How Does Clouds for Kids | Cirrus, Cumulus, & Stratus Work?

Clouds are like fluffy cotton candy that float in the sky because water turns into tiny droplets or ice crystals up high.

Cirrus clouds are like wispy feathers in the sky, they're made of ice crystals, and they appear when it's cold way up above. They’re thin and pretty, and sometimes you can see them through the day.

Cumulus clouds look like big, puffy cotton balls, they’re fluffy and soft, just like a cloud you might draw in your notebook. These clouds form when warm air rises and cools down, making water droplets that gather together.

Stratus clouds are like a blanket covering the sky, they're flat and gray, and sometimes it rains or snows from them because they’re lower in the sky. They’re kind of like a fog that’s high up instead of on the ground.

Each type of cloud is made by different weather conditions, just like how you might wear a sweater on a cold day or a swimsuit on a hot one. Clouds are just nature's way of showing us what the weather is doing!