 We all like to look for shapes in the clouds, but on a day like today, the sky is basically a blank slate. Stratus clouds can easily be spotted in the sky as they look like flat sheets of clouds floating through the air. The word stratus comes from Latin, meaning layer. They often appear as a layer of featureless clouds that blink at the entire sky, forming what is commonly known as overcast skies. Unlike other clouds, they are characterized by horizontal rather than vertical development and typically form a gray cloud layer with a uniform base. If the layer is thick enough, stratus clouds may produce a light mist or slow drizzling rain, or even a few snow particles. But nimble stratus clouds are more likely to produce continuous light to moderate rain or snow. Often when you see stratus clouds, it means an overcast day is ahead, as these clouds are mainly associated with low pressure storm systems. Stratus clouds may stay in one place for several days at a time, yet when a layer of stratus clouds begins to break up and dissipate, blue sky in the outline of the sun can start to be discerned. Most days in Wyoming are sunny, so it won't be long before these stratus clouds move on. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Tina Russell, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.