October 19, 1998 transcript # 256-1
Subject(s): weather terms
Title: WEATHER NAMESDifferent types of weather have different names: some of them common, like "stormy," "fair," "inclement," things like that; and then, of course, there are the scientific descriptions, like "orographic," or "frontal," or "cyclonic," "radiational."
Hi, I'm Dave Thurlow for the Weather Notebook. But did you ever notice how certain regions develop their own specific names for weather - names that belong only to them?
Now, in a minute, we're going to give you a chance to tell us your own unique weather words. But first, Ann Thurlow from Prince Edward Island, Canada, with a few "Island" weather words.
"When the weather begins to turn bad around here, people say it's falling weather. And when it gets really bad, it's doughey or peevish or even snotty…as in " it's right peevish out, don't think I'll go to town." Snotty seems to come from the same place as another expression - nosey weather. That's weather that makes your nose drip and can refer to anything from a rainstorm to a good burst of cold. On the other side, a great day - especially in spring- is a freshet or a pet day or - my personal favorite - a borrowed day. For this to make sense you have to understand a bit about the modest nature of the
Island character. Islanders never believe they really deserve something good - so a big sunny day in spring is something that doesn't quite belong to us - borrowed. And how do you know whether to expect a pet day or a peevish one? You turn on the radio and listen to the 'probs'…"
(Radio weather forecast - Prince Edward Island)
Well, there’s a few maritime words for weather. What do they say in your neck of the woods? Give us a call toll free at 1-888-RAIN-001. That number again: 1-888-RAIN-001. Our show is funded by Subaru and by the National Science Foundation.