Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Understanding the app: How to read rain forecasts

08:00
9 May 2023

Understanding the app
How to read rain forecasts

Rainfall warning

A common question we get asked is what does the percentage of rain really mean in a weather app? Well, we’re here to debunk the misconceptions.

It is important to remember that the percentage shows the chance of rain at that time, in your forecast area.

A 30% chance means a 30% chance that it will rain in your forecast area, and a 70% chance that it will stay dry.

When there are showers in the forecast, rather than a solid band of rain, there is a great deal of uncertainty. This is because showers can be extremely localised, forming and dissipating over short time periods.

Often with showers, the chance of precipitation could be fairly low, but the risk could be throughout the entirety of the day.

So, if you’re unsure about whether you’re at risk of catching a shower, stay updated via our WeatherRadar, where you can see where the showers are developing real-time.

Weather & Radar editorial team

More on the topic

Cyclone Arnab makes landfall in India. 100,000 people evacuated. . Weather Videos. Wednesday 28 October 2026
Split weather maps showing an intense cyclone off India's east coast near Visakhapatnam, with red-purple wind zones, heavy blue rain and warning symbols.
Weather VideosWednesday 28 October 2026

100,000 people evacuated

Cyclone Arnab makes landfall in India
Widespread fog grips Thursday morning. Take care on the roads. . . Wednesday 28 October 2026
Split image showing a fog forecast across southern England with temperatures of 8–9°C, alongside cars driving through dense mist on a sunlit road.
Wednesday 28 October 2026

Take care on the roads

Widespread fog grips Thursday morning
Staying fairly blustery across Ireland. Autumn greetings. . . Thursday 29 October 2026
Wind map showing 35 mph winds near Galway and Cork, 25 mph near Dublin and Belfast, and lighter winds across western Britain, with a windsock symbol.
Thursday 29 October 2026

Autumn greetings

Staying fairly blustery across Ireland
All weather news

This might also interest you

A stormy week in the skies above. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 30 August 2026
Split image showing lightning branching beneath dark storm clouds above rooftops on the left and an orange-pink sunset over a calm sea on the right.
Sunday 30 August 2026

Your weather - Your shots

A stormy week in the skies above
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. 40 °C in July?. . . Tuesday 30 June 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday 30 June 2026

40 °C in July?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList