Florida Keys Cloud Chart
By Jim W. Lee
One of the many functions
of the National Weather Service is to collect weather data and
observations. One type of observation is a description of
"sky condition", the amount and character of clouds visible in
the sky. This is coded according to established categories,
detailed on the three pages linked below.
Clouds need two major ingredients to form - rising air and moisture.
These ingredients are usually only required at the altitude at
which the clouds are forming or developing. For example,
a cloud deck based at 10,000 feet above the ground indicates sufficient
rising air and moisture at that level, but does not necessarily
reflect the state of the atmosphere below 10,000 feet (or above
the top of the cloud deck). On the following pages I will
provide photographic examples and brief descriptions of the various
cloud types that are identified for the purposes of sky condition
observations. Low level clouds are generally based at or
below 6,500 feet above ground, mid-level clouds are generally
based between 6,500 feet and 15,000 feet above ground, and high
level clouds are generally based more than 15,000 feet above ground.
All of the pictures
on these pages were taken in the Lower Keys, unless otherwise
noted.
On the following pages, click on any image
for a larger version!
Low Clouds
Middle Clouds
High Clouds