In Genesis, what did Noah do when he learned that the Flood waters had dried from the earth?

In Genesis, Noah removed the covering of the ark when he learned that the Flood waters had dried from the earth.

Genesis 8:13 says Noah removed the ark’s covering on the first day of the first month in his six hundred and first year. He then saw that the surface of the ground was dry. The account distinguishes this action from the earlier opening of the window and the later command to leave the ark.

After Noah removed the covering, God told him to go out with his family and release the animals. The narrative therefore treats the covering as part of the final inspection before departure.

Popular images often show Noah simply opening a large door to see the land. Genesis instead specifically records removing the covering at this stage, while the command to leave comes afterward.