How do the height and thickness of clouds influence the probability of precipitation?

Answer 1

The clouds denseness is what can help you predict precipetation. A cloud could be huge but hollow so that the precipitation is less than it looks like it should be. But a small cloud could be dense so that it would rain more than you would predict.

Answer 2

Generally, clouds are less likely to precipitate anything if they are higher up in the sky. I believe this is due to the air being colder and drier the higher up you go. Clouds form when the moisture in the air is great enough to cause water to condense out. At high altitudes, a very small quantity of water will saturate the air and produce a cloud; but it is still a very small quantity of water and not enough to make rain or snow. That's why you never see gray cirrus clouds, or rainy weather when there is a high overcast layer. CLoser to the ground, air is warmer and more humid and can hold a LOT more water.

Regarding cloud thickness, generally a cloud should be at least 4000 feet thick before it is capable of precipitation. Thinner clouds can cause precipitation but not as often.

Answer 3

Not to any great extent. As long as they are about 2000' thick you can get rain or drizzle. What mostly influences precipitation is the instability. That is the vertical movement of the air. This greatly influences precipitation. You can have a cloud mass 5000' thick and not rain or one of 1000' with lots of instability and have rain.