How is “BKN” cloud coverage interpreted in METARs?

How is “BKN” cloud coverage interpreted in METARs?

• A. Broken clouds; approximately 5–7 octas of sky cover
• B. Scattered clouds; 3–4 octas
• C. Overcast; 8 octas
• D. Few clouds; 1–2 octas

Answer: (A)

In METARs, cloud cover is described in octas, the eighths of the sky that are obscured by clouds. The common ranges are FEW = 1–2 octas, SCT = 3–4 octas, BKN = 5–7 octas, and OVC = 8 octas. So BKN means broken clouds, about five to seven octas of the sky are covered. That places it between scattered (three to four octas) and overcast (eight octas). This indicates a substantial cloud deck with gaps, rather than a mostly clear sky or a completely closed canopy.

In METARs, cloud cover is described in octas, the eighths of the sky that are obscured by clouds. The common ranges are FEW = 1–2 octas, SCT = 3–4 octas, BKN = 5–7 octas, and OVC = 8 octas. So BKN means broken clouds, about five to seven octas of the sky are covered. That places it between scattered (three to four octas) and overcast (eight octas). This indicates a substantial cloud deck with gaps, rather than a mostly clear sky or a completely closed canopy.