Become an expert at spotting clouds—in one week

Two types of cloud are most commonly associated with precipitation like rain or snow, and nimbostratus clouds are one of them. (The other is cumulonimbus, which we will look at tomorrow.)  

Dark and gray, nimbostratus are known as multilevel clouds, with their bases often forming below 6,500 feet and their tops sometimes rising as high as 25,000 feet. 

Nimbo- comes from the Latin word nimbus, which means “rain cloud.” Because this cloud doesn’t have well-defined features, it can be tricky to tell apart from similar-looking clouds like stratus, which we learned about yesterday, or stratocumulus clouds. When in doubt, remember that steady rain is a strong clue that you’re standing under a nimbostratus cloud. 

Put your nimbostratus knowledge to the test.  

Want to experience more wonder? National Geographic’s Wonder List features playful prompts and activities that turn everyday moments into wonder-filled discoveries—for families, anywhere, every day.