Disclaimer: This table is meant to generate a rough sketch of the weather, the user (prolly just me actually ) filling in or replacing as he sees fit. For example, it may not necessarily rain or blow a wind during a lightning.
Since I have dim to no knowledge about metreology in general or weather specs in the Washington state area, this is a dystopian urban weather generator with probably no reality connection whatsoever.
I may also have a slight trouble expressing or translating certain terms into english as accurately as I would like to.
A roll can be made whenever felt like; Someone wants to know what the trid forecasts for tomorrow, the weather may have changed while the PCs were inside somewhere or just make one roll for the whole day.
The table result is divided into three parts; Sky (i.e. clouds), Wind and Rain. Stuff like temperature and humidity will be dependant on season, wind/rain and most importantly, the GM.
After that follows a shortish presentation of how I've visualized and interpreted every result, and their game effects. And finally, some random thoughts on the matter.
2d6:
The Sky / Wind Force / Rainfall
2 - Dark / Heavy / Heavy + Lightning
3 - Dark / Heavy / Heavy
4 - Dark / - / Heavy
5 - Grey / - / Fog
6 - Grey / Light / Light
7 - Grey / - / -
8 - Cloudy / Light / -
9 - Cloudy / Heavy /-
10 - Clear / Light / -
11 - Clear / None / -
12 - Clear / Heavy / -
Sky:
Dark - Big black clouds covering all or nearly all of the sky. Atmospherics is dense and promise a real foul weather anytime soon.
No rules... yet. Im thinking of having flying vehicles having an easier time avoiding detection or lower Hide Maneuver target numbers, but this is pettish stuff without priority.
Grey - An even, dull blanket looms above as far as the eye can see.
Prolly as with dark skies.
Cloudy - Roughly 40-75 percent of the sky is covered by stacks of clouds, often in motion. The sun have plenty of empty patches to shine through though.
No ruling I can think of.
Clear - Beutiful weather, as much as you can have it within a polluted metroplex. Maybe some small clouds remain here and there, but they don't interfere much.
None here either.
Wind:
Heavy - Chilling winds howl through the city, taking everything small and flimsy with it. Not a hurricane by any means, but sometimes not far from. Keep hold with both hands of that e-paper you're reading , friend.
Flying vehicles treats Terrain Types as one "level worse" (open becomes normal etc.). When coming to think of it, boats and other sea vehicles should also be affected.
Light - The air is constantly in motion, even if it rarely has the strength to do much but keep the clouds moving. It's the kind of wind you hope for on a hot day.
Not much of a disturbance for the hardened shadowrunner.
None - Stillness, but for the occasional gust that dies just as quickly as it is breathed to life.
Nil.
Rainfall:
Heavy - A catharsic downpour hosing away like there's no tomorrow. It's a rain that drowns the pavement, taxes drainage and sewers and makes everything in the distance hazy, unclear and wet.
Flying vehicles treats Terrain Types as one "level worse" (Im also thinking of applying this to road vehicles).
Visibilty mod. P. 112.
Light - Everything from a steady trickle to small doses of the heavier stuff. This type of rain will not cause any flashflood but would most probably require an umbrella.
Driving should be slightly tougher, but Im not sure of how; Maybe increase the target number of maneuvers and crash tests by 1?
Visibilty mod. P. 112.
Fog - A grayish soup snaking it's way through the streets and creeping up from the gratings.
Visibilty mod. P. 112.
Sensor Test mod P. 136
Lightning - A thunderstorm, more often accompanied by heavy rain than not.
Since Im as much an electrician as Im a metreologist; How's -1 to all Flux ratings? Maybe sensor tests should have an extra +1 to target numbers.
None - The clouds, if any, keep themselves shut for now.
Nil.
Appendix:
1. I think putting rain on the same level as smoke on P. 112 is overkill. +2 for heavy rain and +1 for light IMHO.
2. What about having vehicles making Crash Tests continously, when in terrain types modified beyond Tight level? A test every minute when one level below Tight and testing every combat turn when two levels below. Harsh, yes, but skydiving between skyscrapers in a hurricane isn't exactly a good idea.
3. Toxic Weather.
Whenever deemed appropriate or just mean/funny, weather in the 6th world has taken a turn for the worse. Im thinking of a 1d3 roll compared to the Sky type, but I've also put in some additional possible circumstances that I deemed worth mentioning, but didn't have the heart to put into the d3-list.
Dark skies:
1 - Corrosive rain: This rain damages fragile materials or colouring and starts to itch shortly after contact to unprotected skin. Prolonged exposure is sure to cause nasty rashes or worse.
2 - Poisonous rain: A milder version of it's corrosive cousin, this rain only affects living organisms and not as severely. It is still recommended not getting it in your eyes or mouth though.
3 - Polluted rain: The water that falls down is oily and dirty, ruining unprotected clothes and haircuts.
* Runner-ups:
Meanspirited hail-storm. Think tooth-sized hail and beyond.
"Agressive" lightning: The dark future fantasy of lightning with a bolt every few seconds. It also have a higher probability than normal of hitting targets closer to ground.
Gray/cloudy skies:
1 - Toxic fog. You better have a rebreather for Spunky if you want the mutt to survive today's walk. Maybe it's even harmful at contact. (Thanks CanvasBack!)
2 - Poisonous rain. See above.
3 - Low-altitude smog. See below.
* Runner-ups:
Polluted rain. See above.
Clear skies:
1 - Heavy UV-radiation alert. You can't even bask in the sun when it shines for once, not in the UCAS at least. Protective clothing/eye-wear or some very good sunfactor (Aztechnology Safessence 3.2! In stores everywhere, and it's natural!!) is advisable.
2 - UV-alert. Not as immediately dangerous as the more serious version.
3 - Low altitude smog. This is a catch-all name for circumstances where the air temporarily has been too polluted for your own good, and a reason why breathing filters have been a steady seller the last 40 years.
* Runner-ups:
Sweltering heat. Just living becomes a chore in this temperature.
Fires in the poorer areas of the city.