What ‘Partly Cloudy’ Means

July 18, 2007 By Clarke Green

What, precisely, does partly cloudy mean? Forecasters use these descriptions of sky condition based upon tenths of the sky covered by opaque (not transparent) clouds.

Sky Condition	Cloud Coverage
Cloudy	8/8 Opaque Clouds
Mostly Cloudy, or Considerable Cloudiness	6/8 to 7/8
Partly Cloudy, or Partly Sunny	3/8 to 5/8
Mostly Clear, or Mostly Sunny	1/8 to 2/8
Clear, or Sunny	0/8 Opaque Clouds

Tags: Camping Skills, Weather

About Clarke Green

Clarke has worked with thousands of Scouts and Scouters as a director at his local Scout Camp (Camp Horseshoe), and as a Scoutmaster for 30 years. He is the recipient of a number of awards recognizing his service to Scouting, including the B.S.A.’s Silver Beaver, District Award of Merit, and is a Vigil Honor member of Octoraro Lodge 22. He is author of the blog and podcast at Scoutmastercg.com, The Scouting Journey, and Thoughts on Scouting. An avid outdoorsman and amateur actor, he lives in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania with his wife Teddi.