Nimbostratus cloud
| Nimbostratus cloud | |
|---|---|
Nimbostratus with pannus | |
| Abbreviation | Ns |
| Symbol | |
| Genus | Nimbostratus (rain, layered) |
| Altitude | 500–5,500 m (2,000–18,000 ft) |
| Appearance | Dark and featureless layer cloud full of water vapor; responsible for rain and snow |
| Precipitation | Yes: rain, ice pellets, or snow; sometimes virga |
A nimbostratus cloud is a multilevel, amorphous, nearly uniform, and often dark-grey cloud that usually produces continuous rain, snow, or sleet, but no lightning or thunder.
Although it is usually a low-based stratiform cloud, it actually forms most commonly in the middle level of the troposphere and then spreads vertically into the low and high levels. Nimbostratus usually produces precipitation over a wide area.
The prefix nimbo- comes from the Latin word nimbus, which means "rain bearing cloud"
Downward-growing nimbostratus can have the same vertical extent as most large upward-growing cumulus, but its horizontal expanse tends to be even greater.