Cloud Draw Distance

[BowedGuitar1430]

I noticed that there are a lot of talks about the Volumetric Cloud setting in regard to the resolution of clouds. But this setting also affects the draw distance of the clouds at the same time. So I wanted to share the values I found, to document about the setting.

(Also, on a side note, the Low option disables the rainbows).

DD = Draw Distance
CC = Cloud Coverage = PI * DD^2

Volumetric Cloud Setting	DD (NM)	DD (KM)	DD (SM)	SettingDD/LowDD	→ Relative Incr.	SettingCC/LowCC	→ Relative Incr.
LOW	73	135	84	1.0		1.0
MEDIUM	105	195	121	1.4	1.4	2.1	2.1
HIGH	135	250	155	1.8	1.3	3.4	1.7
ULTRA	165	305	190	2.3	1.2	5.1	1.5

When setting the weather preset as thunderstorms, the weather radar allows us to see the maximum draw distance of precipitation, and therefore the maximum draw distance of clouds.

[s0cks182]

Does weather radar actually function like a radar, or is it basically just showing the cloud layer?

[MortThe2nd]

it used to show clouds, but that has since been changed to show precipitation.

[Crunchmeister71]

Weather radar doesn’t show cloud coverage. It shows precipitation. Like @MortThe2nd said, it used to show cloud at one time. They’ve since fixed that.

[s0cks182]

Sorry, I meant precipitation. But on real radar heavy precipitation can “hide” the precipitation behind it. Does this happen here?

[BowedGuitar1430]

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the current WXR is just a simple flat top-down view of all the precipitation (which is IMO still better than nothing or a “cloud radar” like we used to have).