What is the difference between "Partly sunny" and "Partly cloudy"?

me9996 · 04-13-2006, 12:16 PM

Another in the "Mysterys of life" threads, I ask the question: What is the difference between "Partly sunny" and "partly cloudy"?

Spock · 04-13-2006, 12:24 PM

your eyes view point

littleadanel · 04-13-2006, 03:12 PM

The same thing that makes a half full and half empty glass different.

Lady Marion Magdalena · 04-13-2006, 03:20 PM

It depends are what it was at the start. If the day starts out sunny but then gets a little cloudy later on it's 'partly cloudy' but if it was overcast or raining to start with and then the clouds start to break up and the sun comes out it's 'partly sunny'.

And I could be just making that up completely, but it makes sense...

Rosie Gamgee · 04-13-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Marion Magdalena

It depends are what it was at the start. If the day starts out sunny but then gets a little cloudy later on it's 'partly cloudy' but if it was overcast or raining to start with and then the clouds start to break up and the sun comes out it's 'partly sunny'.

And I could be just making that up completely, but it makes sense...

Yes, it does make sense.

I think that because 'partly' doesn't always mean 'half', but more like a little less than half, this explaination works.
What a funny topic. Especially since I was just thinking this very same thing last night... weird.

Farimir Captain of Gondor · 04-13-2006, 05:37 PM

IMO, it has to do with the amount of clouds/sun. If there is more of a chance that the sun will stay out for longer periods of time then it is to be blocked by clouds...it's partly sunny. If there is a chance that the clouds will over take the sun more often...partly cloudy.

The last sane person · 04-13-2006, 06:32 PM

In other words...that is the most asked question in all of Seattle.

me9996 · 04-16-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farimir Captain of Gondor

IMO, it has to do with the amount of clouds/sun. If there is more of a chance that the sun will stay out for longer periods of time then it is to be blocked by clouds...it's partly sunny. If there is a chance that the clouds will over take the sun more often...partly cloudy.

are you shure?

Lady Marion Magdalena · 04-16-2006, 11:51 AM

Quote:

IMO, it has to do with the amount of clouds/sun. If there is more of a chance that the sun will stay out for longer periods of time then it is to be blocked by clouds...it's partly sunny. If there is a chance that the clouds will over take the sun more often...partly cloudy.

Wouldn't it be the other way around? If partly refers to a little less than half, then the part that's likely to be out less often should be the part modified by the descriptor of partly.

Quote:

In other words...that is the most asked question in all of Seattle.

Second most asked. Most asked would be 'Are the bridges backed up today?' or 'How late is the bus this time?'

Count Comfect · 04-16-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Marion Magdalena

Wouldn't it be the other way around? If partly refers to a little less than half, then the part that's likely to be out less often should be the part modified by the descriptor of partly.

That sounds like it should be right - if it is, say, 65% sunny, 35% cloudy, then it is partly cloudy (mostly sunny, but that's implied). Same goes the opposite way if it is more cloudy than sunny.

And yet I'm sure I hear "partly cloudy" for any day that has some clouds - I very rarely hear "partly sunny."

The last sane person · 04-17-2006, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Marion Magdalena

Second most asked. Most asked would be 'Are the bridges backed up today?' or 'How late is the bus this time?'

Meh, most asked Philosophical question though.

Farimir Captain of Gondor · 04-17-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Marion Magdalena

Wouldn't it be the other way around? If partly refers to a little less than half, then the part that's likely to be out less often should be the part modified by the descriptor of partly.

Yeah, you're right. My brain was 'partly cloudy' that day.

Sam · 04-25-2006, 12:18 PM

In a nutshell, I would say that if there is more sun than clouds it's partly cloudy and vice versa, which is basicly what IMO was saying.

The last sane person · 04-25-2006, 12:36 PM

And Lo! The great minds of Entmoot have solved the mystery!

Gwaimir Windgem · 04-26-2006, 12:39 AM

Except that there is ALWAYS more sun than clouds, due to the size of the sun.

