8NhClCmCh | Previous Top Next

8 - Indicator figure, cloud group
Nh - Total amount of sky covered by low (or middle , if no low) cloud
Code Amount of sky covered by Cl (or Cm, if no Cl)
0 None.
1 One eighth of sky covered or less, but not zero.
2 Two eighths of sky covered.
3 Three eighths of sky covered.
4 Four eighths of sky covered.
5 Five eighths of sky covered.
6 Six eighths of sky covered.
7 Seven eighths of sky covered or more, but not eight eighths.
8 Eight eighths.
9 Sky obscured by fog or other meteorological phenomena.
/ Cloud cover obscured for other reasons or not observed.
Cl - Cloud types Cu,Cb,Sc,St
Code to be decided by the following order of priority;
/ Cloud Cl not visible owing to darkness, fog, sandstorm, etc.
0 No clouds of type Cl
9 Cb present: the upper part of at least one is clearly fibrous often in the form of an anvil.
3 Cb present: none of the upper parts is clearly fibrous or in the form of an anvil.
4 Sc formed from the spreading out of Cu; Cu may also be present.
8 Cu and Sc present, with bases at different levels.
2 Cu of moderate or strong vertical extent is present.
If none of the above cloud types is present choose whichever one
of the following represents the greatest amount of sky cover;
1 Cu with little vertical extent and seemingly flattened or ragged Cu, other than that associated with bad weather.
5 Sc other than that formed by the spreading out of Cu.
6 St in a more-or-less continuous sheet or layer, or in ragged shreds (other than ragged St of bad weather), or both.
7 Ragged St and/or ragged Cu predominant, both associated with bad weather, usually below As or Ns.
Cm - Cloud types Ac,As,Ns
Code to be decided by the following order of priority;
/ Cloud Cm not visible owing to darkness, fog, sandstorm, etc.
0 No clouds of type Cm .
9 Ac present in chaotic sky, generally at several levels.
8 Ac present with sproutings in the form of turrets or battlements, or with small cumuliform tufts.
7 Ac present with As or Ns.
6 Ac formed by the spreading out of Cu or Cb, with no As or Ns present.
5 Ac progressively invading the sky. No As or Ns present.
4 Ac in patches continually changing in appearance. No As or Ns present.
7 Ac present at two or more levels. No As or Ns present.
7 or 3 Ac at one level: the greater part is opaque (Cm=7) or is semi-transparent (Cm=3). No As or Ns present.
2 As mostly opaque, or Ns, but no Ac.
1 As mostly semi-transparent. No Ac or Ns.
Ch - Cloud types Ci,Cs,Cc
Code to be decided by the following order of priority;
/ Cloud Ch not visible owing to darkness, fog, sandstorm, etc.
0 No clouds of type Ch .
9 Cc alone or predominantly greater than other Ch clouds combined.
7 Cs covering the whole sky, with or without Ci or Cc.
8 Cs, not increasing, not covering whole sky.
6 Cs progressively invading the sky: the continuous veil extends more than 45° above horizon, but does not cover whole sky.
5 Cs progressively invading the sky but the continuous veil does not reach 45° above the horizon.
4 Ci invading the sky. No Cs present.
3 Dense Ci originating from Cb. No Cs present.
2 Ci, dense patches, turrets or tufts, greater than Ci in filaments, strands or hooks OR
1 Ci, in filaments, strands, or hooks not progressively invading the sky, greater than Ci in dense patches, turrets or tufts.
Note (Auxiliary ships only)

- Auxiliary ships do not report this group