Cirrus cloud is described as?

• A. Big, fluffy clouds that indicate fair weather
• B. Layered clouds that cover much of the sky
• C. Wispy, feathery clouds made of ice crystals that form at high levels; may indicate an approaching weather depression
• D. Rain cloud; usually low, dark, and formless

Answer: (C)

Cirrus clouds are high-altitude, wispy clouds made of ice crystals that form up near the top of the troposphere. Their thin, feathery appearance comes from ice crystals rather than water droplets, and they typically don’t produce rain. What makes them useful for predicting weather is their tendency to signal that a weather system, such as a frontal boundary or low-pressure area, is approaching—often a day or two in advance.

Other cloud descriptions describe different types: big fluffy clouds indicate cumulus, usually seen in fair weather when isolated; layered clouds that cover much of the sky describe stratus; rain clouds that are low and dark point to nimbostratus or cumulonimbus, which bring precipitation. Cirrus stands apart because of its elevation, texture, and icy composition, which align with indicating a forthcoming change in the weather rather than immediate rain.