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Sunshine

MeteoSwiss uses specific terminology in the weather report to quantify the expected sunshine hours and cloud cover.

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The following table summarises the various terms used to describe cloud cover and sunshine along with their corresponding explanations. The cloud cover at any given place and time is measured in terms of how many eighths of the sky are covered. The units of measurement are called oktas, whereby 0 oktas corresponds to a cloudless sky, and 8 oktas to full cloud cover.

Cloud cover (in oktas)

Sun %

Sun terminology

Cloud terminology

Explanation

8

0-5

None, hardly any sunshine, unfriendly

Overcast (stratus clouds), very cloudy (convective clouds), fog, low stratus

Unbroken cloud cover

7

5-20

Short sunny spells, only a little sunshine

Cloudy (stratus clouds), cloudy to overcast (stratus clouds), partly cloudy (convective clouds), intermittent, often, predominately, mostly cloudy (convective clouds), variable (convective clouds, weather in the rear)

Few breaks in the clouds

4-6

20-50

Varying degrees of cloudiness, sunny at times, partly sunny, longer sunny spells, intervals, some, intermittent, prolonged bright intervals, friendly

Intermittent, frequent, often cloudy, extensive cloud cover

Breaks, previously covered, partially or temporarily covered

3-4

50-80

Rather, quite, often sunny, fine (only on the 1st day of a fine weather period)

Partly cloudy, at times widespread cloud cover, more, cumulus clouds increasing, passing cloud cover

Generally little cloud cover

0-2

80-100

Mostly, predominantly, generally sunny, mostly sunny, fine

Clear or only slightly cloudy

Little or no cloud cover