Overcast Flatness
How flat and boring the overcast is. HIGH scores indicate uniform gray sky with no breaks or texture - generally unfavorable for most photography. LOW scores indicate breaks, texture, or clearing.
What is Overcast Flatness?
Technical detailsOvercast Flatness quantifies how dull and featureless overcast conditions are—high scores indicate uniform, flat gray skies with no breaks or texture (unfavorable for photography), while low scores indicate dynamic conditions with breaks, texture, or clearing in progress (more interesting for photography). The algorithm analyzes cloud cover density, sunshine duration, solar radiation transmission, and vertical motion to distinguish between boring, static overcast and evolving conditions where light and texture emerge. This metric helps photographers avoid wasted trips during persistently dull conditions.
Photography tip
How to use this conditionLOW scores (under 30) are better - they indicate breaks or texture in the clouds. HIGH scores mean boring flat gray sky. Use this to avoid wasted trips in dull conditions.
Overcast Flatness in photography
In depthOvercast Flatness is PhotoWeather's Pro-tier metric for identifying and avoiding dull, featureless overcast conditions, designed for photographers who need to know when gray skies will be photographically dead versus when they might offer breaks, texture, or evolving conditions worth pursuing. Unlike most PhotoWeather metrics where high scores are favorable, Overcast Flatness is inverted—high scores indicate boring, flat gray overcast that offers no photographic opportunities, while low scores indicate dynamic conditions with potential.
The algorithm quantifies overcast dullness by analyzing multiple factors: cloud cover density (uniform high coverage suggests flat gray), sunshine duration forecasts (zero sunshine indicates persistent overcast), solar radiation transmission (low radiation confirms thick, uniform cloud layers), and vertical motion (omega values indicating stable atmospheric conditions that maintain flat overcast versus dynamic conditions where clouds are evolving). High flatness scores (above 70) occur when cloud cover is dense and uniform across all levels, sunshine duration is zero, radiation transmission is minimal, and vertical motion indicates stable air that will maintain the overcast. These conditions produce the lifeless gray skies that photographers dread—no shadows, no texture, no visual interest, just dull even light that flattens subjects and eliminates depth. Low flatness scores (below 30) indicate that even though skies may be mostly cloudy, there are breaks developing, sunshine peeking through, or evolving cloud patterns that create texture and interest.
Photographers set this metric differently than others: they use a maximum threshold (e.g., max 30) to filter out high-flatness dull days, essentially saying 'only alert me when flatness is low and conditions aren't completely boring.' This metric is particularly valuable for landscape photographers who might otherwise make a long drive only to find flat, featureless gray that kills any chance of an interesting image. By forecasting overcast flatness, PhotoWeather helps photographers avoid wasted trips and save their limited shooting time for days when conditions offer visual potential. This derived field is essential for efficient trip planning, ensuring photographers chase conditions with photographic merit rather than gray dullness.
Frequently asked questions
Common questionsWhat is Overcast Flatness?
Overcast Flatness quantifies how dull and featureless overcast conditions are—high scores indicate uniform, flat gray skies with no breaks or texture (unfavorable for photography), while low scores indicate dynamic conditions with breaks, texture, or clearing in progress (more interesting for photography). The algorithm analyzes cloud cover density, sunshine duration, solar radiation transmission, and vertical motion to distinguish between boring, static overcast and evolving conditions where light and texture emerge. This metric helps photographers avoid wasted trips during persistently dull conditions.
How does Overcast Flatness affect photography?
LOW scores (under 30) are better - they indicate breaks or texture in the clouds. HIGH scores mean boring flat gray sky. Use this to avoid wasted trips in dull conditions.
What values are typical for Overcast Flatness?
Overcast Flatness typically ranges from 0.0% to 100.0%. PhotoWeather monitors these values to help you identify ideal conditions for your photography goals.
How is Overcast Flatness calculated?
Overcast Flatness is an advanced derived condition calculated from multiple weather parameters including Total Cloud Coverage, Low Clouds, Mid-Level Clouds, High Clouds, Sunshine Duration. PhotoWeather's algorithms analyze these factors to provide a single, easy-to-understand score for this photography opportunity.
Typical values
Value rangeRelated fields
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Quality of diffused light for portrait and product photography. High scores indicate soft, even lighting that minimizes harsh shadows - the 'giant softbox' effect.
Cloud Texture Score
Rates how visually interesting the clouds are - distinguishing dramatic formations from boring flat overcast. High scores indicate structured clouds with good light transmission.
Total Cloud Coverage
Overall cloud coverage across all altitudes
Sunshine Duration
Seconds of direct sunlight per hour
Solar Radiation
Shortwave solar radiation from sun
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