Cumulus Cloud

weather · clouds · sky · fluffy

Puffy and fluffy. Cumulus clouds look like piles of cotton floating in the sky. They have flat bottoms and puffy tops, which is why they're so easy to spot and fun to look at.

Not too high up. These clouds usually hang out less than 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) above the ground, which is pretty low compared to other clouds. The taller variety, called cumulus congestus, can stretch much higher into the sky.

Heap-shaped piles. The word 'cumulus' comes from Latin and means 'heap' or 'pile,' which perfectly describes their stacked, lumpy appearance. Romans named them well because they really do look like fluffy piles stacked on top of each other.

Appear in groups. Cumulus clouds often show up alone, but they can also form in lines or clusters with other cumulus clouds. When they gather together, they create a beautiful, bumpy pattern across the sky.