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    Cloud bases layer sometimes missing large chunks of coverage

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    • petergaultney
      petergaultney | Premium last edited by

      Screen Shot 2021-02-10 at 12.17.22 PM.jpg

      It's clear that there is data here, it's just not being displayed.

      Refreshing the page doesn't help. I don't see anything obviously relevant in the web console.

      this also happens in the mobile app: signal-2021-02-10-122347.jpeg

      in some cases it's just slightly annoying, but my brain can reconstruct the missing pieces. In others, it looks like there's probably a huge chunk missing, compared to what appears in the Low Clouds layer.

      idefix37 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • idefix37
        idefix37 Sailor Moderator @petergaultney last edited by idefix37

        @petergaultney
        Where there are no clouds, there is no cloud base...

        6EA71655-5571-41BC-90BB-76F3D58CB588.jpeg

        So nothing is missing on your cloud base layer.

        petergaultney 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • petergaultney
          petergaultney @idefix37 | Premium last edited by

          @idefix37 I don't mean to be rude, but it seems clear to me that you didn't look at my screenshots. Taking a look just at the mobile app:

          Look east and south of Memphis. There are obvious missing squares in that cloud front.

          Look south of Lexington. There are obvious missing squares in the south east of KY.

          Look at the A in South Carolina. Clearly missing data, not a lack of clouds.

          Same thing with northern Florida. Also near New Orleans and out over the Gulf of Mexico.

          In all of these places, there aren't "no clouds". There are definitely clouds, and for some reason the data isn't displaying them.

          petergaultney 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • petergaultney
            petergaultney @petergaultney | Premium last edited by

            Screen Shot 2021-02-10 at 8.34.45 PM.jpg Screen Shot 2021-02-10 at 8.34.39 PM.jpg

            Gkikas LGPZ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Gkikas LGPZ
              Gkikas LGPZ Moderator @petergaultney last edited by

              @petergaultney
              Cloud bases map, depicts the parameter "ceiling".
              It gives the height above the level of the model orography,
              of the base of the lowest cloud layer
              covering more than 50% of the sky (more than 4 oktas).
              https://confluence.ecmwf.int//display/FCST/43r1+new+parameters%3A+Ceiling

              So, in areas with cloud cover less than 50%,
              cloud base (ceiling) is not depicted.

              petergaultney 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
              • petergaultney
                petergaultney @Gkikas LGPZ | Premium last edited by

                @gkikas-lgpz That's helpful context.

                It would be ideal for me if this view could show the bases of the clouds rather than the okta-related ceilings. If I have OVC at 700 at Enterprise, there's no way I'm going flying over over Ozark even if it's technically SCT, because those same clouds are likely sitting near 700 anyway.

                I'm sure for others this is perfect for them. I wonder how much effort would be involved in making Cloud bases display bases while adding a new Ceilings display with these block-by-block estimates of the cloud coverage. Personally, even splitting those into two separate overlays would work - cloud bases and cloud coverage are two separately interesting things.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • D
                  deszkrobert | Premium last edited by

                  The issue still exists, as of December 2021. It appears way too often, and it's somewhat annoying as proper visualisation of cloud base is extremely important for flight preparation...

                  I don't believe cloud base value suddenly cuts along a straight line...
                  So is this going to be improved, or we have to live with it?

                  windy.JPG

                  I don't know if it makes any difference, but tried with different graphic acceleration settings, under Chrome, no changes...

                  Any answer for even a slight improvement is appreciated!

                  Korina 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • Korina
                    Korina Administrator @deszkrobert last edited by

                    @deszkrobert Hello, layer Cloud base has a 50% threshold for displaying clouds. It is the lowest cloud layer that exceeds 50% of the sky coverage. The full description can be found at https://confluence.ecmwf.int/display/FCST/43r1+new+parameters%3A+Ceiling.

                    Korina

                    petergaultney 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                    • petergaultney
                      petergaultney @Korina | Premium last edited by

                      @korina just to be clear, the 50% threshold explains the appearance, but the choice to hide the full cloud bases data in that way is very un-ideal for pilots. Just because it's technically scattered instead of broken doesn't suddenly make it safe for me to plan an VFR flight at that altitude.

                      I understand it probably doesn't make sense to change an existing visualisation just for pilots, but a new visualization option would be extremely helpful - it's probably the main thing that Windy can't really help a pilot with at this point in time.

                      Korina 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                      • Korina
                        Korina Administrator @petergaultney last edited by

                        @petergaultney We will consider it.

                        Korina

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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