What type of clouds are distinct, puffy, and vertically developed?

Cumulus clouds are characterized by their distinct, puffy appearance and significant vertical development. They typically form in fair weather conditions and are often associated with a strong upward motion of air, leading to their rounded tops, which can resemble cotton balls. These clouds can vary in size and grow vertically, indicating that they are developed from rising warm air.

In contrast, stratus clouds are low, uniform, gray clouds that cover the sky, resembling fog, without any vertical development. Nimbus clouds, while they are associated with precipitation, do not define a specific cloud type and can encompass various cloud formations. Cirrus clouds are high-altitude clouds that are wispy and thin, lacking the puffy and vertically developed characteristics seen in cumulus clouds. The key attributes of cumulus clouds make them easily identifiable and related to typical fair weather.