A chance of rain means…?

Sage Scientist explains what rain chances mean!

Sage Scientist explains!

When you hear the weather forecast say there’s a "40% chance of rain," that doesn’t mean it will rain for 40% of the day or only in 40% of the area. It means there’s a 4 out of 10 chance that rain will happen somewhere in your area during the forecast time.

Think of it like this: imagine your teacher puts 10 balls in a bag—4 are green and 6 are red. If you close your eyes and pull one out, there’s a 40% chance you'll get a green ball. The forecast is saying something similar—there’s a 40% chance rain could fall where you are. It might not rain at your house, but it could nearby.

So, when the chance of rain is high, like 80% or 90%, it’s a good idea to take your raincoat or umbrella, just in case!