An appropriate time I think to raise yet again (mainly for the benefit
of the newbies) the perennial irritation of CAVOK reports. Clear and
Visibility OK implies (amongst other things) that there is no
significant cloud below 5,000 feet but it might well be completely
overcast at say 10,000 feet. Pilots cannot know this so are unable to
tell their passengers the basic information as to whether or not their
holiday destination is sunny - a pretty vital piece of information I
would have thought.

Anyway, that no longer really bothers me being a retired professional
pilot. But I am still involved in forecasting for gliding. An
approaching frontal overcast can mean the end of what had been a good
soaring day. But until the first bits of cloud occur below 5,000
feet, the metars keep everyone in ignorance about what is going on and
might continue to report CAVOK.

With so much automation nowadays, it doesn't seem to me to be beyond
the abilities of the aviation authorities to include cloud amounts
above 5,000, eg a metar might read CAVOK, BKN240 OVC300

Captain Jack