| Cirrostratus nebulosus | |
|---|---|
 Cirrostratus nebulosus clouds producing a22° sun halo. | |
| Abbreviation | Cs neb |
| Symbol |  |
| Genus | Cirrus- (curl) -stratus (layered) |
| Species | nebulosus (nebulous) |
| Altitude | Above 6,000 m (Above 20,000 ft) |
| Classification | Family A (High-level) |
| Appearance | smooth, fog-like veil[1] |
| Precipitation | No, but may indicate an approaching rain-producing weather system |
Cirrostratus nebulosus is a type of high-levelcirrostratus cloud. The namecirrostratus nebulosus is derived fromLatin, the adjectivenebulosus meaning "full of vapor, foggy, cloudy, dark".[2] Cirrostratus nebulosus is one of the two most common forms that cirrostratus often takes, with the other beingcirrostratus fibratus. The nebulosus species is featureless and uniform, while the fibratus species has a fibrous appearance.[3] Cirrostratus nebulosus are formed by gently rising air. The cloud is often hard to see unless the sun shines through it at the correct angle, forming ahalo.[4] While usually very light, the cloud may also be very dense, and the exact appearance of the cloud can vary from one formation to another.[5] In the winter, precipitation often follows behind these clouds; however, they are not a precipitation-producing cloud.[6]