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
Snow-covered forest with snow-covered trees and path under grey sky.
Saturday 22 November 2025

Photo gallery

Winter weather in many parts of Europe
Satellite map shows cyclone off the north coast of Australia with wind fields around the eye.
Thursday 20 November 2025

Gusts exceeding 90 mph

Tropical storm heads for Australia
Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing widespread blue shading and temperatures around -3°C to 0°C, with a thermometer icon on the left.
Wednesday 19 November 2025

Widely below 0 °C

Frozen end to the week
All weather news
This might also interest you
Friday 22 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Sunny start for some, overcast later
Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing scattered showers with cloudy patches across much of the region, especially around western and northern areas. Sunshine symbols appear over London, Cardiff, and parts of southern England, while temperatures range from 17°C to 18°C in most places. Areas of heavier rain are visible over the Atlantic to the west.
Friday 29 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Unsettled conditions into the weekend
Sunday 24 August 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mammatus clouds widely spotted
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList