stratus Definition
stra·tus (strāt′əs)
noun pl. stra′ti-ī
the type of gray cloud found at low altitudes and consisting of a uniform layer of water droplets and sometimes ice crystals
Etymology: L, a strewing: see stratum
stratus Usage Examples
Preposition: on
hill: Cloud becoming well broken by 0600 UTC - no stratus on the hill - and the fresh SE'ly wind veering SSW'ly and easing F4.
Preposition: at
- ft: Fog lifting into stratus at 200 ft by 0800 UTC.
- foot: Mainly fine with no low cloud but stratus at 100 feet toward midnight.
Adjective modifier
- extensive: A dull, misty day with extensive low stratus.
- low: A generally cloudy day with drizzle patches, bringing the low stratus down to almost station level at times.
- gray: A wintry day in the park, with bare trees against an afternoon sky of high banks of silvery gray stratus.
- early: A dry, cloudy day with early stratus lifting to SC.
- patchy: Fog and mist until 10.00 hours, considerable cloud at 3,000 feet with patchy stratus near surface to 11.00 hours, reforming after dusk.
Modifies a noun
- cloud: A wet night becoming foggy by 0600 UTC as stratus cloud base fell to station level.
- base: A dry but hazy day, with the stratus base lifting a little to 800 feet around midday.
- surface: Fog and stratus surface to 200 feet 08.00 - 10.30 hours, otherwise fine.
- lifting: The stratus lifting from time to time with a little weak sunshine during the afternoon.
Noun used with modifier
hill: Visibility 30 km, falling to 15 km with some hill stratus during drizzle.
Preposition: in
morning: Cloudy with drizzle from stratus in early mornings at times, visibility good by day, moderate or poor at night.
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