When cloud height and visibility values are greater than halfway between two reportable values, which value should be reported?

• A. Lower value
• B. Higher value
• C. Mid value
• D. No change

Answer: (B)

Rounding to the nearest reportable value is how cloud height and visibility are determined. The reporting system uses two adjacent values, and you decide which one to publish by how far the measured value sits between them. If the measurement is greater than halfway toward the next value, you report the higher value. This keeps reporting conservative and consistent.

For example, between 1,000 and 2,000 feet, the halfway point is 1,500 feet; a measured height of 1,600 feet would be reported as 2,000 feet. Between 3 and 4 miles of visibility, halfway is 3.5 miles; a measured visibility of 3.6 miles would be reported as 4 miles.

So, when cloud height or visibility is above halfway between two reportable values, the higher value should be reported. The lower value would underestimate, the mid value would ignore the rounding rule, and no change would ignore the rounding process.