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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.