25 Unbelievable Cloud Formations

Posted by , Updated on January 12, 2024

Unless you’re an avid cloud watcher, you may have never even give a second thought to the various types of clouds and the shapes and patterns they form high above your head. While you’ve no doubt seen some of these before, there is a good chance others will be completely new. In fact, some are so rare that you’ll probably never see them apart from lists such as this one. The cool part? Each cloud type has a different meaning. These are 25 Unbelievable Cloud Formations.
25

Roll Cloud

roll cloud

Often associated with thunderstorms or cold fronts, these clouds are usually low and tube shaped.

24

Shelf Clouds

shelf cloud

Also associated with cold fronts and thunderstorms, shelf clouds differ from roll clouds in that they are usually attached to the parent cloud directly above.

23

Cirrus Kelvin-Helmholtz

wave clouds

These slim, horizontal spirals tend to dissipate quickly after their initial formation making observation difficult. These wave-like clouds are caused by a difference in velocity across the interface of two fluids. In layman’s terms, you’re most likely to see these clouds when wind blows above the water. They are also referred to as Kelvin-Helmholtz Billow clouds.

22

Mammatus Clouds

mammatus cloud

These rare pouch-like clouds usually form after the thunderstorm has passed. Contrary to “common knowledge,” they do not indicate an imminent tornado (although they do look ominous).

21

Nacreous Clouds

Nacreous

Sometimes referred to as “mother of pearl” clouds, these can be found at altitudes of up to 20 miles. Usually seen in polar regions near the poles, they are known for their iridescent colors.

20

Pileus Clouds

pileus cloud

Also known as scarf or cap clouds, these high-flying clouds generally hover over the top of larger cumulonimbus clouds.

19

Actinoform Clouds

Actinoform cloud

Hard to see with the naked eye, this formation is best observed from space. In satellite images, they have a distinct leaf or wheel like pattern that sets them apart from the background.

18

Wave Clouds

wave cloud

These clouds are usually formed by waves of air that flow over a raised land feature such as a mountain range.

17

Pyrocumulus Cloud

Pyrocumulus cloud

Sometimes called fire clouds, these dense cumuliform clouds are associated with fires or volcanic activity.

16

Undulatus Asperatus

asperitashttps://www.theverge.com/2017/3/24/15049766/undulatus-asperatus-asperitas-cloud-pattern-formation

Nine years after first being submitted, this odd cloud formation was finally accepted by the International Cloud Atlas of the World Meteorological Organization in 2017. It was the first addition since 1951. What’s unique about these clouds is that they are undulate (or wave up and down), and quite honestly, they are kind of creepy and ominous. These clouds are typically low-lying and form in wave-like weather fronts. 

15

Cumulus Arcus

Cumulus arcus

Although both rolling and shelf clouds fall into this category, there are several other less famous types as well.

14

Cumulonimbus Capillatus

Cumulonimbus capillatus

This umbrellas category includes any towering vertical cloud with a high cirriform top

13

Cirrus Spissatus

Cirrus spissatus

The highest of the primary cloud genera, this cirrus variety is formed out of fine wisps of ice crystals.

12

Contrails

contrails

Although they are not naturally occurring cloud formations, these vapor trails are technically a type of cirrus cloud known as cirrus aviaticus.

11

Morning Glory Clouds

morning glory clouds

This rare phenomenon is hard to observe due to its unpredictable nature. In fact, the only place where it occurs consistently is northern Australia.

10

Billow Clouds

billow cloud

Also known as wave clouds or wind row clouds, they generally run parallel but can also appear to interweave with one another.

9

Cirrostratus Nebulosus

Cirrostratus Nebulosus

Formed by rising air, these clouds are hard to see unless illuminated in just the right amount of sunlight. Coincidentally, this lighting typically forms a halo.

8

Cirrus uncinus

curly hooks

In Latin there name means “curly hooks.” They are generally very sparse in the sky and extremely thin.

7

Cumulonimbus Incus

cumulonimbus incus

With its characteristic flat, anvil shaped top, this cloud can easily form into supercells and generate severe weather patterns such as tornadoes.

6

Punch Hole Cloud

hole punch cloud

Also known as fallstreak hole, these anomalies are formed when the water temperature in the clouds is below freezing but the water hasn’t frozen yet. Quite often they are associated with UFO sightings.

5

Indoor Clouds

indoor cloud

It may seem impossible, but in fact, several artists have used various techniques of creating the ideal conditions for indoor clouds to form as part of their artwork.

4

Lenticular Clouds

lenticular clouds

These stationary, lens shaped clouds usually form when moist air flows over the side of a mountain range.

3

Mushroom Clouds

mushroom cloud

Although typically associated with nuclear weapons, any large blast is likely to produce a mushroom cloud, including volcanic explosions and meteorite impacts.

2

Altocumulus Castelanus

Altocumulus Castelanus

Also known as jellyfish clouds due to their interesting appearance, these form when moist air gets trapped between two layers of dry air.

1

Noctilucent Clouds

Noctilucent Clouds

Possibly the least understood cloud formation in the atmosphere, these clouds are also the highest. Residing at an altitude of over 80 km, they literally sit on the verge of space and are usually only seen closer to the poles. To see them, however, conditions have to be just right, with the sun below the horizon providing the right angle of illumination.



Photo: Featured Image - Gofororbit, Noctilucent clouds over Uppsala, Sweden, CC BY-SA 4.0 , 1. Gofororbit, Noctilucent clouds over Uppsala, Sweden, CC BY-SA 4.0 , 2. NOAA ESRL via wikimedia commons (Public Domain), 3. pixabay (Public Domain), 4. Omnisource5, Lenticular Cloud over Harold's Cross Dublin Ireland 30-6-15, CC BY-SA 4.0 , 5. pixabay (Public Domain), 6. H. Raab (User:Vesta), HolePunchCloud, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 7. TheAustinMan, Cumulonimbus Incus with LC-39A, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 8. Taken or created by Fir0002, Cirrus clouds2, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 9. Eduardo Marquetti, Cirrostratus fibratus with 22 degrees halo, CC BY-SA 2.0 , 10. wikimedia commons (Public Domain), 11. Mick Petroff, Morning glory clouds, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 12. pixabay (Public Domain), 13. Kr-val, Cirrus spissatus sweden, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 16. Agathman, Stratocumulus stratiformis opacus lacunosus undulatus asperitas, CC BY 3.0 , 17. JeremyaGreene, Pyrocumulus cloud in the Angeles National Forest California, CC BY-SA 4.0 , 18. David E. McIlroy smoothlennie, Wave-06137, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 19. wikimedia commons (Public Domain), 20. James St. John via flickr, Cumulus pileus cloud (9 July 2016) (Yellowstone, Wyoming, USA) 8, CC BY 2.0, 21. publicdomainpictures.net (Public Domain), 22. max pixel (Public Domain), 23. GRAHAMUK, Wavecloudsduval, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 24. pixabay (Public Domain), 25. wikimedia commons (Public Domain)