 nimbostratus is a low-to-middle Ã©tage cloud that has considerable vertical and horizontal extent and produces precipitation over a wide area. "nimbo" is from the latin word "nimbus", which denotes precipitation. it is a multilevel stratiform layer with a diffuse cloud base generally found anywhere from near surface and about 10000&nbsp;ft (3000 m). this cloud typically forms from altostratus in the middle altitude range, but it tends to thicken into the low altitude range during precipitation. although usually dark at its base, it often appears illuminated from within to a surface observer.world meteorological organization international cloud atlas nimbostratus usually has a thickness of about 2000 m. though found worldwide, nimbostratus occurs more commonly in the middle latitudes. it is coded cm2 on the synop report. :*species and varieties: nimbostratus is very thick, opaque, and featureless, so this genus type is not subdivided into species or varieties. :::*precipitation-based supplementary features: nimbostratus is a major precipition cloud and produces the virga or praecipitatio features. the latter can achieve heavy intensity due to the cloud's vertical depth. :::*accessory cloud: pannus frequently forms in precipitation and is coded cl7. :::*genitus mother clouds: this genus type can form from cumulus and cumulonimbus. :::*mutatus mother clouds: nimbostratus can form due to the complete transformation of altocumulus, altostratus and stratocumulus. ==formation== nimbostratus occurs along a warm front or occluded front where the slowly rising warm air mass creates nimbostratus along with shallower stratus clouds producing less rain, these clouds being preceded by higher-level clouds such as cirrostratus and altostratus. often, when an altostratus cloud thickens and descends into lower altitudes, it will become nimbostratus. nimbostratus, unlike cumulo
Stratus