Altostratus Clouds: Formation, Characteristics and What They Reveal About the Weather

Altostratus clouds may not be as dramatic as towering thunderstorms or as visually spectacular as colorful sunsets, but they are among the most important cloud types for understanding changing weather conditions. Covering large portions of the sky with a smooth gray or bluish layer, these mid-level clouds often signal that a weather system is approaching. For meteorologists, pilots and weather…