Species undulatus (waves) Indicates precipitation Usually no Abbreviation As un Maximum altitude (feet) 20,000 | Precipitation cloud? Usually no Classification Family B (mid-level) Minimum altitude (feet) 8,000 | |
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Genus Alto- (high), -stratus (layered) Appearance Wavy, like ripples in a pond | ||
The altostratus undulatus is a type of altostratus cloud with signature undulations within it. These undulations may be visible (usually as "wavy bases"), but frequently they are indiscernible to the naked eye. These formations will generally appear in the early stages of destabilizing return flows, especially over the southern plains of the United States, when the surface temperature is still relatively cool. The wavy strips of clouds are generally near an inversion surface.
Also referred to as billow clouds, wind row clouds, or wave clouds, variations of the undulatus can be elements that have merged or single elements that have stretched through the sky. They often run parallel, but can also appear to interweave across the sky, especially if dual wave systems are seen (also referred to as biundulatus). Gravity waves aligned normally to the direction of the wind can show wide, near-parallel cloud strips.