What sky cover is represented by OVC in METAR coding?

Study for the METRO (Meteorology) – VT-10 Test. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam today!

Multiple Choice

What sky cover is represented by OVC in METAR coding?

Sky cover in METAR is reported using oktas, a scale from 0 to 8 that describes how much of the sky is covered by clouds. Eight oktas means the entire sky is covered, i.e., overcast. That’s why this code corresponds to overcast. The other codes map to smaller coverages: a few clouds (1–2 oktas), scattered clouds (3–4), and broken clouds (5–7). So OVC specifically indicates eight oktas of cloud, full coverage.

Sky cover in METAR is reported using oktas, a scale from 0 to 8 that describes how much of the sky is covered by clouds. Eight oktas means the entire sky is covered, i.e., overcast. That’s why this code corresponds to overcast. The other codes map to smaller coverages: a few clouds (1–2 oktas), scattered clouds (3–4), and broken clouds (5–7). So OVC specifically indicates eight oktas of cloud, full coverage.

More practice questions