ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Clouds are a beautiful feature that you see when you look up to the sky. But, did you know that clouds can be classified by shape and height? There are three levels of clouds: low, medium, and high clouds. Within those levels are different types of clouds. Let's break down the different levels of clouds, starting with high-level clouds. High Clouds According to the National Weather Service (NWS), "high-level clouds occur above about 20,000 feet and are given the prefix 'cirro.'" Because these clouds occur so high up in the atmosphere, the clouds themselves are primarily made up of ice crystals. Because of this, high-level clouds appear thin and white. There are three main types of high-level clouds. They include cirrus, cirrostratus and cirrocumulus. Cirrus Clouds Like all high-level clouds, cirrus clouds are made up of tiny ice crystals because of how high up they form. Cirrus clouds can be described as thin and wispy clouds and often look distant in the sky. When cirrus clouds cover the sun, they are often not thick enough to prevent the sunlight from completely reaching the ground. During a sunrise or a sunset, these clouds can turn a yellow or orange color because ice crystals help to scatter light. This makes for beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Credit: Leanne Byer Cirroculumus Clouds Cirrcoculumus clouds are also very thin and wispy but often look like white dots that are close together in the sky. Although these clouds can similarly resemble cirrus clouds, cirrocumulus clouds often are more speckled with bright, white dots. Credit: Leanne Byer Cirrostratus Clouds Even though these clouds are pretty high up, cirrostratus clouds resemble an almost "uniform layer." The layer looks smooth and wispy, and rarely completely blocks the sunlight from reaching the ground. Cirrostratus clouds are also known for creating that halo-like symbol around the sun. Credit: Leanne Byer Mid-Level Clouds According to the NWS, "the bases of cloud in the middle level of the troposphere, given the prefix 'alto,' appear between 6,500 and 20,000 feet." Depending on a variety of things, such as the time of year, altitude, etc., mid-level clouds can be composed of liquid water droplets, ice crystals, or a combination of the two. The three main types of mid-level clouds are altostratus, and altocumulus. Altostratus Clouds Altostratus clouds are often seen as a gray layer across the sky. However, since these clouds are not the lowest level, the sun may still be barely visible. Although significant precipitation is not produced by these clouds, a drizzle or light rain shower is not completely impossible with a thick deck of altostratus clouds. Credit: The National Weather Service Altoculumus Clouds This type of cumulus cloud is typically grouped closer together than normal cumulus clouds. They typically resemble a white or gray patch in the sky. This type of cloud can also occasionally cover the sun. Credit: Leanne Byer Nimbostratus Clouds The prefix "nimbo" means "precipitating," so it would make sense that nimbostratus clouds are associated with rain and/or snow. These thick clouds block the sun completely out, meaning that you are in for a sunless and gloomy day. Credit: Leanne Byer Low Clouds According to the NWS, "low-level clouds are not given a prefix, although their names are derived from "strato" or "cumulo," depending on their characteristics; low clouds occur below 6,500 feet." Due to the level of the atmosphere they are in, low-level clouds are made from liquid water droplets except during cold winter storms, which then are made from ice crystals. The three main types of low-level clouds are stratus clouds, cumulus clouds, and stratocumulus. Stratus Clouds Stratus clouds are often gray clouds blanketing across the sky. Typically, light precipitation, such as drizzles, is associated with this type of cloud. When looking up at stratus clouds, it usually will make for a damp and gloomy day. Credit: Leanne Byer Cumulus Clouds Cumulus clouds are the white, puffy clouds that you typically see on a fair weather day, usually as a result of daytime heating and convection. These clouds are harmless, weather-wise, and typically provide some periodic shade throughout the day. Cumulus clouds typically form during the afternoon hours, which is the warmest part of the day. Credit: Leanne Byer Stratocumulus Clouds Stratocumulus clouds are a mixture of stratus and cumulus clouds (hence the name). These clouds are typically patchy and puffy, like cumulus clouds, but also a tad darker and expand across a greater distance, like stratus clouds. The sun is almost completely blocked at the ground by this layer of clouds. Credit: Leanne Byer