All cloud types
Cloud Name
Cumulus
Puffy white clouds with flat bottoms, often seen during pleasant weather.
What it looks like
Cumulus clouds look like cotton balls with clear edges and flat bases. They usually form in rising warm air during the day.
Simple meaning
Usually a good-weather cloud, but if it grows tall and dark it can develop into showers or storms.
For boating
Generally fine for boating, but keep watching if the clouds build vertically or wind starts increasing.
How to recognize Cumulus
- Puffy cotton shape
- Flat base
- Blue sky between clouds
- Bright white tops