Premium

What Are Nimbostratus Clouds Made Of?

Interactive passage with audio narration, comprehension questions, and printable PDF.

No ratings yet

Just this resource

$1.50

One-time purchase

Best value

Unlock everything

$49.99$29.99/yr

40% off until Aug 1 — 6,000+ resources

Unlock above to use these actions

Format: Interactive (Online), Printable (PDF)
Grades: 34567
Subjects: elareadingscience
Languages: English, Spanish

Send Feedback / Report an Issue

What's included

Reading passage

Reading comprehension

Audio narration

With word word highlighting

Comprehension quiz

Auto-graded

Writing activity

Open-ended response

Glossary & flashcards

Vocabulary practice

Differentiated version

Adapted for varied levels

Spanish translation

Bilingual support

About this reader

This NGSS-aligned reading passage explains what nimbostratus clouds are made of and how they form. Students will learn that these rain-bringing clouds consist of tiny water droplets or ice crystals formed when warm, moist air rises and cools. The passage describes how these thick, dark clouds create long-lasting precipitation without thunder or lightning. It supports NGSS standard MS-ESS2-6 and helps students understand cloud types, weather patterns, and the science behind cloudy skies.

Written by Workybooks TeamPublished by Workybooks

Sample passage and quiz content

CONTENT PREVIEW

Nimbostratus clouds are thick, dark clouds that cover the sky like a heavy blanket. These clouds are responsible for steady, long-lasting rain or snow. But what exactly are they made of?

Like all clouds, nimbostratus clouds are made of tiny water droplets or ice crystals, depending on the temperature. When the air is warmer, these clouds are mostly made of liquid water droplets. When the air is cold, especially higher up in the atmosphere, they may contain ice crystals instead—or a mix of both.

Nimbostratus clouds form when warm, moist air rises slowly over a large area. As this air cools, the water vapor inside it begins to condense around tiny particles in the air, such as dust or pollen. This process creates millions of small droplets that group together and form a thick, wide-spreading cloud.

These clouds are found at low to middle altitudes, but they can grow tall enough to stretch up into higher parts of the atmosphere. Because they are so full of moisture and block a lot of sunlight, they often appear dark grey and bring hours of dull, rainy weather.

Unlike towering storm clouds like cumulonimbus, nimbostratus clouds don’t produce lightning or thunder. Instead, they create gentle, continuous precipitation that can last for many hours or even days.

Fun Fact: The name “nimbostratus” comes from Latin—“nimbus” means rain and “stratus” means layer—so it literally means “rainy layer cloud.”

What kind of weather do nimbostratus clouds bring?

Thunderstorms and lightningLong-lasting rain or snowWindy and sunny skiesSnowstorms with hail