Scientists reveal what a '30% chance of rain' REALLY means

"A 30% chance of rain means that there is a small chance - three times out of 10 - that it will rain, but seven times out of 10, it will stay dry. And that 30% could still mean a heavy downpour for the full length of time covered by the forecast, or a brief five-minute shower right at the end."

"It's sometimes more useful to look beyond the symbols and emojis that weather apps use to summarise the weather of the day. Instead, check the actual forecast, including the daily and hourly percentage chance of rain. Some apps, including BBC Weather, show a single rain cloud icon for the day even when the chance of rain is 50% or less."

"Weather apps actually divide the country into a grid of squares, each covering an area as large as 124 miles (200km)."

Weather forecast apps commonly display percentage chances of rain that many people misinterpret. A 30% chance of rain means precipitation will occur three times out of ten, not that it will cover 30% of an area or be light drizzle. The percentage represents the probability during the forecast period and could indicate either a heavy downpour or brief shower. Weather apps divide countries into grid squares covering approximately 124 square miles each, so forecasts apply to specific locations rather than entire regions. Experts recommend checking actual percentage forecasts rather than relying solely on weather symbols and emojis, as these provide more accurate information for planning.

Read at Mail Online