cfgweather.xml

Purpose

cfgweather.xml controls the server’s weather simulation — overcast, fog, rain, wind, snowfall, and storm behavior. Each weather phenomenon has a current starting state, boundary limits it can fluctuate within, how quickly it changes, and how long each weather state lasts.

The vanilla file ships with enable="0" — meaning Bohemia’s default is for the server to run its internal weather system unless you explicitly enable this file. Set enable="1" to activate your custom weather configuration.

Console Path

dayzxb_missions/dayzOffline.<mapname>/cfgweather.xml    (Xbox)
dayzps_missions/dayzOffline.<mapname>/cfgweather.xml    (PlayStation)

Full Block Structure

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<weather enable="true" reset="false">

  <overcast>
    <current actual="0.5" time="0" duration="0" />
    <limits min="0.0" max="1.0" />
    <timelimits min="600" max="3600" />
    <changelimits min="0.0" max="0.3" />
  </overcast>

  <fog>
    <current actual="0.0" time="0" duration="0" />
    <limits min="0.0" max="0.3" />
    <timelimits min="600" max="7200" />
    <changelimits min="0.0" max="0.1" />
  </fog>

  <rain>
    <current actual="0.0" time="0" duration="0" />
    <limits min="0.0" max="0.8" />
    <timelimits min="1800" max="7200" />
    <changelimits min="0.0" max="0.2" />
    <thresholds min="0.5" max="0.7" end="0" />
  </rain>

  <windMagnitude>
    <current actual="2.0" time="0" duration="0" />
    <limits min="0.0" max="10.0" />
    <timelimits min="300" max="3600" />
    <changelimits min="0.0" max="3.0" />
  </windMagnitude>

  <windDirection>
    <current actual="0.0" time="0" duration="0" />
    <limits min="-3.14" max="3.14" />
    <timelimits min="300" max="3600" />
    <changelimits min="0.0" max="1.0" />
  </windDirection>

  <snowfall>
    <current actual="0.0" time="0" duration="0" />
    <limits min="0.0" max="0.5" />
    <timelimits min="1800" max="7200" />
    <changelimits min="0.0" max="0.1" />
    <thresholds min="0.3" max="0.5" end="0" />
  </snowfall>

  <storm density="0.5" threshold="0.7" timeout="1800" />

</weather>

Root Element Attributes

`enable="true/false"`

Enables or disables the custom weather configuration.

true — this file controls weather behavior
false — server uses default weather cycle, this file is ignored

`reset="true/false"`

When true, resets all weather to default before applying config. Leave as false in most configurations.

Shared Sub-Element Structure

Every weather phenomenon (overcast, fog, rain, wind, snowfall) uses the same four sub-elements:

`<current actual="..." time="..." duration="..." />`

Attribute	What it controls
`actual`	Starting value of this phenomenon when server initializes
`time`	How many seconds into the current weather state we start (usually `0`)
`duration`	Duration of the initial state in seconds (usually `0` to let timelimits control it)

For unit phenomena (overcast, fog, rain, snowfall): actual is 0.0–1.0
For wind magnitude: actual is 0.0–20.0
For wind direction: actual is -3.14–3.14 (radians)

`<limits min="..." max="..." />`

The hard floor and ceiling for this phenomenon. The weather simulation will never go outside these bounds.

min and max are the same type as actual for each phenomenon
Setting min="0.5" max="0.5" locks the value at exactly 0.5 (no variation)
Setting min="0.0" max="0.0" disables the phenomenon entirely

`<timelimits min="..." max="..." />`

Unit: Seconds
How long each weather state persists before the simulation transitions to a new target value. The engine picks a random duration between min and max for each weather state.

Short timelimits = rapidly changing weather
Long timelimits = slow, stable weather that holds for a long time

`<changelimits min="..." max="..." />`

How much the value can change each time the weather transitions. A small changelimit means gradual shifts; a large one allows dramatic swings in a single transition.

Phenomenon Reference

`<overcast>`

Range: 0.0–1.0
Controls cloud cover and general sky brightness.

