can cirrus clouds form snow?

Question

i'm reading an article about cloud nucleation, and it says that 'silver iodide features a crystalline structure similar to ice and could prompt snow formulation at warmer temperatures'. i also read that cirrus clouds are very icy, but it didn't say if they form snow, rain, or neither?

Answer 1

Hello,

Cirrus clouds form at elevations greater than 15,000 ft. They usually occur around 20,000-25,000 ft. They are thin and wispy clouds made of ice crystals. The air that high up is very cold.

If the weather has been clear for a few days and then slowly some cirrus clouds move in it usually means a Low pressure front is moving in and the weather is going to change for the worse.

Answer 2

Cirrus clouds rarely produce precipitation. If they were to produce snow it would most likely be the tiny icey kind that only falls for a few moments.

Answer 3

I belive yes but due to the altitude of them they never make it to the ground,once on a skydive,at 15,000' it was snowing,we went down to 12,000 and it was sleeting,on down to 10,000' we hit freezing rain, so we went all the way down to 6,000' feet and it was a light rain so we jumped, once we landed on the ground it was dry as a bone so you can imagine the rapid changes from different altitudes. I hope this helps you out.

Answer 4

No they don't Cirrus clouds are very thin and don't produce precipatation.