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What Are Nimbostratus Clouds Made Of? — Reading Comprehension

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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.

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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

What are nimbostratus clouds made of?

Only iceDust and windTiny water droplets or ice crystalsLightning and thunder

When do nimbostratus clouds contain ice crystals?

On warm daysOnly at the equatorWhen they are high and coldWhen the sun shines

What causes water vapor to condense into a cloud?

Sunlight hitting the groundAir speeding upCooling of warm, moist airWater evaporating into the air

What kind of cloud is nimbostratus?

A layered cloud that brings rainA tall cloud with thunderA fluffy, fair-weather cloudA foggy ground-level cloud

Why do nimbostratus clouds look dark?

They are made of smokeThey block sunlight and are full of moistureThey are closer to the groundThey absorb heat from the Earth

What is the main idea of the passage?

Nimbostratus clouds help create snowstormsNimbostratus clouds are thick and bring steady precipitationNimbostratus clouds are shaped like thunderheadsNimbostratus clouds only form in summer

What does the word “nimbostratus” mean?

Rain stormThunder cloudPuffy white cloudRainy layer cloud