What Are Clouds That Form High Towers?

Cumulus Congestus

• Cumulus congestus clouds are large, towering, or cauliflowerlike clouds, with clearly-defined outlines. When taking the form of high towers, the fluffy top portions sometimes break off from the main body of the cloud and are carried away by wind, forming new clouds. Cumulus congestus clouds often transform into cumulonimbus clouds. Like cumulonimbus clouds, they may produce heavy rain, although typically only when occurring in the tropics.

Castellanus

• Castellanus clouds, also known as cumulus castellanus clouds, have large, broad bases, from which multiple distinct towers extend. These vertical formations are lumpy or fluffy in appearance and are higher than they are wide. The vertical protuberances that characterize castellanus clouds are easiest to see when viewing the cloud from the side. If they attain sufficient vertical development, castellanus clouds develop into cumulus congestus clouds, and eventually may become cumulonimbus clouds.

Cumulonimbus

• Cumulonimbus clouds can occur individually or in groups, forming a wall of dense, towering clouds. The base of the cloud is often much darker than the upper portions, which extend vertically into an anvil or plume shape, often reaching heights of 40,000 to 60,000 feet. Cumulonimbus clouds typically generate heavy precipitation, and because of their tendency to produce lightning and thunder, cumulonimbus clouds are also known as "thunderclouds" or "thunderheads."

Turkey Tower

• A slang term used by storm watchers, "turkey tower" refers to an individual cloud resembling a narrow, towering column. Turkey towers develop quickly, and then break apart just as rapidly. The development of turkey towers from cumulus clouds often occurs when a layer of warm air in the atmosphere breaks, allowing the release of atmospheric instability caused by the difference in the warm, moist air below the layer, and the cooler, drier air above.