"John Hall" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Phil Layton writes:
Guildford 29/05/05 7:33Z

Pretty solid layer of Cirro-Stratus this morning with a trace of
Alto-St.
Winds have dropped out.

I thought that only students did that.

In other words, this is a gentle request to say "dropped" rather than
"dropped out".

.... whilst you are quite correct of course, the phrase 'dropped out' has
been used for more years than I care to remember to emphasise a
*notable* change from one time to another (i.e. in this case, comparing
yesterday's blustery regime with today). Another time it is used (and
perhaps the more usual occasion) is when the wind drops dramatically
around or just after dusk after a breezy day, due to a cooling surface.
Why we say 'dropped out' I'm not sure, but most meteorologists
understand the shorthand.

Martin.


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