Ready to uncover the secrets of every sky? Welcome to the Ultimate Cloud Identification Quiz, where you'll master cloud identification while having fun. In this free cloud quiz , aspiring forecasters and weather lovers will test their talent and become top cloud identifiers. Challenge yourself to name every formation - from wispy cirrus and fluffy cumulus to dramatic cumulonimbus - in our interactive cloud types quiz. You'll learn to tell altostratus from stratocumulus, boost your weather IQ in minutes, and spark newfound curiosity. Dive in now and see if you can conquer the skies!
What high-altitude cloud type appears thin and wispy, often called "mares' tails"?
Cirrostratus
Altocumulus
Cirrus
Stratocumulus
Cirrus clouds are high-altitude formations composed of ice crystals, giving them a thin, wispy appearance often referred to as "mares' tails". They generally form above 20,000 feet and can indicate fair weather or the approach of a frontal system. These clouds have no significant water droplets and rarely produce precipitation at the surface. For more detail, see Cirrus Cloud.
Which low-level cloud forms a uniform gray layer and can produce light drizzle?
Stratus
Altostratus
Cumulus
Nimbostratus
Stratus clouds form a featureless, gray layer at low altitudes, often resembling a fog that doesn't reach the ground. They can produce light mist or drizzle but lack individual cloud elements. Stratus is distinct from nimbostratus, which generates steady precipitation. Read more at Stratus Cloud.
Which cloud is characterized by fluffy, white cotton-ball-like appearance with a flat base?
Stratocumulus
Cirrocumulus
Cumulus
Altocumulus
Cumulus clouds are low-level, puffy clouds with a flat base and cauliflower-like tops, usually indicating fair weather. They form when warm air rises and cools, causing water vapor to condense. If they grow vertically, they may develop into cumulonimbus. More details at Cumulus Cloud.
Identify the thick, dark gray stratus cloud that produces steady, widespread precipitation.
Altostratus
Stratocumulus
Nimbostratus
Cumulonimbus
Nimbostratus is a low-level, dark gray cloud layer that brings continuous rain or snow, reducing visibility. Unlike cumulonimbus, it lacks towering structure but can cover large sky areas. It is the primary precipitation cloud in steady frontal systems. Reference: Nimbostratus Cloud.
Which high-altitude cloud type appears as a thin veil covering the sky, often creating halos around the sun or moon?
Cirrus
Nimbostratus
Cirrostratus
Altostratus
Cirrostratus clouds form a translucent, whitish veil at high altitudes and can generate halos around the sun or moon due to ice crystal refraction. They often indicate moisture at high levels and an approaching warm front. They differ from cirrus by their sheet-like structure. Learn more at Cirrostratus Cloud.
Which cloud type consists of small, white patches or ripples at high altitude, resembling fish scales?
Altocumulus
Cirrocumulus
Cirrus
Stratocumulus
Cirrocumulus clouds appear as small, white, rounded puffs at high altitudes, often in long rows, giving a "mackerel sky" appearance. They are composed of ice crystals and supercooled water droplets. These clouds rarely produce precipitation. See Cirrocumulus Cloud for more.
Which mid-level cloud forms a gray or blue-gray sheet, often preceding storms with no distinct individual cloudlets?
Altostratus
Stratus
Altocumulus
Nimbostratus
Altostratus clouds are uniform, gray or blue-gray sheets at middle altitudes, often covering the entire sky. They indicate widespread moisture and typically precede warm fronts, leading to continuous precipitation. They are higher and thinner than nimbostratus. More at Altostratus Cloud.
Which mid-level cloud type appears as rounded masses or rolls, often forming in large groups?
Altostratus
Cirrocumulus
Stratus
Altocumulus
Altocumulus clouds appear at mid-levels as white or gray patches of rounded masses, often arranged in groups or waves. These clouds indicate instability and moisture in the middle atmosphere and can precede thunderstorm development. They differ from cirrocumulus by their larger, darker elements. Reference: Altocumulus Cloud.
Which low-level cloud appears as a lumpy, broken layer, darker than stratus?
