Cumulus clouds are very common in many different types of weather situations. Cumulus clouds often take on the appearance of fluffy cotton balls. Cumulus clouds are low level clouds and will develop vertically instead of horizontally. A name will sometimes be added to a cumulus cloud to describe where it is in its development. For instance, cumulus clouds that are not developing and are just dotting the sky on a sunny day are called cumulus humilis. These clouds are often referred to as "fair weather cumulus". A cumulus cloud that is showing signs of continued vertical development is called cumulus congestus. Once a cumulus cloud reaches maturity and begins to precipitate, it is called a cumulonimbus.
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