cumulonimbus cloud
A dense, towering vertical cloud.
Well-developed cumulonimbus clouds are characterized by a flat, anvil-like top (anvil dome), caused by wind shear or inversion near the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere. These clouds are capable of producing lightning and other dangerous severe weather, such as tornadoes and hailstones.
Types
- Cumulonimbus calvus: Latin for "bald", features a puffy top
- Cumulonimbus capillatus: Latin for "long hair", features ice crystal clouds that streak out at its top edge giving it a fibrous appearance
- Cumulonimbus capillatus incus: Also known as an "anvil cloud" (incus being Latin for anvil), features a flat, anvil-top shape