Meteorologists have tracked the total annual rainfall in the town of Spring Valley year after year and found that it follows a normal distribution. The average annual rainfall is 30 inches, with a standard deviation of 8 inches. In one particular year, only 18 inches of rain fell. You work for the local newspaper, and your editor has asked you to write a story about the terrible drought the town is suffering from and how dire the situation is.
Based on your understanding of the underlying statistics (especially the normal curve), do you agree with your editor’s sensationalist take of the situation?