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Cumulus

Detached clouds, generally dense and with sharp outline, developing vertically in the form of rising mounds, domes, or towers, of which the bulging upper part often resembles a cauliflower. The sunlit parts are mostly brilliant white; their base is relatively dark and nearly horizontal.

Species

Humilis:  Wider than it is tall.

Mediocris:  As tall as it is wide.

Congestus:  Taller than it is wide.

Fractus:  Broken with ragged edges.

Varieties

Radiatus:  Lined up in 'cloud streets'. 

Stratocumulus

Gray or whitish patch, sheet or layer of cloud which almost always has dark pats, composed of tessellations, rounded masses, rolls, etc., which are nonfibrous, and which may or may not be merged; most of the regularly arranges small elements have an apparent width of more than 5 degrees.

Stratus

Generally gray cloud layer with a fairly uniform base, which may give drizzle, ice prisms, or snow grains. When the sun is visible through the cloud, its outline is clearly discernible. Stratus generally does not produce halo phenomena.

Cumulonimbus

Heavy, dense cloud, with considerable vertical extent, in the form of a mountain or huge towers. At least part of its upper portion is usually smooth, fibrous, or striated, and nearly always flattened; this part often spreads out in the shape of an anvil or vast plume.

Altocumulus

White or gray patch, sheet, or layer of cloud, generally with shading, composed of laminae, rounded masses, rolls, etc, which are sometimes partly fibrous or diffuse, and which may or may not be merged; most of the regularly arranged small elements usually have an apparent width between one and five degrees.

Altostratus

Grayish or bluish sheet of layer of striated, fibrous, or uniform appearance, totally or partly covering the sky. And having parts thin enough to reveal the sun at least vaguely, as through ground glass. Does not show halo phenomena.

Nimbostratus

Heavy cloud layer, often dark the appearance of which is rendered diffuse by falling rain or snow, which in most cases reached the ground. It is thick enough to blot out the sun or moon.

Cirrus

Detached clouds in the form of delicate white filaments or white or mostly white patches of narrow bands. These clouds have a fibrous appearance (hairlike), or a silky sheen, or both.

Cirrocumulus

Thin white patch, sheet , or layer of cloud without shading, composed of very small elements in the form of grains, ripples, etc., merged or separate, and more or less regularly arranged; most of the elements have an appearance width of less than one degree.

Cirrostratus

Transparent, whitish cloud veil of fibrous (hairlike) or smooth appearance, totally or partially covering the sky, and generally producing halo phenomena.