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Please help me understand the "precipitation probability" commonly listed hour-by-hour in weather forecasts.

For example, the hour by hour forecast for Manhattan NY today includes probabilities of precipitation:

1pm 2%
2pm 2%
3pm 2%
4pm 2%
5pm 2%

(additional probabilities for other hours are also listed)

For the whole day, however, the forecast precipitation is only 3%.

How does this makes sense?
What is the probability of precipitation for a one hour period?
What is the probability of precipitation for a three hour period?

Forecast source:
https://www.wunderground.com/hourly/us/ny/manhattan/40.75,-74.00

<blockquote data-quote="Harry6" data-source="post: 1096192" data-attributes="member: 293">Please help me understand the &quot;precipitation probability&quot; commonly listed hour-by-hour in weather forecasts.For example,&nbsp; the hour by hour forecast for Manhattan NY today includes probabilities of precipitation:&nbsp; 1pm 2% 2pm 2%3pm 2%4pm 2%5pm 2%&nbsp; (additional probabilities for other hours are also listed)For the whole day, however, the forecast precipitation is only 3%.&nbsp; How does this makes sense?&nbsp; What is the probability of precipitation for a one hour period?&nbsp; What is the probability of precipitation for a three hour period? Forecast source:<a href="https://www.wunderground.com/hourly/us/ny/manhattan/40.75,-74.00" target="_blank">https://www.wunderground.com/hourly/us/ny/manhattan/40.75,-74.00</a></blockquote>

[QUOTE="Harry6, post: 1096192, member: 293"] Please help me understand the "precipitation probability" commonly listed hour-by-hour in weather forecasts. For example, the hour by hour forecast for Manhattan NY today includes probabilities of precipitation: 1pm 2% 2pm 2% 3pm 2% 4pm 2% 5pm 2% (additional probabilities for other hours are also listed) For the whole day, however, the forecast precipitation is only 3%. How does this makes sense? What is the probability of precipitation for a one hour period? What is the probability of precipitation for a three hour period? Forecast source: [URL]https://www.wunderground.com/hourly/us/ny/manhattan/40.75,-74.00[/URL] [/QUOTE]