STORM2K

How can cloud altitudes and distances be judged?

Via a sensor on ASOS, among other things. See here:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/asos/sky.htm

That is, if you mean from the ground. From a satellite, it gets more complicated. Let me know.

Lower clouds are below 6,000-10,000 feet they are stratus,the bases of Cumulus,...Mid level clouds are 10 to 18,000 feet which are unlike the lower clouds both water and Ice clouds. Maybe higher for the tropics in lower for the polar area's. High clouds are cirrus family which are 21 or more thousand feet. See the cirrus outflow of a hurricane are at hight levels=theres normally a Anticyclone at that level. While the lower levels grow ever more like a low pressure with in the hurricane. So they flow counter-clockwise around the low pressure...The lowest clouds the Stratus/Stratocu clouds we look for when looking at a visible satellite to see if theres a LLC at the surface.

So is the only way to tell by sight by using the cloud type? I am thinking of the beautiful formations of cumulus or stratocumulus I see off the shore in the winter. If they are cumulus, their bases should be ~6000 ft. But what about the distance?

Usually cumulus bases are lower than 6000 ft (unless you are in a location like mine). However, the limits for low clouds is not hard and fast because in arid climates, you can get Cu bases above 6000 ft. One way to tell is to analyse the nearest sounding which can give you an idea of where the low cloud bases my be at.

Steve