sun behind large cloud

This represents cloudy weather with the sun hidden behind a large cloud. It's used to describe a day that isn't sunny but isn't rainy either.

You can often see it used to indicate "cloudy" in weather forecasts. People also use this emoji when they're feeling a bit down or have a lot on their minds.

Windows 11

Apple

🌥️

Google

This emoji expresses the ambiguous state between sunny (☀️) and rainy (🌧️). That's why it's used metaphorically not just for weather, but also when feelings or situations are unclear.

The fact that the sun is behind the cloud also allows for a hopeful interpretation. Like the English expression "every cloud has a silver lining," it can be used to send a positive message that even if things are gloomy now, they will soon get better.