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Cumulus congestus cloud
A group of cumulus congestus clouds viewed from midway from the summit of Mount Kinabalu.
Symbol
Genus	Cumulus
Species	congestus
Altitude	up to 6,000 m (up to 20,000 ft)
Classification	Family D (Vertically developed)
Appearance	sharp outlines and great vertical development
Precipitation cloud?	frequently,1 but not always2
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Cumulus congestus clouds (also towering cumulus (TCu)) are characteristic of unstable areas of the atmosphere which are undergoing convection. They are often characterized by sharp outlines and great vertical development.³ Because cumulus congestus is produced by strong updrafts, it is typically taller than it is wide, and cloud tops can reach 6 kilometres (20,000 ft),⁴ or higher in the tropics.¹ Cumulus congestus clouds are formed by the development of cumulus mediocris generally, though they can also be formed from altocumulus castellanus or stratocumulus castellanus as well.³

Cumulus congestus will mature into cumulonimbus calvus under conditions of sufficient instability. This transformation can be seen by the presence of smooth, fibrous, or striated aspects assumed by the cloud's upper part. This cloud type produces precipitation, often in abundance. The congestus species of cloud can only be found in the genus cumulus.³ Cumulus congestus contains towers which contain many high working cells.

Sources

Footnotes

Bibliography

• American Meteorological Society - Glossary of Meteorology

See also

• Cumulus castellanus
• Cumulonimbus

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