A cirrus cloud is a part of the cloud formation which is characterized by ice crystals and forms the unique shape of thin wisplike strands. These wispy clouds are so far-reaching that they combine to form a blanket sheet which is even known as "cirrostratus".

It is within high altitudes that these cirrus clouds take the shape of small cloud tufts to form what is known as "cirrocumulus", accompanied with dewdrops of super cooled water.

Cirrus clouds turn out to be hair like filaments which ultimately turn into ice crystals that precipitate in due course of time. Usually the cirrus cloud forges ahead in rapid speed leaving behind the lower layer of air and creating a mark of fall streak within the sky. These fall streaks suggest the motion and the direction in which the air is moving. Cirrus clouds can be seen in full form especially above 8000 meters (26,000 feet).

The fall streaks are straight in nature usually when the wind shear is not present thereby giving it a shape of comma (cirrus uncinus) or indicating it to be in a state of high-level turmoil.

Infrared radiations (heat) are usually entrapped and revealed by Cirrus clouds which lie beneath the greenhouse effect and is even known to emit sunlight to a great extent. Cirrus clouds either warms the earth surface or even cools it, which is yet to be determined. If there are huge amount of cirrus cloud formation within the sky this gives a signal of upper air disturbance especially accompanied with thunderstorms.