What About Smothered and Covered?

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

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.”