Sky companion
Cloud forecast
This forecast gives low, mid, and high cloud cover as percentages. The family labels are a generic height chart (what families often live at that altitude), not a model picking today’s genus. Set a location to load layer cover, plus (in the US) an NWS sky reading for today through about six days ahead.
No location set. Choose Use my location (or enter coordinates) to load layer cover and a US sky reading.
Today through about six days ahead (forecast APIs). Location is shared with Moon phases when set, and stays in this browser only.
Set a location to see low / mid / high layer cover and (in the US) an NWS sky reading.
Layer cloud cover
Day averages from Open-Meteo. Each layer is its own 0–100% reading for that height band (they do not add up to 100%). The total sky cover below is a separate overall reading, not the sum of the three. Percentages hint at which heights may be busy. Family names below are a height chart only; they do not name today’s genus.
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Low
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Mid
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High
NWS sky reading
Cover % from Open-Meteo (and NWS sky cover in the US). Family names are a height chart only, not a day-by-day genus forecast. Approximate, for noticing and journaling. Not an aviation or severe-weather product.
By season
At mid-latitudes, seasonal patterns are worth watching even though this tool is not a location-specific typed forecast. Winter often brings more layered stratus and nimbostratus chances. Summer tends toward more convective cumulus and cumulonimbus days. Spring and fall mix both moods. Treat those as patterns to watch for, then name what you actually see.
Low, mid, and high cover are day averages from Open-Meteo hourly cloud layers. They suggest which heights may be busy; they do not identify a WMO genus.
The NWS sky reading uses the National Weather Service API for US locations (grid sky cover when available, otherwise a short reading of the hourly forecast text). Forecasts cover today and roughly the next six days; older dates are not fetched. Location stays in this browser only, and is shared with the moon phases lookup when you set one.
Tip: when you are ready to name genera, use the height chart and field-guide pages in The Cloud Journal.