I was just experimenting with varying weather types within the same .wx file when I noticed that the cloud layers key off of what is shown at 1000.
To explain how the .wx files work, they are tab-delimited files that include the cloud layer types and altitudes for each two-hour timeframe (not including night).
This is the meat of the .wx file, with the first column being the time (abbreviated), then cloud type (default TAW scattered clouds display as the time, i.e. 0600), then altitude. Repeat twice to come up with three layers per time.
06 0600 3000 0600 10000 0600 12000 08 0800 3000 0800 10000 0800 12000 10 _OVC 15000 _OVC 20000 _BKN 22000 12 14 _BKN 3000 _BKN 10000 _BKN 12000 16 _BKN 3000 _BKN 10000 _BKN 12000 18 1800 3000 1800 10000 1800 12000 20 _BKN 3000 _BKN 10000 _BKN 12000
The weather generator reads this file and writes the information to the redxxxx.txt files as required (for cloud layers, it adds the cloud type to the clds prefix so you will see clds0600, clds_OVC, etc.). What this means is that if _BKN or _OVC are listed as the cloud types, it calls one of the custom cloud types added in 2.15 Beta 3. These clouds are specially modified cloud1m1.3 files that call new texture files in order to display solid broken or overcast layers as required.
Here’s the problem:
The TAW world seems to key on 1000 as a reference time. The world is listed as RED1000 in all mission files, and the default cloud clds1000 is referenced even when other times call for their own clouds such as clds2000 (notable exceptions being 0800 and 1400). Apparently, the clouds that display at other times must display at 1000 in order to show correctly.
Case in point: if you wish to create an overcast setting at 0600, you must also have an overcast setting at 1000. If you have a broken layer setting at 1000, then the layers that display at 0600 will appear as broken, even though the clds_OVC file has been selected. Likewise, if you select no clouds at 1000, then any other time in which you select a cloud layer will actually bring the ground up to that layer as well, and it will look like you are flying through a layer of sand. I will see about posting some screenshots later, but the important takeaway is that any weather pattern that is intended to display at any time must be on display at 1000.