Nimbostratus
Altocumulus
Stratocumulus
Cumulus
Stratocumulus clouds form a low, lumpy layer composed of rounded masses or rolls, often with breaks that allow blue sky to show through. Unlike nimbostratus, they rarely produce significant precipitation. They belong to the low-level genus, below 6,500 feet. See Stratocumulus Cloud.
Which towering cloud with significant vertical development is associated with thunderstorms and heavy precipitation?
Cumulonimbus
Stratus
Altocumulus
Cumulus
Cumulonimbus clouds are large, vertically developed clouds with tops that can reach the tropopause, often anvil-shaped. They are the primary thunderstorm clouds, producing heavy rain, hail, lightning, and sometimes tornadoes. They form from strong convection. More details at Cumulonimbus Cloud.
Which cloud variety appears as pouch-like structures hanging from the underside of a cloud?
Pileus
Mammatus
Virga
Castellanus
Mammatus clouds are pouch-like protrusions that hang from the underside of a cloud, typically cumulonimbus anvils. They indicate strong turbulence and moisture content, but not necessarily severe weather at the surface. Their distinctive appearance resembles udders. See Mammatus Cloud.
Which lens-shaped cloud typically forms over mountain peaks due to orographic lifting?
Pileus
Lenticular
Stratocumulus
Altocumulus
Lenticular clouds form when moist air flows over mountains and creates standing waves in the atmosphere. At the wave crests, moisture condenses into smooth, lens-shaped clouds. They often appear stationary despite strong winds. For more: Lenticular Cloud.
Which cloud has a flat base and develops a towering, cauliflower-like top, often signaling strong updrafts?
Cumulonimbus
Cumulus congestus
Altocumulus
Cumulus humilis
Cumulus congestus clouds are towering cumulus with well-defined, cauliflower-shaped tops and flat bases. They indicate strong vertical air currents and can develop into cumulonimbus thunderstorms. They differ from humilis by greater vertical growth. Read more at Cumulus congestus.
What is the term for precipitation that falls from a cloud but evaporates before reaching the ground?
Pannus
Mackerel sky
Fractus
Virga
Virga refers to streaks or shafts of precipitation falling from a cloud that evaporate before reaching the surface due to dry air beneath. It is common with altostratus and cirrus clouds. Virga can cool the air below, sometimes triggering gusty winds. See Virga.
Which accessory cloud appears as shredded or ragged fragments beneath a larger cloud, often seen under stratiform layers?
Mammatus
Pileus
Castellanus
Pannus
Pannus is a term for ragged, shreds of cloud - also called scud - forming beneath larger cloud decks, usually nimbostratus or stratiform clouds. It often appears in association with precipitation and turbulent air. Pannus is distinct from mammatus and fractus. Learn more at Scud Cloud (Pannus).
Which cloud species is characterized by turreted, castle-like cumuliform projections on a cloud layer?
Castellanus
Spissatus
Radiatus
Lenticularis
Castellanus is a species of cloud showing vertical turreted projections resembling castle battlements. It occurs when mid-level clouds such as altocumulus become unstable. Castellanus often precedes thunderstorms. Reference: Altocumulus Castellanus.
Which cloud genus's primary characteristic is continuous precipitation, often in the form of steady rain or snow?
Nimbostratus
Stratus
Altostratus
Cumulonimbus
Nimbostratus is the cloud genus known for producing continuous, steady precipitation over wide areas. Unlike cumulonimbus, which yields intense but brief storms, nimbostratus brings prolonged rain or snow. It appears as a thick, uniform gray layer. More at Nimbostratus Cloud.
Roll clouds belong to which category of cloud accessory types?
Pannus
Floccus
Castellanus
Arcus
Roll clouds are a type of arcus cloud - elongated, low, horizontal features often appearing on the leading edge of thunderstorms or outflow boundaries. They are solitary, tube-shaped rolls detached from parent clouds. Arcus includes both shelf and roll clouds. See Arcus Cloud.
Which accessory cloud appears as a smooth, horizontal cap over the top of a cumuliform cloud?
Mammatus
Pileus
Floccus
Pannus
Pileus clouds form a smooth, cap-like layer over the summit of rapidly growing cumuliform clouds, indicating strong updrafts pushing moist air aloft. They are transient and often precede towering cumulonimbus development. Pileus differs from lenticular or mammatus formations. Reference: Pileus Cloud.
What is the term for a localized lowering of a thunderstorm base that can indicate a rotating updraft?
Anvil
Scud
Wall cloud (Murus)
Shelf cloud
A wall cloud, or murus, is a lowering of the rain-free base of a thunderstorm, often rotating and signifying a strong updraft. It forms beneath the main cumulonimbus cloud and can precede tornado formation. Shelf clouds are outflow features and do not rotate. More at Wall Cloud.
Under the WMO cloud classification, a lenticular cloud over a mountain peak is classified as which genus?
Cirrus
Cirrocumulus
Stratocumulus
Altocumulus
Lenticular clouds are classified as Altocumulus lenticularis in the WMO International Cloud Atlas. They occur at mid-level altitudes where stable, moist air flows over topography. They differ from cirrus in altitude and composition. For the official classification see WMO Cloud Genus.
Which cloud species is named Floccus, consisting of small tufts with ragged bases indicating instability?
Stratiformis
Castellanus
Floccus
Nebulosus
Floccus is a species characterized by small, tufted clouds with ragged, fibrous bases, usually indicating localized convection and turbulence at mid or upper levels. It can appear in altocumulus or cirrus layers. Floccus is distinct from castellanus, which has turreted tops. More at WMO Cloud Species.
0
{"name":"What high-altitude cloud type appears thin and wispy, often called \"mares' tails\"?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"What high-altitude cloud type appears thin and wispy, often called \"mares' tails\"?, Which low-level cloud forms a uniform gray layer and can produce light drizzle?, Which cloud is characterized by fluffy, white cotton-ball-like appearance with a flat base?","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}
Score5/22
Easy2/7
Medium2/7
Hard1/6
Expert0/2
AI Study Notes
Email these to me
You can bookmark this page to review your notes in future, or fill out the email box below to email them to yourself.
Study Outcomes
Identify Cloud Types -
After completing the cloud type quiz, you will be able to recognize and name major formations like cumulus, stratus, and cirrostratus based on visual traits.
Differentiate Similar Formations -
Distinguish between similar-looking clouds such as cirrus versus cirrostratus to improve your cloud identification accuracy.
Apply Classification Criteria -
Use key features like altitude, shape, and texture to categorize clouds during the interactive cloud quiz.
Enhance Observation Skills -
Sharpen your cloud identifier abilities by practicing real-time observation of cloud formations in varied sky conditions.
Assess Your Knowledge -
Evaluate your mastery of cloud identification concepts with immediate feedback and progress tracking.
Integrate Meteorological Concepts -
Understand basic atmospheric processes behind cloud formation to support deeper meteorology study.
Cheat Sheet
WMO Cloud Classification -
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recognizes 10 cloud genera organized by altitude: cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus (high); altostratus, altocumulus (mid); stratus, stratocumulus, cumulus (low); and cumulonimbus (vertical). Understanding this hierarchy is foundational for cloud identification and is used in professional meteorology curricula (source: WMO).
Altitude Prefixes & Mnemonics -
Learn the four Latin prefixes - cirro (high), alto (mid), strato (low), cumulo (heap) - to quickly narrow down cloud types. A popular mnemonic "Cats Always Sit Calmly" aids recall during a cloud type quiz or cloud identification exercise (source: NOAA).
Formation Mechanisms -
Clouds form when moist air rises and cools adiabatically to its dew point; the lifting condensation level (LCL) formula, LCL ≈ (T - Td)/(8°C/km), helps predict base height. Recognizing how orographic lifting, frontal zones, and convection drive cloud formation boosts your skills as a cloud identifier (source: University of Wyoming).
Precipitation Indicators -
Cumulonimbus and nimbostratus are key precipitation clouds: look for dark bases and vertical development (cumulonimbus anvil) or uniform gray layers (nimbostratus). Spotting these features quickly during a cloud quiz can sharpen real-world forecasting instincts (source: American Meteorological Society).
Practice with Interactive Quizzes -
Regular use of cloud type quizzes and photo flashcards reinforces pattern recognition and terminology under time pressure. Mix in real-time observations - note sky conditions, match to images, then test yourself online to become a confident cloud quiz champion (source: Met Office).
