In the preparation of your observation session, you can take advantage of the radiation forecast of the Canadian Meteorological Center GEM Regional model, shown here as cloud forecasts. Interpret these images the same way you would for GOES Infrared satellite pictures found on various web sites. To convert UTC time to local time, you have to take into account the time difference between your time zone and Greenwich time zone as well as daylight time if necessary. A few words regarding the colors on these images. Orange and white zones represent the coldest clouds, hence high clouds of cirrus type.
Blue zones are low or mid-level clouds.
Turquoise zones show the ground. To determine if you are looking at the ground or low clouds, do an animation and note if there is any motion of the brown-green zones. If you see movements, you are looking at low clouds. If the brown-green zones spread rapidly in all directions, you are probably seeing night time ground cooling.