Cloud Chart

Cloud Chart thumbnail H1 clouds - Filaments of Ci H2 clouds - Dense Ci in patches H3 clouds - Anvil shaped Dense Ci H4 clouds - Hooked shaped Ci H5 clouds - Cs not reaching 45° altitude H6 clouds - Cs exceeding 45° altitude H7 clouds - Veil of Cs H8 clouds - Cs not increasing or covering entire sky H9 clouds - Cc alone or main cirriform cloud M1 clouds - Thin As M2 clouds - Thick As covering the sun or moon, or Ns M3 clouds - Thin Ac at single level M4 clouds - Thin Ac in patches M5 clouds - Thin Ac in bands usually thickening M6 clouds - Ac from spreading Cu or Cb M7 clouds - Double layered or thick Ac or Ac with As and/or Ns M8 clouds - Ac in form of Cu-shaped turrets M9 clouds - Ac of a chaotic sky, usually at different levels L1 clouds - Cu of fair weather L2 clouds - Cu of considerable development L3 clouds - Cb with tops lacking clear-cut outlines L4 clouds - Sc formed from spreading Cu - bases at same level L5 clouds - Sc NOT formed from Cu L6 clouds - St or StFra (stratus fractus) but with no bad weather L7 clouds - StFra and/or CuFra of bad weather L8 clouds - Cu and Sc with bases at different levels L9 clouds - Cb with cirriform top Cumulonimbus mamatus Tornadoes Wall Cloud Shelf Cloud Wave Clouds

Low-level Clouds - Cumulonimbus (Cb) with anvil


Cloud code

L9

Cloud symbol
Symbol for L9 cloud
Cloud description
Cumulonimbus, the upper part of which is clearly fibrous (cirriform) often in the form of an anvil; either accompanied or not by cumulonimbus without anvil or fibrous upper part, by cumulus, stratocumulus, stratus or 'scud'
L9 cloud
Additional Views:
L9 clouds
L9 clouds
L9 clouds
L9 clouds
L9 clouds

Notes: The characteristic shape of these clouds can only be seen as a whole when viewed from a distance. The tops of these massive clouds show a fibrous or striated structure that frequently resembles an anvil, plume or huge mass of hair. They may occur as an isolated cloud or an extensive wall and squalls, hail and/or thunder often accompany them.

Underneath the base, which is often very dark, Stratus fractus (L7) frequently form and, in storms, these may be only a few hundred feet above the earth's surface and they can merge to form a continuous layer.

Mamma may form, especially on the underside of the projecting anvil and may appear particularly prominent when the sun is low in the sky. A whole variety of other clouds such as dense cirrus, altocumulus, altostratus, stratocumulus, cumulus and stratus may also be present.

Click symbols (below) for more cloud types
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High
Clouds
Symbol for H1 cloud Symbol for H2 cloud Symbol for H3 cloud Symbol for H4 cloud Symbol for H5 cloud Symbol for H6 cloud Symbol for H7 cloud Symbol for H8 cloud Symbol for H9 cloud
Mid
Clouds
Symbol for M1 cloud Symbol for M2 cloud Symbol for M3 cloud Symbol for M4 cloud Symbol for M5 cloud Symbol for M6 cloud Symbol for M7 cloud Symbol for M8 cloud Symbol for M9 cloud
Low
Clouds
Symbol for L1 cloud Symbol for L2 cloud Symbol for L3 cloud Symbol for L4 cloud Symbol for L5 cloud Symbol for L6 cloud Symbol for L7 cloud Symbol for L8 cloud Symbol for L9 cloud

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