Stratocumulus castellanus cloud
Mid-level cloud that indicates unstable air
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Stratocumulus castellanus or Stratocumulus castellatus[1] is a type of stratocumulus cloud. Castellanus is derived from Latin, meaning 'of a castle.' Clouds of this type appear as cumuliform turrets vertically rising from a common horizontal cloud base. These turrets are taller than they are wide.[2]
| Stratocumulus castellanus | |
|---|---|
Stratocumulus castellanus, with various turrets of very small size and one of a larger size | |
| Abbreviation | Sc cas |
| Symbol |  |
| Genus | Stratocumulus |
| Species | Castellanus |
| Altitude | Above 2,000 m (Above 6,560 ft) |
| Appearance | small turrets |
| Precipitation | Virga, and sometimes light rain |
The presence of stratocumulus castellanus clouds indicates an increasingly unstable atmosphere,[3] and seeing this type of cloud in the morning usually means that there is a possibility of thunderstorms forming later in the afternoon.[4] In the right conditions, these clouds can grow into cumulus congestus clouds and, sometimes, into cumulonimbus clouds.[5]