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Stratocumulus Clouds:Low, Puffy Layer

Stratocumulus clouds are low patches, sheets, or layers made of broad rounded masses, rolls, or cells that often join together. They usually produce little precipitation beyond drizzle or light rain or snow, and their limited vertical growth separates them from cumulus towers.

Stratocumulus (Sc)
Stratocumulus (Sc)

How to identify stratocumulus clouds

Thicker, low-altitude, and somewhat conjoined heaps of clouds

You might consider stratocumulus clouds a mix of stratus clouds and cumulus clouds. Hence the name (strato- and cumulo- are latin for layer and heap, respectively). They’re a layer of puffy clouds, and can usually be found joined together, similar to altocumulus clouds.

In a lot of ways, these clouds are like altocumulus clouds, but much closer to the ground. Similar to altocumulus, stratocumulus clouds come in many different shapes and sizes and have a handful of associated species, varieties, and features, more than any of the ten main cloud types in fact. This arguably makes for exciting time watching the sky.

They come in various cloud species that describe forms of rising turret formations (castellanus), wooly locks (floccus), smooth lens shaped (lenticularis), layer form blanketing the sky (stratiformis), and even as a roll cloud (volutus). More dramatic versions of stratocumulus clouds include (but aren’t limited to) chaotic and wavy features (asperitas), sac-like features (mamma), and can even have the rare kelvin-helmholtz wave cloud (fluctus) association. It’s fair to say that stratocumulus clouds are diverse as they’re capable of many different looks.

Stratocumulus cloud examples

Stratocumulus floccus (Sc flo)
Stratocumulus radiatus (Sc ra)
Stratocumulus (Sc)
Stratocumulus lenticularis undulatus (Sc len un)
Stratocumulus volutus (Sc vol)
Stratocumulus stratiformis opacus (Sc str op)

Is it stratocumulus? Check these four clues

Use the large element size, low level, and connected layer together. Similar patterns occur at middle and high levels.

  1. Broad rounded elements

    Individual rolls or masses look large from the ground, often about fist-sized at arm's length.

  2. Low shared layer

    The elements connect or sit at a common low level instead of standing as isolated towers.

  3. Light and dark shading

    Rounded tops and thicker portions create obvious tonal variation across the deck.

  4. Shallow vertical growth

    The cloud may look lumpy, but most of its structure spreads sideways rather than rising deeply.

Read the pattern inside stratocumulus

Gaps, opacity, and small turrets show whether the low layer is breaking, remaining stable, or becoming locally more convective.

  1. 1Broad low layerStratiformisOften quiet and grayLarge rounded elements spread across a wide sheet with little vertical development.Open the field note →
  2. 2Small gaps between rollsPerlucidusLayer partly brokenClear openings remain between connected elements, allowing blue sky or higher cloud to show.Open the field note →
  3. 3Turrets on the layerCastellanusLow-level instabilitySmall castle-like towers rise from a shared stratocumulus base.Open the field note →
  4. 4Layer breaks apartDetached heapsConvection may increaseIf elements separate and build upward from flat bases, the cloud may be better classified as cumulus.Open the field note →

Classifying stratocumulus clouds beyond the cloud type

Begin with stratocumulus as the cloud type, then add species, varieties, supplementary features, accessory clouds, or origin terms only when each detail is visible. Every illustration below links to its complete field note.

Stratocumulus cloud species

5 cloud species are associated with stratocumulus clouds. Open any field note to compare the illustration with photographs and identification guidance.

Illustration of stratocumulus castellanus cloudsStratocumulus castellanus (Sc cas)Rising towers, turretsExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus floccus cloudsStratocumulus floccus (Sc flo)Puffy, ragged tuftsExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus lenticularis cloudsStratocumulus lenticularis (Sc len)Lens-shaped, resembling a UFOExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus stratiformis cloudsStratocumulus stratiformis (Sc str)Horizontal, layer-like formExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus volutus cloudsStratocumulus volutus (Sc vol)Tube-shaped roll cloudExplore this subtype →

Stratocumulus cloud varieties

7 cloud varieties are associated with stratocumulus clouds. Open any field note to compare the illustration with photographs and identification guidance.

Illustration of stratocumulus duplicatus cloudsStratocumulus duplicatus (Sc du)MultilayeredExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus lacunosus cloudsStratocumulus lacunosus (Sc la)Perforated, round frayed holesExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus opacus cloudsStratocumulus opacus (Sc op)Opaque, hides the Sun or MoonExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus perlucidus cloudsStratocumulus perlucidus (Sc pe)Transparent by small gapsExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus radiatus cloudsStratocumulus radiatus (Sc ra)Parallel bands and stripsExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus translucidus cloudsStratocumulus translucidus (Sc tr)Translucent, Sun or Moon position visibleExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus undulatus cloudsStratocumulus undulatus (Sc un)Wavelike, undulatingExplore this subtype →

Stratocumulus supplementary features

6 supplementary features are associated with stratocumulus clouds. Open any field note to compare the illustration with photographs and identification guidance.

Illustration of stratocumulus asperitas cloudsStratocumulus asperitas (Sc asp)Chaotic, wavy underneathExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus cavum cloudsStratocumulus cavum (Sc cav)Fallstreak hole, hole punchExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus fluctus cloudsStratocumulus fluctus (Sc flu)Kelvin-Helmholtz waves, curlsExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus mamma cloudsStratocumulus mamma (Sc mam)Sac-like, resembling cow uddersExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus praecipitatio cloudsStratocumulus praecipitatio (Sc pra)Precipitation reaching the surfaceExplore this subtype →Illustration of stratocumulus virga cloudsStratocumulus virga (Sc vir)Precipitation trails that do not reach the groundExplore this subtype →

Compare stratocumulus with similar cloud types

Use cloud-base level, texture, structure, and sky coverage together before choosing the closest match.

Stratocumulus vs. altocumulus

Stratocumulus has broad low-level rolls or masses. Altocumulus appears higher, with smaller elements that still may show gray shading.

Best clueFist-sized elements and an obviously low deck favor stratocumulus; smaller mid-level elements favor altocumulus.

Illustration of stratocumulus clouds
Stratocumulus
Illustration of altocumulus clouds
Altocumulus

Stratocumulus vs. cumulus

Stratocumulus joins into a low layer or field of rolls. Cumulus is more often detached and grows upward from relatively flat bases.

Best clueConnected sky coverage favors stratocumulus; separated heaps with crisp vertical growth favor cumulus.

Illustration of stratocumulus clouds
Stratocumulus
Illustration of cumulus clouds
Cumulus

Stratocumulus vs. stratus

Stratocumulus retains visible rounded elements, rolls, and shading. Stratus is smoother, more uniform, and fog-like.

Best clueIf you can trace individual rounded masses within the deck, favor stratocumulus.

Illustration of stratocumulus clouds
Stratocumulus
Illustration of stratus clouds
Stratus

See a stratocumulus cloud classification in action

Follow a real photograph through the visible clues that lead to a complete cloud classification.

Photograph of stratocumulus floccus cloudsStratocumulus floccus (Sc flo)See how height, shape, coverage, and other clues build this full classification.Read the step-by-step lesson →
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