nimbostratus
Thick precipitation layer
Nimbostratus is a thick, dark gray cloud layer that covers the sky and produces steady rain or snow.
Unlike the dramatic thunderheads of cumulonimbus, nimbostratus brings prolonged, dreary precipitation—the clouds responsible for all-day drizzle that cancels outdoor plans: The nimbostratus moved in and it rained for three days straight.
Mid-level sheet cloud
- stratiformForming horizontal sheets
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- troposphereLowest atmospheric layer
- frontalOf the fore side
cyclone · condensation · low-pressure · warm front · cloud base · saturation · atmospheric · synoptic
Neutral achromatic hue
- leadenOppressively heavy or dull
- overcastSky fully veiled
- featurelessHaving no distinguishing marks
- uniformIdentical throughout
diffuse · thick · dark · heavy · murky · dim · formless · expansive
Continuous precipitation, moderate pace
- drizzleVery light precipitation
- mizzleVery fine rain
- light rainMild falling moisture
- sleetPartly frozen precipitation
snow · wet · soaking · persistent · prolonged · drenching · rainfall
Dark and dispiriting
- drearyDull and depressing
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- somberGravely serious in mood
- bleakDreary and without cheer
dismal · oppressive · dull · foreboding · brooding · sullen · cheerless · dispiriting
altostratus
Mid-level sheet cloud
- stratiformForming horizontal sheets
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- troposphereLowest atmospheric layer
frontal · cyclone · condensation · low-pressure · warm front · cloud base · saturation · atmospheric · synoptic · barometric
gray
Neutral achromatic hue
- leadenOppressively heavy or dull
- overcastSky fully veiled
- featurelessHaving no distinguishing marks
uniform · diffuse · thick · dark · heavy · murky · dim · formless · expansive · shapeless
steady rain
Continuous precipitation, moderate pace
- drizzleVery light precipitation
- mizzleVery fine rain
- light rainMild falling moisture
sleet · snow · wet · soaking · persistent · prolonged · drenching · rainfall
gloomy
Dark and dispiriting
- drearyDull and depressing
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- somberGravely serious in mood
bleak · dismal · oppressive · dull · foreboding · brooding · sullen · cheerless · dispiriting · monotonous
- weatherweather, rain, sun, snow, wind
- Cloudscumulus, cirrus, cirrocumulus, lenticular, mammatus
- layer cloudsaltostratus
- low cloudslow ceiling, scud, marine layer, ground fog, valley fog
- rain cloudsthunderhead, storm clouds, dark clouds
- Aviation Weathervisibility, ceiling, cloud ceiling, ceiling height, turbulence
nimbostratusclear sky
Atmosphere without clouds
sunny · cloudless · bright · fair weather · blue sky
nimbostratuscirrus
High wispy ice formation
cirrostratus · cirrocumulus · wispy clouds · mare's tails · altocumulus
nimbus, stratify, stratus, stratospheric, cumulonimbus, nimbuses, stratocumulus, cirrostratus