the Latin word "nimbus", meaning rain. It is a stratiform cloud that produces rain, developing cloud bases between the surface and 10000 ft (3000 m). Nimbostratus usually has a thickness of 2000 meters. In rare cases, Nimbostratus can be very thin and accompanied by a separate layer of altostratus divided by a cloudless layer. Though found worldwide, nimbostratus is found more commonly in the middle latitudes.
The base of a nimbostratus base cloud is dimmed by precipitation and is usually not clearly visible. In all cases, nimbostratus is accompanied by pannus clouds, which develop underneath of nimbostratus. If the pannus layer is completely opaque, the presence of precipitation indicates presence of nimbostratus. The pannus movement is slow and uniform under nimbostratus.
Nimbostratus, stratus, altostratus and stratocumulus clouds all have a smooth gray appearance....
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