Cloud Types - Alphabetical List of WMO and Other Tropospheric Storm Associated Genera, Species, Varieties, and Sup

Alphabetical List of WMO and Other Tropospheric Storm Associated Genera, Species, Varieties, and Sup

• Accessory cloud (WMO term supplementary feature) – cloud that is attached to and develops on body of main cloud.
• Anvil (WMO supplementary feature incus) – the top flatter part of a cumulonimbus cloud.
• Anvil dome (WMO supplementary feature incus) – the overshooting top on a Cb that is often present on a supercell.
• Anvil rollover – (slang) circular protrusion attached to underside of anvil.
• Arcus cloud (WMO supplementary feature) – arch or a bow shape, attached to cumulus, thick with ragged edges.
• Backsheared anvil – (slang) anvil that spreads upwind, indicative of extreme weather.
• Clear slot or dry slot (informal term) – an evaporation of clouds as a rear flank downdraft descends and dries out cloud and occludes around a mesocyclone.
• Cloud tags (WMO species fractus) – ragged detached portions of cloud.
• Collar cloud (WMO supplementary feature velum) – ring shape surrounding upper part of wall cloud.
• Condensation funnel (informal term) – the cloud of a funnel cloud aloft or a tornado.
• Altocumulus castellanus (WMO genus and species) – castle crenellation-shaped altocumulus clouds.
• Cumulus (WMO genus) – heaped clouds.
• Cumulus castellanus – (informal variation of WMO genus and species cumulus congestus) cumulus with tops shaped like castle crenellations.
• Cumulus congestus (WMO genus and species) – considerable vertical development and heaped into cauliflower shapes.
• Cumulus fractus (WMO genus and species) – ragged detached portions of cumulus cloud.
• Cumulus humilis (WMO genus and species) – small, low, flattened cumulus, early development.
• Cumulus mediocris WMO genus and species) – medium-sized cumulus with bulges at the top.
• Cumulus pileus (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – capped, hood-shaped cumulus cloud.
• Cumulus praecipitatio (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – cumulus whose precipitation reaches the ground.
• Cumulus radiatus (WMO genus and variety) – cumulus arranged in parallel lines that appear to converge near the horizon.
• Cumulus tuba (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – column hanging from the bottom of cumulus.
• Cumulus undulatus (WMO genus and variety) – cumulus displaying an undulating pattern.
• Cumulonimbus (WMO genus) – heaped towering rain-bearing clouds that stretch to the upper levels of the troposphere.
• Cumulonimbus calvus (WMO genus and species) – cumulonimbus with round tops like cumulus congestus.
• Cumulonimbus capillatus (WMO genus and species) – Cb with cirriform top.
• Cumulonimbus incus (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – Cb with anvil top.
• Cumulonimbus mamma (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – Cb with pouch-like protrusions that hang from under anvil or cloud base.
• Cumulonimbus pannus (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – shredded sections attached to main Cb cloud.
• Cumulonimbus pileus (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – capped, hood-shaped cumulonimbus cloud.
• Cumulonimbus praecipitatio (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – Cb whose precipitation reaches the ground.
• Cumulonimbus tuba (WMO genus and supplementary feature) – column hanging from the bottom of cumulonimbus.
• Debris cloud (informal term) – rotating "cloud" of debris found at base of tornado.
• Hail fog (informal term) – a shallow surface layer of fog that sometimes forms in vicinity of deep hail accumulation, can be very dense.
• Inflow band (informal term) – a laminar band marking inflow to a Cb, can occur at lower or mid levels of the cloud.
• Inverted cumulus (informal variation of WMO supplementary feature mamma) – cumulus which has transferred momentum from an exceptionally intense Cb tower and is convectively growing on the underside of an anvil.
• Funnel cloud (informal term) – rotating funnel of cloud hanging from under Cb, not making contact with ground.
• Knuckles (informal variation of WMO supplementary feature mamma) – lumpy protrusion that hangs from edge or underside of anvil.

• Roll cloud (may be informal term for WMO genus stratocumulus or supplementary feature arcus) – elongated, low-level, tube shaped, horizontal cloud.
• Rope – (slang) narrow, sometimes twisted funnel type cloud seen after a tornado dissipates.
• Rope cloud (informal term) – A very narrow, long, sometimes meandering, cumulus cloud formation that is frequently visible in satellite imagery.
• Scud cloud (informal term for WMO species fractus) – ragged detached portions of cloud.
• Shelf cloud (informal term for WMO supplementary feature arcus) – wedge-shaped cloud often attached to the underside of Cb.
• Stratus fractus (WMO genus and species) – ragged detached portions of stratus cloud.
• Striations (informal term for WMO supplementary feature velum) – a groove or band of clouds encircling an updraft tower, indicative of rotation.
• Tail cloud (informal term) – an area of condensation consisting of laminar band and cloud tags extending from a wall cloud towards a precipitation core.
• Towering cumulus (TCu) (aviation term for WMO genus and species cumulus congestus) – a large cumulus cloud with great vertical development, usually with a cauliflower-like appearance, but lacking the characteristic anvil of a Cb.
• Wall cloud (informal term) – distinctive fairly large lowering of the rain-free base of a Cb, often rotating.