FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Weather and Weather ServicesMedium
A METAR reports SKC below 12,000 feet except SCT018 BKN035 OVC070. What is the reported ceiling at this airport?
- A3,500 feet
- B7,000 feet
- CThere is no ceiling since some layers are scattered
- D1,800 feet
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 3,500 feet
A ceiling is defined as the height of the lowest layer of clouds reported as broken or overcast, or the vertical visibility into an obscuration. The scattered layer at 1,800 feet does not count as a ceiling, so the lowest broken layer at 3,500 feet is the reported ceiling.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 7,000 feet is overcast but higher than the lower broken layer.
- C. A ceiling does exist because broken and overcast layers are present.
- D. 1,800 feet is a scattered layer, which does not constitute a ceiling.
Ceiling Definition
The ceiling is the height above ground of the lowest cloud layer reported as broken or overcast, or the vertical visibility in an indefinite ceiling condition.
- Scattered (SCT) or few (FEW) layers do not count as ceilings
- Only broken (BKN) or overcast (OVC) layers define a ceiling
- Vertical visibility (VV) is used for obscured skies
Memory trick: Broken or Overcast Builds the ceiling Base