Does downloading "real weather" give weather for globe?

[Guest]

HI,I am not a real weather freak, but I enjoy the default functionality in FS 2k2 which lets me download real weather. However, I am confused: does this download real weather only for the airport I am at right now or for the entire globe? I do see weather effects all along my routes, but never sure whether some of that is random. Also, why does it happens sometimes that on descent I am passing through thick clouds, and then suddenly they are gone? When I look back or up, I should see the clouds I just passed through, no?Cheers for hints to my "dummy questions"Chris

[Guest KenG]

Yes, the weather downloader gets the weather info for the entire world and updates within MSFS it as you go. As you approach a new weather station (usually an airport) it will display the weather for that location. However, it doesn't provide a smooth transition. It can be overcast at one location and then all of a sudden be clear. That's probably what you are observing. It should be noted that the default weather program in MSFS does not auto-download the weather as you go. Therefore, if your flight is 4 hours long, the weather at your destination will be 4 hours old unless you updated it manually.I don't know if FSUIPC works with the default weather program in MSFS. I'm pretty sure it didn't in FS2000. I have used FSMeteo for several years so I don't keep up with what's supported in the default weather program. However, FSUIPC (when used with FSMeteo or other 3rd party weather programs) can provide smoothing of clouds, visibility, and barometric pressure as you go from one station to the next.