Proper Format for Creating a Public Weather Forecast

CLOUD COVER || PRECIP || MIN or MAX || WIND || POP

CLOUD COVER: Begin the forecast with the expected sky condition, such as: cloudy, mostly cloudy, partly sunny, mixed clouds and sunshine, variable clouds, sunny, etc. (Only use "clear" at night.) You can introduce a wind description of "breezy" or "windy", if applicable.
PRECIP: Only mention precip when your POP forecast is 20% or greater; do not mention precip when the POP is 10% or 0%; use the proper wording as follows:

POP WORDING

2 "slight chance"

3,4 "chance" ---> can be in body of text, instead of at end; but only once

5 "good chance"

6,7 "likely"

8,9,10 <categorical>

Note: <categorical> means that the precip is mentioned without "qualifier" (such as "Cloudy, with rain"); if snow or sleet is forecast, then you must indicate potential accumulation.

MIN or MAX: Give your expected temperature forecast; make the appropriate range, or use the word "near" if close to a multiple of 5 F; do not give a single number; here are some examples:

MIN or MAX WORDED FORECAST

16 middle teens

18 15-20

33 30-35

39 near 40

45 middle 40s (or: near 45)

59 upper 50s (or: near 60)

WIND: Give your forecast WIND DIRECTION and SPEED; use "mph" not "knots;" stick to cardinal wind directions (i.e., north, northeast, east, southeast, south, etc.); if "light winds" are forecast, you can use "light and variable" or "light <direction> under 10 mph."
POP: At the end of the forecast, use the words, "Chance of Precip <xx>%." (Be consistent with the wording as above.) Do not use if you have already mentioned the "chance" (30% or 40%) POP in the wording, and do not use if POP is 10% or 0%.

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SAMPLE FORECAST (forecast numbers ------> 33 / 3 / 1 ; 49 / 9 / 4 ):

TONIGHT: Clear early, followed by increasing cloudiness after midnight and a 30% chance of light rain or freezing rain developing toward daybreak. Low 30-35. South wind at 5-15 mph.

TOMORROW: Cloudy and windy, with rain, possibly becoming heavy at times in the afternoon. High near 50. South wind at 12-25 mph and becoming gusty. Chance of rain 90%.