What's POP anyway? Viral TikTok video starts a discussion - The Weather Network (2024)

Earlier this week, TikTok user Scarlett Moffatt posted a video about her weather app that resonated with users, racking up around 350K 'likes' and counting.

"I just found out that on the weather app, when it says 30 per cent rain, I thought it meant 30 per cent chance of rain," Moffatt says.

"It doesn't mean that. It means 30 per cent of your area will be covered in rain."

While Scarlett is on the right track, we thought we’d break down POP and how you can use it to interpret the forecast.

LET'S TALK POP

The POP, or probability of precipitation, feature is commonly found on weather apps and forecasts. You can see it on our forecast pages as well, in a column that looks like this:

What's POP anyway? Viral TikTok video starts a discussion - The Weather Network (2)

Chris Murphy, a Weather Network broadcast meteorologist, says POP functions like an added tool to help plan the day.

What's POP anyway? Viral TikTok video starts a discussion - The Weather Network (2024)

FAQs

What's POP anyway? Viral TikTok video starts a discussion - The Weather Network? ›

LET'S TALK POP

What is the PoP on the weather network? ›

Forecasts issued by the National Weather Service routinely include a "PoP" (probability of precipitation) statement, which is often expressed as the "chance of rain" or "chance of precipitation".

What does the PoP mean in weather? ›

Probability of precipitation (PoP) is a commonly used term referring to the likelihood of precipitation falling in a particular area over a defined period of time, which is commonly a day, half day, or hour.

What does 80% chance of rain mean? ›

The answer? An “80% chance of rain” means an 80% chance that rain will fall somewhere within the forecasted area. Rain refers to 0.01 inch or more of water falling from the sky.

What does 20 chance of rain mean? ›

If the chance of rain is less than 50%, there's a greater likelihood of it staying dry than not. For example, a 20% chance of rain means there's an 80% chance of dry weather. On the other hand, an 80% chance of rain means there's only a 20% chance of dry weather.

What does 30 pop mean? ›

"It simply means that if this exact same storm system went through 10 times, 8 out of 10 times it would bring you precipitation within that forecast period," Chris says. If the POP drops to 30 per cent in the afternoon, "there's only a 3 out of 10 chance you'll get any precipitation from this scenario."

What does 80% snow mean? ›

Rain The percentage of rain refers to the probability of rain occurring at the location and time specified. For example, a forecast of 80% rain means that there is an 80% chance of rain. Snow The percentage of snow refers to the probability of snow occurring at the location and time specified.

What does pop mean in slang? ›

Originally Answered: What does 'pop' mean in slang? pop for, Slang. to pay or buy for oneself or another, especially as a gift or treat; spring for: I'll pop for the first round of drinks. pop off, Informal. to die, especially suddenly.

How likely is 60% chance of rain? ›

So the PinPoint Weather team is here to help explain what those percentages mean so you can plan better for inconvenient downpours. Let's use 60% as the rain chance in the forecast. That means 60% of the entire area (Central Florida) could see measurable rain at some point in the day, while the other 40% won't.

What are pop up storms called? ›

Often called “popcorn” convection, single-cell thunderstorms are small, brief, weak storms that grow and die within an hour or so. They are typically driven by heating on a summer afternoon. Single-cell storms may produce brief heavy rain and lightning.

What is a 100% chance of rain? ›

A 100% chance of rain means it will certainly rain in a particular area during a particular time, but it may or may not include your forecast zone or area.

What does 0.01 inches of rain look like? ›

1/100 (0.01) of an inch of rain – The first measurable amount of rainfall reported by The National Weather Service. This would not leave puddles on the ground and would slightly wet the surface. This might occur during a light shower for 2-5 minutes or even a drizzle for 2 hours.

What does the rain mean in the Bible? ›

In the Bible, rain is often portrayed as a symbol of God's abundant provision for His creation. The Book of Psalms, in particular, is rich in references to rain as a manifestation of God's care for His people. Psalm 65:9-10 proclaims, "You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly.

What does precipitation 0 mean? ›

So for 0%, there are chances that it will rain but it's very unlikely. Chances of rain and thunderstorms are rounded to the nearest tens. For example, if there are exactly 53% chances of rain, it would just said 50%. So for 0%, there are chances that it will rain but it's very unlikely.

What does chance of rain mean on TikTok? ›

TikTok. You may have seen a video that went viral. that said that chance of rain. isn't actually the likelihood it's going to rain, but it's the percent of area of a city. that is going to get rain.

What does a bottle of rain mean? ›

Well, I don't know how reliable it is, but according to this site, “the phrases 'Broken Arrow' and 'Bottle of Rain' are Native American expressions, meaning (respectively) 'Peaceful End of Conflict' and 'Good Prospects/Good Fortune.

What is a pop-up storm? ›

A pop-up thunderstorm, also known as a "pulse" thunderstorm, typically forms due to localized atmospheric conditions that lead to the rapid development of convective clouds. These conditions often involve high humidity, warm temperatures, and an unstable atmosphere.

How do pop-up storms work? ›

Pop-up thunderstorms, also known as “air mass thunderstorms,” or “heat-of-the-day storms,” form when warm, moist air rises in the atmosphere, causing water vapor to condense into clouds and eventually leading to rain showers and thunderstorms.

What is the name of the weather app that cusses? ›

Sure, you can see plenty of data at a glance, follow storms, and check forecasts for the several days ahead, just like most other such apps – but Carrot sets itself apart with ridiculous dialogue that insults you while telling you about the weather and guiding you through the interface.

What does 60% chance of rain mean? ›

Closer look at percentages

Let's use 60% as the rain chance in the forecast. That means 60% of the entire area (Central Florida) could see measurable rain at some point in the day, while the other 40% won't. That goes beyond the city that you live in.

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