Weather Slang

The English language is constantly evolving.

Old words gain new meanings. The 1944 film "In Our Time" accompanied my morning exercise today. As Paul Henried romanced Ida Lupino amidst the splendor of a glamorous dinner club, Ida said, "This place is so gay." A 1944 compliment has become a 2011 insult.

Newly-minted words come from technology (iPhone, Blu-Ray), music (hip-hop), and politics (Obamacare). Even the weatherman is expanding our vocabulary. Our crack meteorologists labeled the two most recent snow storms as a "nor'easter" and a "clipper". To properly announce the imminent arrival of a "nor'easter", the weatherman should dress in New England fisherman rain togs, clench a pipe in his teeth, and say, "Theah's a real nor'easter comin' up the coast. Batten down the hatches." That would add some authenticity to the Accu-Weaher forecast!

Similarly, the weatherman should wear a white smock and brandish barbering tools when forecasting a "clipper". "Our roads will be trimmed with snow by a clipper on its way in from Canada."

Today's forecast features a new piece of weather slang. The storm coming later this week will provide "plowable" snow. "Better grab the seed and hitch up the team, Farmer John. We are getting some plowable snow on the south 40. Let's get those crops planted!" Clearly, this calls for a costume of bib overalls and a straw hat on the weatherman.

Can it be that meteorologists are developing these swell new terms not to increase our vocabulary but to gain higher ratings with costumes and entertainment value? If they dress in cat and dog costumes to forecast a heavy rainstorm, they will have gone too far.