The Weather and Folklore of Altocumulus Clouds

An altocumulus cloud is a middle-level cloud that lives between 6,500 to 20,00 feet above ground and is made of water. Its name comes from the Latin Altus meaning high Cumulus meaning heaped. Altocumulus clouds are of the stratocumuliform cloud family (physical form) and are one of the 10 basic cloud types. There are four species of cloud underneath the altocumulus genus: altocumulus lenticularis (stationary lens-shaped clouds that are often mistaken for UFOs)altocumulus castellanus (altocumulus with tower-like sproutings that billow upwards)altocumulus stratiformis (altocumulus in sheets or relatively flat patches)altocumulus floccus (altocumulus with scattered tufts and fringy lower parts) The abbreviation for altocumulus clouds is (Ac). Cotton Balls in the Sky Altocumulus are commonly seen on warm spring and summer mornings. Theyre some of the simplest clouds to identify, especially since they look like balls of cotton stuck into the blue background of the sky. Theyre often white or gray in color and are arranged in patches of wavy, rounded masses or rolls. Altocumulus clouds are often called sheepback or mackerel sky because they resemble the wool of sheep and scales of mackerel fish. Bellwethers of Bad Weather Altocumulus clouds that appear on a clear humid morning can indicate the development of thunderstorms later in the day. Thats because altocumulus clouds often precede cold fronts of low-pressure systems. As such, they also sometimes signal the onset of cooler temperatures. While they are not clouds from which precipitation falls, their presence signals convection and instability at mid-levels of the troposphere. Altocumulus in Weather Folklore Mackerel sky, mackerel sky. Never long wet and never long dry.Mackerel scales and mares tails make lofty ships carry low sails. If youre a fan of weather folklore, youve likely heard the above sayings, both of which are true. The first piece of lore warns that if altocumulus clouds are seen and air pressure begins to fall, the weather wont be dry for much longer because it may start raining within 6 hours time. But once the rain does come, it wont be wet for long because as the warm front passes, so too will the precipitation. The second rhyme warns ships to lower and take in their sails for the same reason; a storm may be approaching soon and the sails should be lowered to protect them from the accompanying high winds.