Cloudy with no chance of bolides

kw: astronomy, observations

I've stepped outside a few times since 10pm (the earliest hour one is likely to see a Leonid meteor). Cloudiness continues to increase. Currently (11pm) about 90% of the sky is covered, particularly to the southeast, where I'd want it to be the clearest.

Worse, tonight the wind seems to dictate that planes flying into PHL (the Philly airport) must go right overhead, about one per minute, and their lights ruin what night vision I might generate. Perversely, they fly right under the only big hole in the clouds, the place I have to look to see any stars at all.

2005 was the only year I've been able to see the sky well on "Leonid night", and that year was a very good show.