Which of the following constitutes a prediction rather than a forecast for a natural event?
A) The tsunami from today's massive earthquake near Alaska will arrive in Hilo, Hawaii at 2 PM.
B) Landslides are expected in the Tacoma, WA area throughout the weekend.
C) Tremors from an earthquake may cause damage to poorly built structures.
D) There is a 50% chance of thunderstorms in the Seattle region on Saturday.
E) Four to five inches of rain may fall with the Category 2 storm off of the coast of Alabama.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This option is a specific statement about something that will happen in the future based on current knowledge and understanding.

The other options are all forecasts or estimates based on current conditions, but with a degree of uncertainty or probability attached to them. For example, option B states that landslides are expected, but does not provide a specific time or location. Option C suggests that damage may occur, but does not give any details about the extent of the damage or when it might happen. Option D provides a probability of thunderstorms occurring, but does not state definitively whether or not they will happen. Option E provides an estimate of rainfall, but again does not state definitively whether that amount of rain will fall or not.

Which of the Following Constitutes a Prediction Rather Than a Forecast