Definition of Cirrus Clouds. Some parts of these flaky clouds have an almost transparent look due to their light nature. If they do grow tall, they can turn into thunderstorms. Cumulus, Stratus, and Cirrus. Small cumulus are commonly grouped with the low clouds because they do not show significant vertical extent Cumulus clouds are the puffy clouds that look like puffs of cotton. The bottom of cumulus clouds are fairly close to the ground. The reason for their formation from ice crystals is because the temperature and at the height at which they form is around 36 degrees below zero. Because cirrus clouds appear above 20,000 feet (6,096 m)—an altitude where low temperatures and low water vapor exist—they are made up of tiny ice crystals rather than water droplets. Cirrus clouds have a distinct look relative to the other nine cloud types. The list of cloud types groups the main genera as high (cirrus, cirro-), middle (alto-), multi-level (nimbostratus, cumulus, cumulonimbus), and low (stratus, strato-) according to the altitude level or levels at which each cloud is normally found. You can say they are the highest clouds. Cirrus is made up completely of ice crystals, which provides their white colour and form in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Cirrus clouds have actually been spotted as well! Wispy, cirrus-like, these contain no significant icing or turbulence. Typically found at heights greater than 20,000 feet (6,000 meters), cirrus clouds are composed of ice crystals that originate from the freezing of supercooled water droplets.. Cirrus clouds All high clouds are a type of cirrus, a common cloud that can be seen at any time of the year. Cirrus clouds are made of ice crystals and look like long, thin, wispy white streamers high in the sky. Because cirrus clouds are made of ice crystals, they look different than your typical puffy cloud shape, and can take on a number of different forms that resemble spider webs, fish skeletons, mares’ tail, or hair-like commas. Cirrus are thin, feather-like ice crystal clouds in patches or narrow bands. cirrus cloud: 1 n a wispy white cloud (usually of fine ice crystals) at a high altitude (4 to 8 miles) Synonyms: cirrus Types: mare's tail a long narrow flowing cirrus cloud Type of: cloud a visible mass of water or ice particles suspended at a considerable altitude Cirrus clouds are the familiar thin, feathery looking clouds you see high up in the sky on an otherwise clear and sunny day. Larger ice crystals often trail downward in well-defined wisps called "mares' tails." There are three main cloud types. Cirrus clouds form from the ascent of dry air, making the small quantity of water vapour in the air undergo deposition into ice (to change from a gas directly into a solid). Cirrus clouds are often seen during fair weather. Cirrus Clouds thin and wispy The most common form of high-level clouds are thin and often wispy cirrus clouds. Their formation takes place quite high in the sky. In addition to forming on Earth, cirrus clouds can form on planets like Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus! Like their name suggests (which is Latin for "curl of hair"), cirrus are thin, white, wispy strands of clouds that streak across the sky. Weather prediction: Severe weather might be on its way! Mammatus clouds are actually altocumulus, cirrus, cumulonimbus, or other types of clouds that have these pouch-like shapes hanging out of the bottom. CIRRUS. Cirrus clouds are very thing clouds that are composed of ice crystals. As is common with many high-level clouds, they always occur in during clear and pleasant weather conditions. They are commonly known as "mare's tails" because they are shaped like the tail of a horse. 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