Page "Cirrus cloud" Paragraph 41
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Wikipedia
They are sometimes similar to altostratus and are distinguishable from the latter because the sun or moon is always clearly visible through transparent cirrostratus, in contrast to altostratus which tends to be opaque or translucent.
Towards the bottom, at temperatures of around to, the crystals tend to be long, solid, hexagonal columns.
Towards the top of the cloud, at temperatures of around to, the predominant crystal types are thick, hexagonal plates and short, solid, hexagonal columns.
These clouds produce halos very commonly, and sometimes the halo is the only thing that indicates the presence of the cloud.
When a warm front approaches, cirrostratus clouds deepen and lower into altostratus, and rain usually begins 12 to 24 hours later.
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