METAR weather code reference for SCT (Scattered)
Cloud coverage of 3/8 to 4/8 of the sky. Scattered clouds are not considered a ceiling since more than half the sky is still visible. The three-digit number following indicates cloud base height in hundreds of feet AGL. Scattered layers still permit VFR operations under most circumstances.
Here are common ways SCT appears in real METAR observations:
SCT025SCT080SCT250These METAR codes are commonly seen alongside SCT or describe related weather phenomena:
Cloud coverage of 1/8 to 2/8 of the sky. Few clouds indicate mostly clear conditions and are not considered a ceiling. Followed by a three-digit height in hundreds of feet AGL (e.g., FEW050 means few clouds at 5,000 feet). FEW conditions are VFR-friendly and pose minimal obstruction.
Cloud coverage of 5/8 to 7/8 of the sky. A broken layer constitutes a ceiling because more than half the sky is obscured. The reported height becomes the ceiling height. BKN conditions often result in IFR or MVFR flight categories depending on the height of the cloud base.