Home / Editor's Pick /

Plenty of rain and cloud: Understanding clouds on the WeatherRadar

13:13
30 July 2025

Plenty of rain and cloud
Understanding clouds on the WeatherRadar

Examples of different cloud types on the WeatherRadar.

There's plenty of cloud cover around this week, do you know how to gauge clouds on the WeatherRadar?

Clouds on the WeatherRadar have various thicknesses and different levels of transparency, as in real life, so that you can get a realistic picture of how the weather looks on the ground.

Some clouds, for example thick low clouds or extensive rain-bearing clouds, will absorb all the sunlight, such as stratocumulus and nimbostratus. Others, such as thinner, wispier high clouds, such as cirrus, are often semi-transparent allowing plenty of sunshine and are associated with drier weather.

You will also be able to see sun and moon symbols under thinner clouds, representing how much sunshine or moonlight will be getting through the clouds.

Check the latest cloud cover forecast on the WeatherRadar for your area!

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Weather map showing pink snowfall areas over the Great Lakes region. Snow showers are moving eastwards along the marked arrows. Several cities are affected by the snow bands.
Friday, 28 November 2025

Lake effect phenomenon

Heavy snow showers in northern USA
A split image showing a close-up of a full moon on the left, and on the right a UK and Ireland weather map with blue and white patches indicating widespread rain or cloud. Several moon and cloud icons appear over different regions, with temperatures marked mostly between 4°C and 8°C.
Thursday, 4 December 2025

Cold Moon rises tonight

Third and final supermoon of the year
Split image showing a low-tide estuary at sunset on the left with concrete blocks, boats, and pastel sky, and a bright full moon on the right glowing through thin clouds above dark tree silhouettes, divided by a curved white line.
Sunday, 7 December 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Winter weather snaps and a supermoon too
All weather news
This might also interest you
Mammatus clouds
Thursday, 21 August 2025

Unusual view

Mammatus clouds over Ireland
Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing scattered showers with cloudy patches across much of the region, especially around western and northern areas. Sunshine symbols appear over London, Cardiff, and parts of southern England, while temperatures range from 17°C to 18°C in most places. Areas of heavier rain are visible over the Atlantic to the west.
Friday, 29 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Unsettled conditions into the weekend
Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Frontal system brings heavy rain
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList