altostratus

Mid-altitude sheet cloud

Altostratus is a gray or bluish cloud layer that covers the sky at middle altitudes, typically between 6,500 and 20,000 feet.

Unlike lower stratus clouds, altostratus is thin enough that the sun or moon may be dimly visible through it, as if through frosted glass.

It often precedes steady rain or snow.

appearance

featureless

Having no distinguishing marks

uniformIdentical throughout
grayNeutral achromatic hue
sheet-likeThin and flat

layered · translucent · hazy · veil · diffuse · smooth · flat · expansive · blanket · pale

weather

overcast

Sky fully veiled

precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
drizzleVery light precipitation
rainWater dropping from clouds

frontal system · warm front · approaching storm · steady rain · light rain · snow · sleet · weather forecast · barometric pressure · humidity

cloudtype

stratocumulus

Low, lumpy cloud layer

cumulusDense, billowing cloud type
cirrusHigh wispy ice formation
cirrocumulusHigh-altitude cloud patches

lenticular · mammatus · contrail · cloud deck · cloud layer · cloud cover · mid-level · ice crystals · water droplets · cloud base

Categories

skyclouds, blue sky, cloud, sun, moon
layer cloudsstratocumulus
low cloudsstratocumulus, low ceiling, scud, marine layer, ground fog

Opposites

cloud type/morphology

altostratuscumulus

Dense, billowing cloud type

cumulonimbus · cirrus · cirrocumulus · altocumulus · stratus

sky condition/visibility

altostratusclear sky

Atmosphere without clouds

sunny · cloudless · bright · blue sky · fair weather

Family

altitude, stratum, alto, stratify, stratus, altimeter, cumulonimbus, nimbostratus, altocumulus

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G