Cloud Atlas
Cirrocumulus (Cc)
Tiny high ripples/grains — a delicate, often short-lived ‘mackerel sky’.
How to spot it
- Very small ripples/grains with little to no shading
- Elements are tiny: often less than ~1° (the ‘little finger’ test)
- Often appears near cirrus/cirrostratus
What it can mean
- Often linked to high-level wave motions and instability aloft
- Not a direct rain signal by itself
- Creates fine texture for dramatic skies
Photography tips
- Try a longer focal length to emphasize repeating patterns
- Keep the horizon low; let the pattern fill the frame
- Sunrise/sunset gives subtle color gradients