22 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

I have never seen real weather that only consisted of Cumulus clouds. 

Steady, you'll get replies that many days IRL have just cumulus clouds 🙂

 

15 minutes ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

I don't remember poor FPS up to the point the weather was degraded.  

Because I believe there are certain clouds that MSFS won't render, even with custom settings, to help with the FPS.

5 minutes ago, Noel said:

While here, what have we heard if anything about clouds/weather in MSFS 2024?

I am hopeful of many improvements, but doubtful about cloud improvements - if MSFS 2020 had to be degraded for performance reasons, why wouldn't 2024 - after all, the Xbox still exists?

2 hours ago, abrams_tank said:

Yup, I was just more interested in this topic about weather data providers. Doesn't X-Plane 12 use GRIB data from NOAA outside of METAR areas?  Does anybody know how does GRIB data from NOAA compare to MeteoBlue data?

X-Plane uses GRIB files from the NOAA GFS model, downloaded from the NCEP “Nomads” server. 

I assume the MB NEMS model is also supplied in GRIB format, as GRIB is the standard file format for weather model output no matter which model is being used or who generated the model data.

As previously mentioned, one advantage of the NEMS Global model (specifically) is that it contains forecast data for 24 discrete hours, where the NOAA GFS global model is only every 3 hours i.e. 0000Z, 0300Z, 0600Z, 0900Z etc.

If you have the MeteoBlue app, it allows you to chose forecast data from about 30 different global and regional models so you can compare the predictions for things like, wind, cloud cover, precip etc. They do supply the NEMS model in higher-resolution formats for certain regions, such as Europe, South America and East Asia.

Edited May 28, 20242 yr by JRBarrett

Just now, abrams_tank said:

Because I believe there are certain clouds that MSFS won't render, even with custom settings, to help with the FPS.

It used to render them more convincingly at release.  I would fly around just to look at the clouds, but wouldn't do that now.

1 minute ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

I am hopeful of many improvements, but doubtful about cloud improvements - if MSFS 2020 had to be degraded for performance reasons, why wouldn't 2024 - after all, the Xbox still exists?

It might to the degree improved multithreading can play a role in that, at least for PC.

26 minutes ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

I don't remember poor FPS up to the point the weather was degraded.  

My sense as well.  There are certain types of very thin clouds that put huge load on the GPU, kind of counter intuitive, but again pre SU5 I never believed 'clouds' impacted performance much, and that was with an RTX 2070 Super in the box.  Also, I stand by my prior statement the weather was degraded, but not by all that much--IOW my sense is people's opinion on just how much better pre SU5 was is....somewhat....overblown.

Edited May 28, 20242 yr by Noel

By 'fixing' weather, hopefully we are not implying we all want to go back to Metar bubbles and not seeing different weather around/ahead of you as you fly which is what ActiveSKy is doing.  HiFI is just using the default MSFS WX scenarios/cloud types to "create" the weather bubbles.  The issue is that default Live WX in the sim is not using all available cloud types which is why we mostly see cumulus. I do hope 2024 improves the overall Live WX as that is my 'most wanted' feature for the new sim.  

35 minutes ago, JRBarrett said:

X-Plane uses GRIB files from the NOAA GFS model, downloaded from the NCEP “Nomads” server. 

I assume the MB NEMS model is also supplied in GRIB format, as GRIB is the standard file format for weather model output no matter which model is being used or who generated the model data.

As previously mentioned, one advantage of the NEMS Global model (specifically) is that it contains forecast data for 24 discrete hours, where the NOAA GFS global model is only every 3 hours i.e. 0000Z, 0300Z, 0600Z, 0900Z etc.

If you have the MeteoBlue app, it allows you to chose forecast data from about 30 different global and regional models so you can compare the predictions for things like, wind, cloud cover, precip etc. They do supply the NEMS model in higher-resolution formats for certain regions, such as Europe, South America and East Asia.

Hey, that's a really good answer, thanks!  You seem to be pretty knowledgeable in this area. In your opinion, outside of METAR zones, is MSFS better off using MeteoBlue data, or should it use the NOAA NEMS data?

Edited May 28, 20242 yr by abrams_tank

1 hour ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

Steady, you'll get replies that many days IRL have just cumulus clouds 🙂

 

And many days IRL, you don't. 

One thing i really dont understand is people saying they only see cumulous clouds in msfs real wx.  I see cirrus and stratus all the time.  Msfs live wx is really good, it just needs some fine tuning.  Better higher thunderstorms, better atmospheric model, realistic turbulence in the correct cloud types and winds (more severe jetstream induced cat), retuned mountain wave effects, and more realistic icing.  

34 minutes ago, abrams_tank said:

Hey, that's a really good answer, thanks!  You seem to be pretty knowledgeable in this area. In your opinion, outside of METAR zones, is MSFS better off using MeteoBlue data, or should it use the NOAA NEMS data?

The MeteoBlue NEMS data is probably more complete throughout a given day than the NOAA GFS because it contains forecast data for every 60 minutes while the GFS is every 3 hours. The GFS does have a higher grid resolution in their worldwide model however. 

56 minutes ago, Flic1 said:

we all want to go back to Metar bubbles

I highly doubt anyone wants that.

Don't forget, HiFi Sim et al. are limited by what they can achieve due to the constraints imposed upon external weather apps caused by a lack of a weather API.

Hiring/contracting in a weather specialist developer to work on Live Weather functionality within the sim itself could see large improvements compared to what we have now.

One thing that blows me away every time with default weather are the coastal cloud formations say when flying out of KSBA or KMRY.

They start at the ocean and are affected by the terrain going inland.  Really fantastic.

Another one is when KAVX Catalina Island gets socked in and you need to land.

Also, where I'm at here in the US West at 8300 feet, the clouds are always cumulus save for a few cirrus befor a system moves through.

sp

26 minutes ago, JRBarrett said:

The MeteoBlue NEMS data is probably more complete throughout a given day than the NOAA GFS because it contains forecast data for every 60 minutes while the GFS is every 3 hours. The GFS does have a higher grid resolution in their worldwide model however. 

Thanks! That's very useful information. It sounds like MSFS is making the right decision to go with MeteoBlue then, since MeteoBlue is providing the most accurate data for areas outside of METAR zones.