Which type of clouds typically indicate stable weather conditions?

Stratus clouds are typically associated with stable weather conditions. These clouds form in layers, covering the sky like a blanket, and they often lead to overcast skies with light precipitation such as drizzle. The presence of stratus clouds generally indicates that there is little vertical movement of air in the atmosphere, which contributes to stability. In stable weather, atmospheric conditions prevent strong updrafts, which leads to gradual processes like the formation of these flat clouds.

In contrast, other cloud types do not generally indicate stability. For example, cumulus clouds are often associated with rising air, indicating instability, particularly when they grow into larger cumulonimbus clouds, which can bring severe weather. Nimbus clouds, specifically nimbostratus, can indicate precipitation but also reflect more unstable conditions when associated with storm systems. Cirrus clouds, while high and wispy, usually form in stable air, but their presence often signals that a change in weather may be on the way, indicating that they are not a direct indication of stable conditions at the surface.