What About Smothered and Covered?

Ever wonder what the difference is between “isolated” and “scattered” thunderstorms in a weather forecast?

thunderstorm

Well, it depends who you ask. The most popular answer, purportedly endorsed by the National Weather Service, is that it’s a matter of the probability of the thunderstorms’ occurrence. (See here and here.) But the WGN Weather Center says instead that it’s a matter of the likely geographical extent of such storms.

In either case, “isolated” apparently portends less soakage than “scattered.”

One Response to What About Smothered and Covered?

  1. TGGP June 17, 2010 at 12:38 am #

    Reminds me of this from Steven Landsburg:
    http://www.thebigquestions.com/2010/04/21/partly-unclear/

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