On Wednesday, 6 June 2018 20:40:08 UTC+1, Norman Lynagh wrote:
I see that the Met Office have started to use the term 'mild' in some
weather forecasts recently. For example, in the current forecast for
the Peak District Saturday is forecast to be 'Mild with light winds'
and Sunday is forecast to be 'mild or warm with light winds'. I had
always understood that, in this country, the term 'mild' was reserved
for use during with colder months of the year and implied temperatures
above average. What it is intended to mean in June I'm not sure. I know
that the term is used rather differently in other countries but has
there been a change in its use here?

Well, there shouldn't have been. "Mild" means essentially "not nasty" or "not excessive" e.g. "mild 'flu symptoms". To use it to describe temperatures in summer in Britain is simply inappropriate, a bit illiterate even.. "Mild" is for winter occasions when the weather is not as nasty and cold as it usually is. To describe a summer night as "mild" is simply ridiculous. If the night-time temperature in summer is above average in it's not mild, it's close, oppressive or, believe it or not, warm.
While we're about it I could do without "sharp showers". I've never heard anyone in real life use it. Equally "grass frost". What's wrong with "ground frost"? Does a grass frost avoid roads and pavements? These people are so silly.

Tudor Hughes