During the FSX days, the inadequacy of the simulator's weather engine was well publicized as well as the "must have" of ActiveSky Next to address the weather engine issue.  What is the general consensus of the MSFS 2020 weather engine ?  Does the weather engine do the job or is an addon needed to render weather correctly for this simulator as well ?  Just checking to see what the general assessment is on this most important aviation point.

There are no "real weather addons", most of the addons are just preset modifiers and fake loaders.

So your basically stuck with the MSFS engine, it's fine but not always accurate, and there are bugs.
 

I have used REX in the Sim in the past , but for me at least the WX engine is working just fine in the 

SU10 beta . 

The best plus for MSFS live weather is the local nature of the weather engine - different weather in different directions.  Cloud depiction has improved in recent updates, so although there is room for improvement, MSFS live weather does a decent job.  

REX WeatherForce is an alternative to MSFS Live weather.  On the positive side it can create more cloud types than MSFS live weather & in many cases it has better aerosol effects (visibility). However, Rex weather uses a global weather model so the same weather you are currently in is displayed in all directions. Rex has to transition from one weather area to another.  These transitions are not perfect, but for me are more than made up by the cloud types on offer.

At least we have two decent weather generators to choose from, so you choose the one that satisfies what is more important to you.  Here is a recent screengrab of MSFS live weather - notice the different weather displayed in different areas.

This is an example of clouds REX can produce in live weather that MSFS live weather can't. However, the sky in REX will look the same in all directions - you have to fly to different weather area to see it transform in as you approach.

Edited August 13, 20223 yr by MrBitstFlyer

6 minutes ago, Alpine Scenery said:

There are no "real weather addons", most of the addons are just preset modifiers and fake loaders.

So your basically stuck with the MSFS engine, it's fine but not always accurate, and there are bugs.
 

A weather preset will have the same weather for a whole flight. Rex may in effect create presets, but those presets are changed as you fly, so the weather in effect is live at any particular time.  Nobody is stuck with live weather as Rex is a good alternative if a local weather model is not the most important aspect to a particular simmer.

8 minutes ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

A weather preset will have the same weather for a whole flight. Rex may in effect create presets, but those presets are changed as you fly, so the weather in effect is live at any particular time.  Nobody is stuck with live weather as Rex is a good alternative if a local weather model is not the most important aspect to a particular simmer.

I see, but to me this is still a fake it until you make it approach, maybe I'll take a look at it one day and see what I think. Changing weather presets on the fly is not a weather engine.

Edited August 13, 20223 yr by Alpine Scenery

3 hours ago, zachlog said:

During the FSX days, the inadequacy of the simulator's weather engine was well publicized as well as the "must have" of ActiveSky Next to address the weather engine issue.  What is the general consensus of the MSFS 2020 weather engine ?  Does the weather engine do the job or is an addon needed to render weather correctly for this simulator as well ?  Just checking to see what the general assessment is on this most important aviation point.

Be strongly aware MSFS weather engine is a slow and steady work in progress.  So what might be an apt way to characterize it today will likely change perhaps significantly going forward--that of course is just my guess/wish.  It's getting better all the time IMO.  In fact earlier today I saw some genuine wispy clouds that increased the LOD/complexity enough to be noticeable, and different from anything I've seen.  Unfortunately, I did not capture a screenshot of it 🙄

2 hours ago, Noel said:

Be strongly aware MSFS weather engine is a slow and steady work in progress.  So what might be an apt way to characterize it today will likely change perhaps significantly going forward--that of course is just my guess/wish.  It's getting better all the time IMO.  In fact earlier today I saw some genuine wispy clouds that increased the LOD/complexity enough to be noticeable, and different from anything I've seen.  Unfortunately, I did not capture a screenshot of it 🙄

Slow and steady progress for sure.  During SU10 I have noticed more layers, some extra cloud types and some wispy type efforts that couldn't really be described as cirrus, but getting there!

4 hours ago, Alpine Scenery said:

I see, but to me this is still a fake it until you make it approach, maybe I'll take a look at it one day and see what I think. Changing weather presets on the fly is not a weather engine.

Well I personally think they have done an amazing job without a weather SDK!  The transitions between weather areas is pretty good.  Certainly not fake in any way and the cloud depiction is great.

I sometimes am under the impression that MSFS weather updates lead to stutters. Are others seeing this too?

It's 2nd to none so far, all variables being  taken into consideration and, as others have stated above, has been getting even better along the various updates.

I guess I'll soon be able to compare it to that of another flightsim... Looking fwd into having two good choices 🙂

Edited August 14, 20223 yr by jcomm

7 hours ago, jcomm said:

I guess I'll soon be able

Has there been an announcement on this?

1 hour ago, Noel said:

Has there been an announcement on this?

XP12 is estimated by the end of August beginning of September.  Really looking forward to comparing the weather with the improving MSFS.

MrBitsFlyer,

Thanks a lot for your focused response.  Now i understand the MSFS vs. the REX weather. 

My no. 1 priority In flight simulation is aviating so being able to see different weather some distance away is more important to me than the capability to display all cloud types.  I have used the REX product in FSX for many years so I know they do a great job of displaying the atmosphere.  Glad to see the MSFS weather is pretty good and improving per some of the other posts.  The one thing I know is still missing from MSFS is weather radar and its SDK so hopefully SU10 solves this problem for the aircraft vendors.

One of the features I love about ActiveSky Next is being able to work with weather on a client platform (e.g., check weather at the destination, obtain wind forecast during descent, etc. remotely) thus being able to dedicate the simulator to the cockpit and saving valuable real estate on the monitor.  Does MSFS weather have any such capabilities, i.e., access MSFS weather remotely ?  Is it possible to check weather at stations other than the current position of the aircraft ?  

Thanks

31 minutes ago, zachlog said:

Does MSFS weather have any such capabilities, i.e., access MSFS weather remotely ?  Is it possible to check weather at stations other than the current position of the aircraft ?  

Nope, not yet.  You can pull up METAR when you are so many miles out from arrival but that's about it...for now.