Cloud Accessories: The 4 Different Accessory Clouds

Get to know the 4 different accessory clouds

There are only four accessory clouds. As far as cloud classification is concerned, accessory clouds are very similar in nature to supplementary features except that accessory clouds aren’t generally attached to the main cloud. For example, a cap cloud (pileus) is an accessory to a cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud where a cap or hood forms in the vicinity of a cumuliform tower. And scud clouds (pannus), which can be described as ragged cloud matter, aren’t attached to the main cloud but usually found below it.

Accessory clouds are similar to cloud varieties and supplementary features in that one cloud can have multiple accessories applied to them. Illustrated below are the four accessory clouds. Clicking on an illustration will lead you to a page that will provide you with a description, photograph examples, and illustrations of each accessory cloud. Each illustration includes the cloud type (abbr.) that the accessory cloud is associated with. The orange dot under the cloud type abbreviation indicates the specific cloud type that’s portrayed in the illustration. ⛅