Laraine is right. One weatherman sees the sky as half empty (sunny) whereas another sees it as half full (of clouds). And why is the sun half-covered with a cloud in the ‘mostly sunny’ frame?
Since moving up to the pacific northwest, we’ve had to learn all sorts of vague weather terminology. Today we’ll have showers, and tomorrow rain? What’s the difference? My personal favorite around here is the term “sun breaks” — those cloudy days when the sun peeks out every so often, so it’s not really totally socked in. And I have to say, I completely get the difference between mostly sunny and partly cloudy = a few more clouds.
BTW it’s clear here today, beautiful sun (for those of you who think the PNW never gets sun), and the harvest moon was huge and brilliant last night.
Yes, and when you’re from the snowbelt (upstate New York), you have to learn the difference between snow, snow flurries, Lake Effect snow, and Nor’easters. What a hoot!
Reminds me of a telephone conversation with my stepdaughter in South Africa.
Me: “What’s the weather like?”
SD: “A bit chilly, 29C. How about you?”
Me: “Heat wave, 29C.”
True story.
Laraine says
September 22, 2010 at 9:40 amThat would be the pessimistic vs. the optimistic weatherman.
Judy says
September 22, 2010 at 9:48 amLaraine is right. One weatherman sees the sky as half empty (sunny) whereas another sees it as half full (of clouds). And why is the sun half-covered with a cloud in the ‘mostly sunny’ frame?
Mimi says
September 22, 2010 at 10:21 amobviously, that one degree temperature variation makes all the difference.
Jean says
September 22, 2010 at 10:27 amThank you! This post just made me laugh out loud.
GK in MI says
September 22, 2010 at 10:50 amI’ve always thought that being a weather person would be a great job. Where else can you say “partly” or “maybe” in your reporting and still get paid?
GrandeMocha says
September 22, 2010 at 12:26 pmIt reminds me of the red-orange crayon and the orange-red crayon. Not much diff.
LOD says
September 22, 2010 at 12:38 pmToward the end of the afternoon, it’s time for more Xanax.
angi says
September 22, 2010 at 12:41 pmOne hour…that’s the difference.
The Domestic Goddess says
September 22, 2010 at 12:52 pmI’m a partly sunny/mostly cloudy person, actually. The sun is BAD.
Reeb says
September 22, 2010 at 1:01 pmSince moving up to the pacific northwest, we’ve had to learn all sorts of vague weather terminology. Today we’ll have showers, and tomorrow rain? What’s the difference? My personal favorite around here is the term “sun breaks” — those cloudy days when the sun peeks out every so often, so it’s not really totally socked in. And I have to say, I completely get the difference between mostly sunny and partly cloudy = a few more clouds.
BTW it’s clear here today, beautiful sun (for those of you who think the PNW never gets sun), and the harvest moon was huge and brilliant last night.
Suzanne says
September 22, 2010 at 1:21 pmLOD, thank you. That was pretty funny.
Momo Fali says
September 22, 2010 at 2:01 pmI don’t know, but I can tell you that I want to be a meteorologist when I grow up.
Jules G. says
September 22, 2010 at 4:47 pmYes, and when you’re from the snowbelt (upstate New York), you have to learn the difference between snow, snow flurries, Lake Effect snow, and Nor’easters. What a hoot!
KathyB says
September 22, 2010 at 7:23 pmIn the olden days weather people were only allowed to say “partly cloudy.” Mostly sunny is newfangled.
Catherine McP says
September 22, 2010 at 8:19 pmIn Arizona its:
Really hot 115+
Hot 110+
Pretty warm 100+
Cooling down 90+
Beautiful 80+
Below 80, Cold front.
ShallowGal says
September 22, 2010 at 9:54 pmAccording to the pictures, it has to do with cloud placement.
Ashley says
September 23, 2010 at 12:56 amStratus and cumulus. Duh!
Angela says
September 23, 2010 at 7:07 amI don’t know. I still don’t get the difference between partly cloudy and partly sunny.
David says
September 23, 2010 at 7:13 amObviously the afternoon coffee is wearing off by 4 o-clock.
Kate says
September 23, 2010 at 9:29 amYou are scraping the bottom of the barrel for content.
Olivia says
September 23, 2010 at 10:37 amIn Canada we even get snow showers!
Most of our forecasts say “sunny with cloudy periods and the possibility of rain.” That way, the forecasters are always right!
Amy in NJ says
September 23, 2010 at 11:33 amMostly sunny has less clouds and partly cloudy has slightly more clouds. who knew the weather people could be so nitpicky?
Mr Farty says
September 23, 2010 at 4:45 pmReminds me of a telephone conversation with my stepdaughter in South Africa.
Me: “What’s the weather like?”
SD: “A bit chilly, 29C. How about you?”
Me: “Heat wave, 29C.”
True story.
bossy's friend martha's sister says
September 23, 2010 at 6:42 pmThe days are getting shorter so the sun is out less as the day goes by … duhhh…… makes sense to me!
Bridget says
September 23, 2010 at 7:30 pmI’m sorry I cannot – because there is NO fricking difference! The weather people just like to hear and see themselves say something different!
Dharmamama says
September 23, 2010 at 9:00 pmPartly cloudy means the cloud is always on the bottom right – duh!
And I think “scraping the bottom of the barrel” should be your new tagline.
steph says
September 29, 2010 at 1:32 pmKate needs to get laid.