Making sense of weather forecast definitions

While our forecasters are getting better at predicting the weather, some of the terms they use have me completely confused. At times they even contradict themselves. For example, how can you have fine weather with occasional showers? Is there a difference between a sunny day and a fine day? What’s the difference between isolated and scattered showers? Couldn’t the MetService be more straightforward?

My daughter was planning a sleepover with five friends in tents last week, so weather forecasts were on my mind as well. Usually, when we refer to a fine day, it means a clear, sunny day, doesn’t it? But in weather forecasts, “fine” simply means the absence of rain or showers. So yes, “fine weather with occasional showers” would surely be a contradiction. However, in MetService speak, you can have a “fine” day that’s completely overcast, which might come as a surprise.

As for the difference between “scattered” and “isolated”, TVNZ’s glossary of weather terms says “scattered” means showers or rain “can occur anywhere in a particular area”. “Isolated” rain or showers, well, they are “separated in space during a certain time period”, which I’m afraid isn’t clear to me. And we won’t even go into “patchy” rain, which apparently means something else “occurs irregularly over a particular area”. I’m lost.

My personal niggle is hearing the word “predominantly” slipped into predictions. It feels as if the forecaster’s fudging it a bit. I think as forecasters use more and more informal language, they will become easier to understand. So let’s not be too tough on them. It’s a thankless task and, as you say, they mainly get it right.

Do you have a consumer question for Kevin? Email consumer@nzww.co.nz, or post to Weekly Consumer, PO Box 90119, Victoria St West, Auckland 1142.