Cirrus spissatus cloud

Cirrus spissatus clouds are the highest of the main cloud genera, and may sometimes even occur in the lower stratosphere. The characteristic features of cirrus clouds are fine threads or wisps of ice crystals, generally white, but appearing grey when dense and seen against the light. No precipitation at the ground. Frequently exhibits optical phenomena.

Cirrus spissatus is the dense cirrus that will partly or completely hide the sun (or Moon) and which appears dark grey when seen against the light. Although it arises under various circumstances, it is particularly commonly found in the plumes or anvils of cumulonimbus clouds.

Precipitation likely within 15 to 25 hours if winds steady from NE E to S, or sooner if winds SE to S. Other winds bring an overcast sky.

A different variety of cirrus spissatus also forms from phenomena that have nothing to do with cumulonimbus blow-off or dissipating cumulonimbus cells. When dense cirrus is formed by other means than by cumulonimbus blow-off or dissipating cumulonimbus clouds, it will frequently be seen as many dense patches at different levels (cirrus spissatus duplicatus), often mixed with thin cirrus filaments. Another variety, cirrus spissatus intortus, is sometimes described as looking like "entangled sheaves" of cirrus clouds. When viewed toward the sun, the denser patches often have gray bases.

See Also

List of cloud types

Sources

-http://www.theweatherobserver.com/2005/09/21/cirrus-spissatus-ci-spi/

-http://www.clouds-online.com/cloud_atlas/cirrus/cirrus.htm

-http://www.tpub.com/content/aerographer/14269/css/14269_34.htm