0.0 = clear sky
0.5 = partly cloudy
1.0 = fully overcast

Overcast also affects how quickly rain and storms can occur — high overcast is typically required for rain to activate.

`<fog>`

Range: 0.0–1.0
Controls visibility-reducing fog.

0.0 = no fog
1.0 = maximum fog (extremely low visibility)

Console note: Heavy fog significantly impacts player experience. Keep max at 0.3–0.5 for manageable fog. Fog above 0.7 can make navigation nearly impossible.

`<rain>`

Range: 0.0–1.0
Controls rainfall intensity.

0.0 = no rain
1.0 = maximum rain

Requires sufficient overcast to activate. Rain affects player warmth and wetness.

`<thresholds min="..." max="..." end="..." />`

Overcast thresholds required for rain to start (min) and stop (max). end controls end behavior.

`<wind>` (legacy) and `<windMagnitude>`

windMagnitude range: 0.0–20.0 (meters per second)
Controls wind speed. Affects player temperature, sound, and some physics.

0.0 = calm
5.0 = moderate wind
15.0+ = strong wind

<wind> is a legacy element. Use <windMagnitude> and <windDirection> in current configs.

`<windDirection>`

Range: -3.14–3.14 (radians)
Controls the direction wind is blowing. -3.14 to 3.14 covers a full circle in radians.

0.0 = north
1.57 = east (π/2)
3.14 / -3.14 = south
-1.57 = west (-π/2)

`<snowfall>`

Range: 0.0–1.0
Controls snowfall intensity. Primarily relevant for Sakhal (the snow map). On Chernarus and Livonia this has limited visual effect depending on season.

0.0 = no snow
1.0 = heavy snowfall

Like <rain>, <snowfall> supports a <thresholds min="..." max="..." end="..." /> sub-element with the same meaning as the rain thresholds: min/max govern the overcast level needed for snowfall to start/stop, and end controls end behavior.

`<storm density="..." threshold="..." timeout="..." />`

Attribute	What it controls
`density`	Intensity of storm effects (0.0–1.0)
`threshold`	Overcast level required to trigger storm behavior (0.0–1.0)
`timeout`	Seconds between storm evaluations

What Console Admins Typically Adjust

<overcast limits max="..."> — lower max to keep skies brighter and less gloomy.
<fog limits max="..."> — lower max to reduce extreme fog events.
<rain limits max="..."> — lower max to reduce heavy rain events.
<overcast current actual="..."> — set starting sky state.
<windMagnitude limits max="..."> — cap wind speed.

Example: Clear-Weather Server

<overcast>
  <current actual="0.1" time="0" duration="0" />
  <limits min="0.0" max="0.4" />
  <timelimits min="1800" max="7200" />
  <changelimits min="0.0" max="0.1" />
</overcast>
<fog>
  <current actual="0.0" time="0" duration="0" />
  <limits min="0.0" max="0.1" />
  <timelimits min="3600" max="14400" />
  <changelimits min="0.0" max="0.05" />
</fog>
<rain>
  <current actual="0.0" time="0" duration="0" />
  <limits min="0.0" max="0.2" />
  <timelimits min="3600" max="14400" />
  <changelimits min="0.0" max="0.1" />
</rain>

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Result
`fog limits max="1.0"`	Server can enter near-zero visibility conditions
`timelimits min` and `max` both very low	Weather changes every few seconds — disorienting
`limits min="X" max="Y"` where min > max	File validation error
`enable="false"` but expecting custom weather	File is ignored entirely
Setting `changelimits max` very high	Jarring sudden weather jumps

cfgweather.xml

Purpose

Console Path

Full Block Structure

Root Element Attributes

enable="true/false"

reset="true/false"

Shared Sub-Element Structure

<current actual="..." time="..." duration="..." />

<limits min="..." max="..." />

<timelimits min="..." max="..." />

<changelimits min="..." max="..." />

Phenomenon Reference

<overcast>

<fog>

<rain>

<thresholds min="..." max="..." end="..." />

<wind> (legacy) and <windMagnitude>

<windDirection>

<snowfall>

<storm density="..." threshold="..." timeout="..." />