The weather app can indicate the likelihood of receiving certain amounts of snow.
The time channel application shows the probability of receiving specific amounts of snow, thus facilitating planning for a major storm.
Winter days are coming to an end, but it’s snowing right now. It’s not a major snowfall, but it’s enough to complicate my moving plans for later this week. Overall, winter weather can be quite uncomfortable, and one of its worst features is its unpredictable nature. In light of this situation, The Weather Company, who are responsible for the Weather Channel app (though not the TV station), has launched a new feature aimed at making storm planning easier.
This feature, called "probabilistic snowfall," seeks to provide a better perspective on the severity or impact that a storm could have. While forecasts will still show the classic “50 percent chance of snow,” users will have access to more specific information in the 72 hours leading up to the snowfall. This includes probability percentages for specific snow amounts. For example, there might be an 80 percent chance of snow overall, but it would also specify how much is likely to accumulate—five to eight inches, followed by a potential accumulation of eight to twelve inches—which could lead to reconsidering some plans.
Rachel Chukura, product manager at The Weather Company, explained that the purpose of this tool is to allow users to visualize the different probabilities and understand that there can be variations. This is crucial for making weather-related decisions, such as when to leave for work or whether there will be delays in class.
I have been using this feature for about a week, and I tested it right before a small storm affected Philadelphia the night before. I can’t confirm its accuracy since I don’t measure the snowfall with a ruler, but the few inches that fell last night matched the probabilistic forecast. Additionally, it was helpful to know ahead of time that I probably wouldn’t have to worry too much about the weather conditions.
This feature is part of the premium subscription for the Weather Channel app, which costs $30 a year. In addition to probabilistic snowfall, the subscription removes ads, provides access to long-term radar forecasts, includes a lightning map within a 30-mile radius, and offers more detailed weather breakdowns every 15 minutes. While many will continue to use the default weather app on their phones or the free version of the Weather Channel, having a greater understanding of the probability of facing a snowstorm is undoubtedly an advantage.
