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
Wind map of the UK and Ireland showing a deep low-pressure system, Storm Dave, with red-orange zones and strong gusts up to 55 mph, plus a windsock warning icon indicating hazardous conditions.
Saturday 4 April 2026

Severe overnight gales

Storm Dave makes impact
Split image with Cromer Pier at sunset on the left in soft orange-blue tones and a moonlit Canterbury church with dramatic clouds on the right, lit by a streetlamp.
Sunday 5 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Spring captured after the clock change
Split image with UK nighttime weather map on the left showing clouds, rain bands, and temperatures, and a bright full moon above dark pine trees on the right.
Wednesday 1 April 2026

Good visibility for most

The Pink Moon rises tonight
All weather news
This might also interest you
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
Split weather map showing UK wind speeds in orange-red shades up to 40 mph on the left and warning levels in green-yellow on the right, with a central wind warning sign.
Wednesday 22 October 2025

Warnings active

Storm Benjamin impacts the UK
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
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