In the KOKC forecast, the overcast layer is at what altitude?

• A. 1,000 feet
• B. 2,000 feet
• C. 3,000 feet
• D. 4,000 feet

Answer: (B)

The key idea is what ceiling means in a forecast. An overcast layer is a full cloud deck, so its base is the altitude where the cloud cover begins. If the forecast shows an overcast at 2,000 feet, the base of that cloud deck is 2,000 feet above the ground (feet AGL). That tells you below 2,000 ft you’d be in or below the cloud, and above 2,000 ft you’d be above the deck until you reach the next layer. For planning, a 2,000 ft ceiling affects whether you can maintain VFR and where you might find lift for a glider. The other numbers would place the cloud base at 1,000, 3,000, or 4,000 ft, which isn’t what the forecast indicates.