scattered showers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scattered showers" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in weather reports or forecasts to describe light rain that occurs in various locations over a certain area. Example: "The weather forecast predicts scattered showers throughout the day, so be sure to carry an umbrella."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"Things should get drier on Thursday, with just scattered showers across the UK.

Independent

The forecast for Sunday is better, but not much: cloudy skies and scattered showers.

The New York Times

The weather in England was warm, scattered showers in the south-east and rain in the north of Scotland.

The Guardian - Books

The rest of the country saw scattered showers today and flood-hit northern regions are starting to see the rains subside.

Independent

According to the Penn State Department of Meteorology, scattered showers are likely to intrude on the game at some point, perhaps causing a delay.

The New York Times

Today, scattered showers across Indiana added to some of the worst flooding the state has seen in at least six years.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

By August 13, the wave began to regenerate as it passed through the Lesser Antilles, producing scattered shower and thunderstorm activity.

Wikipedia

Matt Dobson, a senior forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "Today there could be scattered heavy showers and a few thunderstorms to the northern half of the UK.

Independent

On Tuesday morning the Philippine weather-forecasting agency ceased its public storm warnings: Hagupit would exit the country as scattered heavy showers.More important was the lesson learned from Haiyan: the Philippines avoided the worst by preparing for it.

The Economist

Day 1 brought thunderclouds, scattered intense showers and, more significantly, a chill that even most Coachella veterans haven't experienced.

Huffington Post

The weather types studied vary from predominantly scattered convective thunder-shower type rainfall through to widespread, general, stratiform rainfields with high Wetted Area Ratios.

Journal of Hydrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "scattered showers", ensure it aligns with the context of a weather forecast or report indicating light, intermittent rain across a region. Clarify the geographical area affected for better understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "scattered showers" when describing continuous, heavy rainfall across an entire region. Use terms like "widespread rain" or "heavy downpour" instead to accurately represent the intensity and coverage of the rainfall.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scattered showers" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in sentences describing weather forecasts or conditions. Ludwig examples show it describing potential weather disruptions or actual rain events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

13%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scattered showers" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase primarily found in weather forecasts and news reports. Ludwig AI confirms its typical usage. It conveys the presence of light, intermittent rain across different locations within an area, with news and media being the most frequent context. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, it is crucial to use it accurately to represent weather conditions, avoiding misrepresentation of scale or intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scattered rainfall

Refers to rainfall that isn't concentrated in one area.

intermittent showers

Describes showers that start and stop periodically, similar to scattered showers.

isolated showers

Emphasizes the limited and localized nature of the showers.

occasional showers

Highlights that the showers are not constant, but happen from time to time.

patchy showers

Indicates that the showers are unevenly distributed across an area.

isolated rain

Similar to isolated showers, but uses 'rain' instead.

sporadic rainfall

Uses a more general term for rainfall occurring at irregular intervals.

interspersed showers

Showers are mixed or alternate with something else, like sunny periods.

localized precipitation

Refers to precipitation that is confined to specific areas.

variable rain

Indicates that the rain's intensity and duration may change.

FAQs

How can I use "scattered showers" in a sentence?

You can say, "The forecast predicts "scattered showers" throughout the afternoon, so bring an umbrella" or "Despite the "scattered showers", the outdoor event will proceed as planned.

What's a good alternative to "scattered showers"?

Alternatives include "intermittent rain", "occasional showers", or "isolated showers", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a scattered shower" instead of "scattered showers"?

While "scattered showers" is more common to describe a weather pattern across an area, "a scattered shower" can refer to a single, localized instance of light rain. The choice depends on whether you're describing a general forecast or a specific event.

What is the difference between "scattered showers" and "widespread rain"?

"Scattered showers" implies light, intermittent rain affecting some areas but not others. "Widespread rain" indicates that rain is falling over a large area, suggesting more continuous and consistent precipitation.