Weather guides
Weather, explained so you can decide.
What the numbers in a forecast actually mean, what they are worth trusting, and what to do about them.
When the clocks change, and what it does to your light
Clocks go back on 25 October across the UK and EU, and 1 November in the US. Here is what the change does to your mornings and your evenings.
· 3 min read
How close is that lightning, really?
Count from flash to thunder and divide by five for miles. But if you can hear thunder at all, the National Weather Service says you are within reach.
· 3 min read
Tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane: what changes at each step
A tropical depression has winds up to 38 mph. At 39 mph it becomes a named tropical storm, and at 74 mph a hurricane. Here is what changes at each step.
· 3 min read
Flood watch, flood warning, flash flood warning: what each one means
A flood watch means flooding is possible. A warning means it is happening or about to. Here is what each National Weather Service flood alert asks of you.
· 3 min read
Watch, warning, advisory: what each one is asking you to do
A watch means conditions are favourable. A warning means it is happening or about to. Here is what each National Weather Service alert asks of you.
· 3 min read
How to read a hurricane cone without misreading it
The hurricane cone shows where a storm's centre may go, not how big it is. Here is what it means, why it widens, and what to read next to it.
· 4 min read
What a 40% chance of rain actually means
A 40% chance of rain is not 40% of the day or 40% of the sky. Here is what forecasters actually mean by it, and what to check instead.
· 3 min read