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Weather Configuration

Configure weather conditions and atmospheric behavior on your DayZ server using cfgweather.xml. Control overcast, fog, rain, wind, snowfall, and storm systems.

Overview

The cfgweather.xml file controls all weather systems in DayZ, including atmospheric conditions, precipitation, wind patterns, and storm behavior. Each weather element can be configured with current states, limits, time constraints, and change parameters to create realistic and dynamic weather patterns.

The weather system uses a state-based approach where each element (overcast, fog, rain, etc.) has current conditions that transition over time within defined limits.

Core Settings

reset boolean

Controls whether to load weather from storage or use the configuration values. Set to 0 to use config values, 1 to load from storage.

enable boolean

Controls whether this weather configuration is active. Set to 1 to enable, 0 to disable weather system.

Weather Element Structure

Each weather element (overcast, fog, rain, windMagnitude, windDirection, snowfall) follows the same structure with these sub-elements:

current

Current state with actual value, time elapsed, and duration

limits

Minimum and maximum values the element can reach

timelimits

Time constraints for transitions between states

changelimits

Maximum amount the value can change in one transition

Overcast Configuration

Controls cloud coverage and sky conditions. Overcast affects visibility, lighting, and is a prerequisite for rain and storms.

Value Range

0.0 = Clear sky
0.5 = Partly cloudy
1.0 = Completely overcast

Typical Settings

Sunny: 0.0-0.3
Cloudy: 0.5-0.9
Stormy: 0.8-1.0

Fog Configuration

Controls fog density and visibility. Fog significantly affects player visibility and creates atmospheric conditions.

Value Range

0.0 = No fog
0.5 = Moderate fog
1.0 = Very dense fog

Gameplay Impact

Higher values dramatically reduce visibility. Use sparingly to avoid frustrating gameplay.

Rain Configuration

Controls precipitation intensity. Rain requires overcast conditions and includes threshold settings for when rain can occur.

Value Range

0.0 = No rain
0.5 = Moderate rain
1.0 = Heavy rain

Thresholds

min/max: Overcast range for rain
end: Time to stop if outside range

Dependencies

Rain requires overcast values within the threshold range to occur.

Wind Configuration

Wind is configured through two separate elements: windMagnitude (speed) and windDirection (angle). This allows for realistic wind patterns.

Wind Magnitude

Value Range

0.0-20.0 m/s
Represents wind speed in meters per second

Typical Values

Light: 2-6 m/s
Moderate: 8-12 m/s
Strong: 15-20 m/s

Wind Direction

Value Range

-3.14 to 3.14 radians
Represents wind direction angle

Direction Reference

0.0: North
1.57: East
3.14/-3.14: South
-1.57: West

Snowfall Configuration

Controls snow precipitation. Similar to rain but with different visual effects. Includes threshold settings for overcast dependency.

Map Compatibility

Snowfall should typically remain at 0.0 for Chernarus and other temperate maps. It's primarily intended for winter/arctic maps.

Value Range

0.0 = No snow
0.5 = Moderate snow
1.0 = Heavy snow

Thresholds

Similar to rain, snowfall requires specific overcast conditions to occur.

Storm Configuration

Controls lightning storm behavior. Storms add dramatic weather effects with lightning strikes and thunder.

density float

Lightning frequency (0.0-1.0)
0.0: No lightning
1.0: Frequent lightning

threshold float

Overcast level required for storms (0.0-1.0)
Higher values = storms only in heavy overcast

timeout integer

Time between lightning strikes (seconds)
Lower values = more frequent strikes

Example Configuration

Complete example showing all weather elements configured for a temperate climate with dynamic weather patterns:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?>
<weather reset="0" enable="1">
    <overcast>
        <current actual="0.45" time="120" duration="240" />
        <limits min="0.0" max="1.0" />
        <timelimits min="600" max="900" />
        <changelimits min="0.0" max="1.0" />
    </overcast>
    <fog>
        <current actual="0.05" time="120" duration="240" />
        <limits min="0.02" max="0.08" />
        <timelimits min="900" max="900" />
        <changelimits min="0.0" max="1.0" />
    </fog>
    <rain>
        <current actual="0.0" time="60" duration="120" />
        <limits min="0.0" max="1.0" />
        <timelimits min="60" max="120" />
        <changelimits min="0.0" max="1.0" />
        <thresholds min="0.6" max="1.0" end="60" />
    </rain>
    <windMagnitude>
        <current actual="8.0" time="120" duration="240" />
        <limits min="0.0" max="20.0" />
        <timelimits min="120" max="240" />
        <changelimits min="0.0" max="20.0" />
    </windMagnitude>
    <windDirection>
        <current actual="0.0" time="120" duration="240" />
        <limits min="-3.14" max="3.14" />
        <timelimits min="60" max="120" />
        <changelimits min="-1.0" max="1.0" />
    </windDirection>
    <snowfall>
        <current actual="0.0" time="0" duration="32768" />
        <limits min="0.0" max="0.0" />
        <timelimits min="300" max="3600" />
        <changelimits min="0.0" max="0.0" />
        <thresholds min="1.0" max="1.0" end="120" />
    </snowfall>
    <storm density="1.0" threshold="0.9" timeout="45"/>
</weather>

Weather Presets

Common weather configuration patterns for different atmospheric conditions:

☀️ Sunny Weather

  • Overcast: 0.0-0.3
  • Fog: 0.0-0.1
  • Rain: 0.0
  • Wind: 2-8 m/s

☁️ Cloudy Weather

  • Overcast: 0.5-0.9
  • Fog: 0.0-0.2
  • Rain: 0.0-0.3
  • Wind: 5-12 m/s

🌫️ Foggy Weather

  • Overcast: 0.4-0.8
  • Fog: 0.6-1.0
  • Rain: 0.0-0.1
  • Wind: 1-6 m/s

🌧️ Rainy Weather

  • Overcast: 0.7-1.0
  • Fog: 0.1-0.5
  • Rain: 0.5-0.9
  • Wind: 8-15 m/s

⛈️ Stormy Weather

  • Overcast: 0.8-1.0
  • Fog: 0.2-0.6
  • Rain: 0.8-1.0
  • Wind: 15-20 m/s
  • Storm: High density

🔄 Dynamic Weather

  • Overcast: 0.0-1.0
  • Fog: 0.0-0.8
  • Rain: 0.0-1.0
  • Wind: 0-20 m/s
  • All conditions possible

Weather Configuration Best Practices

  • Balance realism with gameplay: Avoid extreme fog or rain that makes the game unplayable
  • Consider your map: Adjust weather patterns to match your server's geographical setting
  • Test thoroughly: Weather affects visibility, navigation, and player experience significantly
  • Use smooth transitions: Set appropriate timelimits to avoid jarring weather changes
  • Coordinate elements: Ensure rain thresholds match your overcast limits
  • Monitor performance: Heavy weather effects can impact server and client performance
  • Seasonal adjustments: Consider changing weather patterns periodically for variety
  • Player feedback: Adjust based on community preferences and gameplay impact

Technical Implementation Notes

  • File location: Place cfgweather.xml in your server's mission folder
  • Restart required: Weather changes require server restart to take effect
  • Performance impact: Complex weather patterns with frequent changes may affect server performance
  • Client synchronization: Weather is synchronized across all connected players
  • Mod compatibility: Some weather mods may override these settings
  • Backup recommended: Always backup your working configuration before making changes