Cloud Tops

[picky]

Is there a rule of thumb to work out or estimate the cloud tops from a forecast or metar? I've dug out my met book from when training for my ppl but all the focus seems to be on forecasting or quoting the cloud base.

e.g. if FEW007 SCT012 OVC048 is quoted in a Metar, what altitude would you break through to glorious sunshine and can you expect any breaks in between?

[MichaelJP59]

Don't know any way of working it out from a METAR, but cloud tops are forecast on the Metform 215.

The current F215 for our area has cloud tops anywhere from 14000ft to 22000ft! Not a good day for VFR...