It is helpful for, even the experienced,  storm spotter to see examples of cloud formations in order to accurately report the type of weather conditions that are being observed.  NOAA has a very good library of images available for any person to access and review.  Presented here are a few of the more common types of cloud formations.

Image ID: nssl0033, NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Collection
Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL

Anvil of large cumulonimbus thunderhead during early stages of developing storm.

Image ID: nssl0035, NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Collection
Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
Building line of cumulonimbus thunderstorms. View is from behind storms during early stages of development.

Building line of cumulonimbus thunderstorms. View is from behind storms during early stages of development.

Image ID: nssl0036, NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Collection
Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
Approaching thunderstorm with lead gust front. Rain-cooled air from the storm moves out ahead of the storm. It ploughs under the warm moist air forming a flat" shelf cloud.

Approaching thunderstorm with lead gust front. Rain-cooled air from the storm moves out ahead of the storm. It ploughs under the warm moist air forming a flat" shelf cloud".

Image ID: nssl0041, NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Collection
Photo Date: 1982
Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

Image ID: nssl0043, NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Collection
Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

Image ID: nssl0047, NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Collection
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Photo Date: 1982
Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

Thunderstorm out flow from storm core shows up as sheets of wind driven rain spreading from right to left in 1982 photo.

Image ID: nssl0050, NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Collection
Photo Date: 1982
Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

Tornado with dust and debris cloud forming at surface. During "Sound Chase", a joint project of NSSL and Mississippi State University.

Image ID: nssl0054, NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Collection
Location: Cordell, Oklahoma
Photo Date: May 22, 1981
Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) 

Wall cloud with tail cloud.

Image ID: nssl0108, NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Collection
Location: Oklahoma-Texas Border
Photo Date: June 16, 1980
Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

Mammatus clouds

Image ID: nssl0131, NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Collection
Location: Hobart, Oklahoma
Photo Date: May 14, 1977
Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

Project Vortex-99. An occluded mesocyclone tornado rated an F3 by an NWS damage survey. Occluded means old circulation on a storm; this tornado was forming while the new circulation was beginning to form the tornadoes which preceeded the F5 Oklahoma City tornado. Photo #1 of sequence.

Image ID: nssl0208, NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Collection
Location: 10 mi. south of Anadarko, Oklahoma
Photo Date: May 3, 1999
Credit: OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

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