"Graham P Davis" wrote in message
...

I thought the cloud was a lot higher but one thing I learnt after more
than
forty years in the Met Office is that estimating cloud height is next
to
impossible at times. Many experienced observers have reported cloud
bases
of 20-25,000 feet when they were actually at 4,000 feet and vice
versa.

.... I had to think long and hard what height to put the stuff! Without
an aircraft to hand to go up and sample, it would be impossible to be
dogmatic; I agree it could well be much higher - Herstmonceux would just
about support some very thin cloud around 750 hPa, then nothing until
much higher; however, Larkhill wouldn't support my height(s), indicating
something around 14000ft plus - it's all gone now of course. The modern
LCBR's would pick this up, but I don't have access to SYNOP's apart from
the 'main' hours, so can't comment further.

Martin.