Based on the observation data and FY2 satellite cloud image, statistical analysis is carried out on the configuration of weather situation and the evolution of satellite cloud images of 76 shorttime heavy rainfall processes in Gansu Province during May and September of 2010-2015. The results show that there are six kinds of characteristic cloud types, which are related to the shortterm heavy rainfall in Gansu Province, including subtropical high edge, comma cloud, front of the cold front, overlay of cold front tail and South Asia high, the back of the cold vortex, elliptic cloud front of the weak cold front. The subtropical high edge, front of the cold front and elliptic cloud front of the weak cold front types, are related to the low level warm advection forcing. The comma cloud and the overlay of cold front tail and east of South Asia types, are mainly affected by strong convergence of warm and cold advections of high and low levels. The back of the cold vortex type is formed by high altitude cold advection. The overlay of cold front tail and east of South Asia type has better predictive indication.