Definition
A category of clouds with bases from the surface up to about 6,500 feet above ground level (AGL). This group includes stratus, stratocumulus, and nimbostratus clouds, and they are typically composed of water droplets, though they may contain supercooled droplets that pose an icing hazard.
Plain English
Clouds that sit close to the ground, with their bases anywhere from the surface up to roughly 6,500 feet above the ground. They are usually flat or layered and often produce poor visibility, drizzle, steady rain, or snow.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation weather reports, forecasts, and weather-study material when cloud layers are grouped by height.
Why Pilots Care
Low clouds often create low ceilings that force instrument flight or delay departures and arrivals.
Grounding Statement
If the bottom of the cloud layer is near the airport or over nearby hills, the pilot may have little clear space between the ground and the clouds.
Intuition Check
Do not read “low clouds” as simply “clouds that look low.” In this context, it means clouds classified by the height of their base: surface to about 6,500 feet above the ground.
Example Sentence 1
The morning briefing showed low clouds across the route with ceilings around 1,200 feet, so the VFR flight was delayed until the layer lifted.
Example Sentence 2
Low clouds over the airport reduced visibility and required an IFR approach.