8NhClCmCh
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8 - Indicator figure, cloud group

Nh - Total amount of sky covered by low (or middle , if no low) cloud
Code                Amount of sky covered by Cl (or Cm, if no Cl)
0                      None.
1                      One eighth of sky covered or less, but not zero.
2                      Two eighths of sky covered.       
3                      Three eighths of sky covered.
4                      Four eighths of sky covered.
5                      Five eighths of sky covered.
6                      Six eighths of sky covered.
7                      Seven eighths of sky covered or more, but not eight eighths.
8                      Eight  eighths.
9                      Sky obscured by fog or other meteorological phenomena.
/                       Cloud cover obscured for other reasons or not observed.

Cl - Cloud types Cu,Cb,Sc,St
Code to be decided by the following order of priority;

/           Cloud Cl not visible owing to darkness, fog, sandstorm, etc.
0          No clouds of type Cl
9          Cb present: the upper part of at least one is clearly fibrous often in the form of an anvil.
3          Cb present: none of the upper parts is clearly fibrous or in the form of an anvil.
4          Sc formed from the spreading out of Cu; Cu may also be present.
8          Cu and Sc present, with bases at different levels.
2          Cu of moderate or strong vertical extent is present.

If none of the above cloud types is present choose whichever one
of the following represents the greatest amount of sky cover;

1          Cu with little vertical extent and seemingly flattened or ragged Cu, other than that associated with bad weather.
5          Sc other than that formed by the spreading out of Cu.
6          St in a more-or-less continuous sheet or layer, or in ragged shreds (other than ragged St of bad weather), or both.
7          Ragged St and/or ragged Cu predominant, both associated with bad weather, usually below As or Ns.

Cm - Cloud types 
Ac,As,Ns
Code to be decided by the following order of priority;

/           Cloud Cm not visible owing to darkness, fog, sandstorm, etc.
0          No clouds of type Cm .
9          Ac present in chaotic sky, generally at several levels.
8          Ac present with sproutings in the form of turrets or battlements, or with small cumuliform tufts.
7          Ac present with As or Ns.
6          Ac formed by the spreading out of Cu or Cb, with no As or Ns present.
5          Ac progressively invading the sky. No As or Ns present.
4          Ac in patches continually changing in appearance. No As or Ns present.
7          Ac present at two or more levels. No As or Ns present.
7 or 3    Ac at one level: the greater part is opaque (Cm=7) or is semi-transparent (Cm=3). No As or Ns present.
2          As mostly opaque, or Ns, but no Ac.
1          As mostly semi-transparent. No Ac or Ns.           

Ch - Cloud types Ci,Cs,Cc
Code to be decided by the following order of priority;

/           Cloud Ch not visible owing to darkness, fog, sandstorm, etc.
0          No clouds of type Ch .
9          Cc alone or predominantly greater than other Ch clouds combined.
7          Cs covering the whole sky, with or without Ci or Cc.
8          Cs, not increasing, not covering whole sky.
6          Cs progressively invading the sky: the continuous veil extends more than 45° above horizon, but does not cover whole sky.
5          Cs progressively invading the sky but the continuous veil does not reach 45° above the horizon.
4          Ci invading the sky. No Cs present.
3          Dense Ci originating from Cb. No Cs present.
2          Ci, dense patches, turrets or tufts, greater than Ci in filaments, strands or hooks OR
1          Ci, in filaments, strands, or hooks not progressively invading the sky, greater than Ci in dense patches, turrets or tufts.


Note (Auxiliary ships only)