Educating Television Viewers About Uncertainty

Uncertainty is inherent in almost all weather forecasts, particularly those at extended range, yet conveying uncertainty in a television weathercast without appearing indecisive and ambiguous to viewers remains a significant challenge. Weather World, Penn State's long-running weekday weather magazine show, uses a variety of methods to address uncertainty at different time scales. Segments such as “Sure Bets,” “12-Day Trends,” and “Climate Watch” not only provide actionable forecast information but also educate viewers on the scientific limits to predictability.