07-27-2011, 09:50 PM
First, understand that weather cannot ever be forecast exactly. A "forecast" is a "best guess." Its not the forecaster's fault. Besides, most are computer generated based on more data than you could ever imagine. Forecasts are "vague" because most people would not take the time to read a detailed forecast, or be able to understand it. If you look on the NWS site, there are links to very detailed forecasts. Pages and pages of narrative about each forecast. If you want an exact prediction of the weather where you are in two or three sentences, dream on.
Scattered showers means they are around here and there. Isolated showers means they are just isolated (fewer than scattered). Look at the percentage chance of precip. A 20 percent chance of isolated showers means that rain will likely fall in 20 percent of the coverage area. That means 80 percent of the coverage area will NOT LIKELY have rain. When the so-called "weatherman" says there's a 40 percent chance of showers, that also means there's a 60 percent chance there will NOT be showers in any one location within the coverage area.
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Scattered showers means they are around here and there. Isolated showers means they are just isolated (fewer than scattered). Look at the percentage chance of precip. A 20 percent chance of isolated showers means that rain will likely fall in 20 percent of the coverage area. That means 80 percent of the coverage area will NOT LIKELY have rain. When the so-called "weatherman" says there's a 40 percent chance of showers, that also means there's a 60 percent chance there will NOT be showers in any one location within the coverage area.
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