*the mystery continues...*

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 04-26-2006, 08:10 AM

When a weather forcast is made, it is made to cover a particular region which usually consist of a large area, in the case of the US, maybe several counties and cities that are in close proximity to one another in a state. Partly cloudy and partly sunny are terms used to describe conditions spanning a long time period, mostly the conditions of that day. If the National Weather Service, or your local forcasters view satellite images of cloud cover over the area, approaching cloud cover, and breaks in the cloud cover, and if there are more clouds than breaks then the term "partly cloudy" will be used because this describes what the condition for the day will be like for that area. It will be cloudy more than it will be sunny for that day. If they see clouds over the area, and a large break approaching, and say no clouds behind that break, or clouds behind the break that won't be arriving until later in that day, then they will use the term "partly sunny", because you will have more sun than clouds for that day.

Spock · 04-26-2006, 09:12 AM

awww, isn't she special

inked · 04-26-2006, 09:43 AM

Yes, she is. Neatly explained, O great and powerful Mod.

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 04-26-2006, 11:24 AM

Yep! Now the mystery is solved.

04-13-2006, 12:24 PM	#2
Spock An enigma in a conundrum Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,476	your eyes view point __________________ Vizzini: "HE DIDN'T FALL?! INCONCEIVABLE!!" Inigo: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

04-13-2006, 03:12 PM	#3
littleadanel of the House of Bëor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Eastwards. Posts: 979	The same thing that makes a half full and half empty glass different. __________________ I'm good in bed - I can sleep for days

04-13-2006, 03:20 PM	#4
Lady Marion Magdalena Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: In a Field of Giant Daisies. Posts: 821	It depends are what it was at the start. If the day starts out sunny but then gets a little cloudy later on it's 'partly cloudy' but if it was overcast or raining to start with and then the clouds start to break up and the sun comes out it's 'partly sunny'. And I could be just making that up completely, but it makes sense... __________________ "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; Leave me my name!" - The Crucible "nolite hippopotamum vexare!"

04-13-2006, 05:37 PM	#6
Farimir Captain of Gondor Spaceman Spiff Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In the belly of a Firefly, living in Serenity is where you'll find me Posts: 1,438	IMO, it has to do with the amount of clouds/sun. If there is more of a chance that the sun will stay out for longer periods of time then it is to be blocked by clouds...it's partly sunny. If there is a chance that the clouds will over take the sun more often...partly cloudy. __________________ Do you hear that?

04-13-2006, 06:32 PM	#7
The last sane person The Black Númenórean Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 6,773	In other words...that is the most asked question in all of Seattle. __________________ Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

04-25-2006, 12:18 PM	#13
Sam Elven Warrior Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 251	In a nutshell, I would say that if there is more sun than clouds it's partly cloudy and vice versa, which is basicly what IMO was saying. __________________ Sam, son of Mark

04-25-2006, 12:36 PM	#14
The last sane person The Black Númenórean Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 6,773	And Lo! The great minds of Entmoot have solved the mystery! __________________ Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

04-26-2006, 12:39 AM	#15
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	Except that there is ALWAYS more sun than clouds, due to the size of the sun. the mystery continues... __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

04-26-2006, 08:10 AM	#16
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	When a weather forcast is made, it is made to cover a particular region which usually consist of a large area, in the case of the US, maybe several counties and cities that are in close proximity to one another in a state. Partly cloudy and partly sunny are terms used to describe conditions spanning a long time period, mostly the conditions of that day. If the National Weather Service, or your local forcasters view satellite images of cloud cover over the area, approaching cloud cover, and breaks in the cloud cover, and if there are more clouds than breaks then the term "partly cloudy" will be used because this describes what the condition for the day will be like for that area. It will be cloudy more than it will be sunny for that day. If they see clouds over the area, and a large break approaching, and say no clouds behind that break, or clouds behind the break that won't be arriving until later in that day, then they will use the term "partly sunny", because you will have more sun than clouds for that day. __________________ "Whither go you?" she said. "North away." he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence - that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes." AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

04-26-2006, 09:12 AM	#17
Spock An enigma in a conundrum Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,476	awww, isn't she special __________________ Vizzini: "HE DIDN'T FALL?! INCONCEIVABLE!!" Inigo: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

04-26-2006, 09:43 AM	#18
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	Yes, she is. Neatly explained, O great and powerful Mod. __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

04-26-2006, 11:24 AM	#19
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	Yep! Now the mystery is solved. __________________ "Whither go you?" she said. "North away." he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence - that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes." AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide