What a 30% chance of rain actually means
Mike EllisCaitlin KaiserJenn Jordan
ByMike Ellis,Caitlin KaiserandJenn Jordan
11 hours agoUpdated: August 21, 2026, 6:21 am EDTPublished: August 21, 2026, 6:00 am EDT

A 30% chance of rain doesn't mean it will rain over 30% of the area, or for 30% of the day or that the forecaster is 30% confident. Meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser says it’s all about the root meaning of probability and chance, explaining that for every day with the exact same conditions, rain will form 30% of those times.

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