FOR avid gardener Georgina Marriott knowing when and how much rain is going to water her crops is crucial.
In the past weather forecasts using words such as 'scattered showers' and 'patchy rain' have left her none the wiser as to what any given day would bring.
That is why she has welcomed the Bureau of Meteorology's overhaul of its rainfall forecasts to make them as clear and precise as possible.
The Bureau's new terminology describes the chance of rain as slight, medium, high or very high and is accompanied with a percentage equivalent and the rainfall amount expected in millimetres.
The forecast also gives information on when in the day rain is expected.
Ms Marriott, whose Chambers Flat garden is filled with vegetables, fruit trees and plants, said a change in the Bureau's rain forecast words was long overdue.
"Really, what does scattered or patchy mean," she said.
"In this neck of the woods if someone says scattered or patchy we just dismiss them all together, as Brisbane will get that and we won't get anything.
"I think the Bureau's new descriptions will give me a clearer idea of when rain will fall as I can get a better handle on percentages."
Ms Marriott said it was vital to know when and how much rain was coming, as without town water, her vegetables and fruit trees relied on water from tanks and a bore.
"I get very stressed when it's dry although I try not to be," she said.
"We live off the vegetables and fruit our garden produces and when it's dry I can see the ground is crying out for water."
The change in the Bureau of Meteorology's terminology has come about because of its new Meteye weather information system, which gives more localised weather observations as it divides the country into six square kilometre grids.
Head to www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/ to see the new format.
