CLOUDS: 3 FEWCLOUDS: 20 SCTCLOUDS: 100 OVCI just want to clarify this. Is this showing cloud layers at 3,000 20,000 and 100,000 or300ft, 2,000ft, and 10,000 ft? I thought this would be the ladder but got confused because the airport altitude is 3,021ft.What is the highest level you will have clouds at? Another question--how high will you seewind? Is it normal to sometimes fly at a FL of 300-330 with headwinds at a speed of 1-20kts?

I usually put cloud layers to 10. In "Active Sky". And for the top of cloud can reach, well there is no exact altitude. But, cumulonimbus clouds, during the thunderstorm, can reach 50 000 feet.You can learn, about cloud layers, more here:http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/CumulonimbusAnd yes, these are:3-30020-2000100-10 000...and so on.

At cruise, you can see wind speeds of 10 to 100+ knots

CLOUDS: 3 FEWCLOUDS: 20 SCTCLOUDS: 100 OVCI just want to clarify this. Is this showing cloud layers at 3,000 20,000 and 100,000 or300ft, 2,000ft, and 10,000 ft? I thought this would be the ladder but got confused because the airport altitude is 3,021ft.What is the highest level you will have clouds at? Another question--how high will you seewind? Is it normal to sometimes fly at a FL of 300-330 with headwinds at a speed of 1-20kts?

Also, clouds are shown above ground level (AGL) whereas the airport is shown above sea level. So if your clouds are at 300' like the metar shows, you add that to 3,021' to find out what your altimeter will show when you reach the clouds. You'll encounter clouds at 3,321' (few, not a ceiling), 5,021' (scattered, still not a ceiling), and 13,021 (ceiling, must be IFR above this altitude)' above this particular airport. It is a pretty calm day at those flight level altitudes you mention to only have 1-20kts. It is not unusual to have 40-60 kts at those altitudes. Or worse.

Thanks guys, that help a lot. Didn't realize wind speeds could be that bad up at that level. On a bit of a side note, trying to set up default weather given the weather information found online can be tedious--setting up departure airport weather and arrival airport weather that is.Chris

Hi,A program such as Active Sky6.5 will do all this automatically and in real time.Thanks,

Hi,A program such as Active Sky6.5 will do all this automatically and in real time.Thanks,

Chris, I highly suggest you look into AS if you havent before, I wouldn't fly without it.

CLOUDS: 3 FEWCLOUDS: 20 SCTCLOUDS: 100 OVCRemember that the METAR quoted cloud levels are referring to the "cloud base"Vololiberista

Does using such a weather program effect frame rates all that much? The only reason I have limited my purchases and the use of freeware programs for FS not related to weather is because of this issue. I hate to do it but I often have to limit the weather (particularly clouds and visibility) because of the tremendous effect on screen rates. Seems like cloud layers and visibility eats up fs resource--more so than anything else...and I use Radar Contact, Fspassengers, FS2Crew and PMDG 737-800/900 for all flights. Add 2 cloud layers of "simple clouds" really cuts down on performance.Thanks for the comments guys.Chris

Does using such a weather program effect frame rates all that much? The only reason I have limited my purchases and the use of freeware programs for FS not related to weather is because of this issue. I hate to do it but I often have to limit the weather (particularly clouds and visibility) because of the tremendous effect on screen rates. Seems like cloud layers and visibility eats up fs resource--more so than anything else...and I use Radar Contact, Fspassengers, FS2Crew and PMDG 737-800/900 for all flights. Add 2 cloud layers of "simple clouds" really cuts down on performance.Thanks for the comments guys.Chris

Whether you use the default FS9 weather or a downloaded payware/freeware add on the clouds will effect your frame rate. Clouds more than anythin else it seems are the frame rate killers.Vololiberista

Chris,What are your system specs?I can point you to another recent thread where the nay-sayers all had their say, but the OP purchased Active Sky anyway and loves it.Active Sky has many options to help reduce system slowdowns, including smaller cloud textures.Thanks,

I use AS 6.5. I have used AS products for at least a couple of years.My method of operation is to download the weather archive for the Z time of day that my FS flight is set up for. Time of day affects several weather phenomena such as wind, visibility (i.e. ground fog), turbulence due to vertical drafts, and others that AS can produce in FS.I use the included AS graphics engine set up for scenarios affected by weather.The only negative experience I've had is that you must remember to turn off the "Convert to FS Plan" in the setup options. It doubled up the label fields in the existing FS plan when loaded into AS to make it more efficient and generate its weather data and navlog for you. Just turn that feature off. The AS navlog reports origin and destination METARs and winds aloft (including temperatures) along your route. This is a must for flying complex aircraft and setting up fuel planning.I also use the payware FSBuild flight planner that handily connects to a running AS so it gets the winds data when it generates its fuel planning report.Very satisfied.