Overcast

Overcast or overcast weather, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization, is the meteorological condition of clouds obscuring at least 95% of the sky.[1] However, the total cloud cover must not be entirely due to obscuring phenomena near the surface, such as fog.[2]

For other uses, see Overcast (disambiguation).

A completely overcast sky in Mehamn, Norway

Overcast, written as "OVC" in the METAR observation, is reported when the cloud cover is observed to equal eight oktas (eighths).[1][3] An overcast sky may be explicitly identified as thin (mostly transparent), but otherwise is considered opaque, which always constitutes a ceiling in aviation meteorology.[2]

Sometimes clouds can be different colors such as black or white, but overcast usually refers to darker skies.[4] In some cases, it can be impossible to see distinct borders of clouds or the sky may be covered by a single type of cloud, such as stratus and the whole sky will be a dull white.

Periods of overcast weather can range from a few hours to several days. Overcast weather can also affect people suffering from seasonal affective disorder.

The same weather, when observed from above, might be referred to as (an) undercast.[5]

See also

• Diffuse reflection
  • Forward scatter
  • Light scattering by particles
• Diffuser (optics)
• Gloom
  • June Gloom
• Hard and soft light
• Photon diffusion

References

1. "Aerodrome Weather Report" (PDF). World Meteorological Organization. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2016.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
2. "Overcast". American Meteorological Society. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
3. World Meteorological Organization. "Overcast". Eumetcal. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
4. Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed. (website), s.v. “overcast," 2a and 2b. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/134377#eid32922408 (Accessed September 7, 2016).
5. "Undercast". American Meteorological Society. Retrieved 30 August 2016.