Cumulus clouds

Carlye Calvin/UCAR

Cumulus clouds have vertical growth. They are puffy white or light gray clouds that look like floating cotton balls. Cumulus clouds have sharp outlines and a flat base at a height of 1000m. They are generally about one kilometer wide which is about the size of your fist or larger when you hold up your hand at arm's length to look at the cloud. Cumulus clouds can be associated with fair or stormy weather. Watch for rain showers when the cloud’s tops look like cauliflower heads.