Weather and Cloud Terminology

Front

Dew Point

Back

The temperature at which condensation begins.

Front

Cumulus

Back

Fluffy, white clouds with flat bottoms, look like cotton.

Front

Cirrus

Back

Wispy, feathery clouds. Form at high altitudes.

Front

Stratus

Back

Clouds that form in flat layers and often cover most of the sky.

Front

Precipitation

Back

Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth’s surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Front

Rain Gauge

Back

An instrument used to measure precipitation.

Front

Flood

Back

An overflowing of water in a normally dry area.

Front

Drought

Back

A long period of low precipitation.