Nimbostratus cloud

Nimbostratus cloud
Nimbostratus with pannus
Abbreviation	Ns
Symbol
Genus	Nimbostratus (rain, layered)
Altitude	500–5,500 m (2,000–18,000 ft)
Appearance	Dark and featureless layer cloud full of water vapor; responsible for rain and snow
Precipitation	Yes: rain, ice pellets, or snow; sometimes virga

A nimbostratus cloud is a multilevel, amorphous, nearly uniform, and often dark-grey cloud that usually produces continuous rain, snow, or sleet, but no lightning or thunder.^[1][2][3]

Although it is usually a low-based cloud, it actually forms most commonly in the middle level of the troposphere and then spreads vertically into the low and high levels. Nimbostratus usually produces precipitation over a wide area.

The prefix nimbo- comes from the Latin word nimbus, which denotes "cloud" or "halo".

Downward-growing nimbostratus can have the same vertical extent as most large upward-growing cumulus, but its horizontal expanse tends to be even greater.