Cloud cover is now available on the map at gottvedur.is/en

A new cloud cover layer is now available at gottvedur.is. It shows the forecast distribution of total cloud cover across Iceland at the selected time.

How do I view the cloud cover forecast?

Go to gottvedur.is/en/vedur/spar/ and click the expand button to open the map in full-screen mode.

Then select “Cloud cover” from the menu on the right. Forecasts for wind, temperature and precipitation are also available there.

Move the arrow along the timeline to view the cloud cover forecast at different times and see how the distribution of clouds is expected to change.

Click anywhere on the map to view the cloud cover forecast for that specific point.

What does the layer show?

The layer shows total cloud cover, meaning the proportion of the sky covered by clouds. It includes low, middle and high clouds but does not distinguish between clouds at different altitudes.

A high percentage of total cloud cover does not necessarily mean that the Sun will not be visible. The cloud cover may consist of thin, high clouds that allow sunlight to pass through, or dense clouds that completely obscure the Sun.

The forecast also does not show where in the sky the clouds will be in relation to the Sun. A small patch of cloud may therefore obscure the Sun temporarily, even when overall cloud cover is limited.

The display will be developed further

The layer at gottvedur.is currently shows total cloud cover. Further development is under way, with plans to separate the clouds into low, middle and high clouds, as in the Icelandic Met Office’s previous cloud cover forecast.

The development will also seek to address limitations in the previous display and make the information clearer and easier to use. The aim is to allow users to view both total cloud cover and cloud cover at different altitudes.

Until then, the total cloud cover layer at gottvedur.is can be used to obtain an overview. A more detailed breakdown of cloud cover is available in the cloud cover forecast at vedur.is.

Useful when preparing for the solar eclipse

The cloud cover layer can provide an overview of the likely conditions in the solar eclipse area. It is best to examine several consecutive forecast times and follow the latest forecasts as the eclipse approaches.

Cloud cover forecasts are calculated using weather models and are not direct observations of clouds. The position and timing of cloud areas may change, and individual clouds or gaps in the cloud cover may not always appear in the forecast. It is therefore also useful to monitor satellite imagery, weather observations and webcams on the day of the eclipse.

The solar eclipse may still be visible when there are clouds in the sky, provided the cloud cover is not too dense. However, clouds do not provide reliable eye protection. Approved eclipse glasses must be worn when looking at the Sun.