A perfect example of why forecasters have to be careful about language. On
Radio 4 this morning at 0730 the presenters (James Naughtie and Edward Sturton)
had an amusing exchange over what they evidently thought was an inappropriate
and unintentionally comedic use of the expression "Rain from the west will
decay". In the context and bearing in mind the audience the word "decay" for
rain decreasing in intensity sounded vaguely ludicrous.

Professional meteorologists may talk about decaying rain *areas* but decaying
*rain* ? What's wrong with rain "dying out" .

JPG

"JPG" wrote in message
...
A perfect example of why forecasters have to be careful about language.
On
Radio 4 this morning at 0730 the presenters (James Naughtie and Edward
Sturton)
had an amusing exchange over what they evidently thought was an
inappropriate
and unintentionally comedic use of the expression "Rain from the west
will
decay". In the context and bearing in mind the audience the word "decay"
for
rain decreasing in intensity sounded vaguely ludicrous.

Professional meteorologists may talk about decaying rain *areas* but
decaying
*rain* ? What's wrong with rain "dying out" .

from what people have been saying, in the South it isn't just dying out, it
is positively extinct!

Jim Webster

JPG

In uk.sci.weather on Mon, 13 Oct 2003 at 08:27:03, Jim Webster wrote :

Professional meteorologists may talk about decaying rain *areas* but
decaying
*rain* ? What's wrong with rain "dying out" .

from what people have been saying, in the South it isn't just dying out, it
is positively extinct!

So far this month I've recorded measurable rain on 7 days...

For a grand total of 3.3mm.
--
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham

Email to pahyett[AT]activist[DOT]demon[DOT]co[DOT]uk

"Vidcapper" wrote in message
...
In uk.sci.weather on Mon, 13 Oct 2003 at 08:27:03, Jim Webster wrote :

Professional meteorologists may talk about decaying rain *areas* but
decaying
*rain* ? What's wrong with rain "dying out" .

from what people have been saying, in the South it isn't just dying out,
it
is positively extinct!

So far this month I've recorded measurable rain on 7 days...

For a grand total of 3.3mm.

good grief, we have had more than that an hour!

Coming from Cumbria, I always have a feeling that rain measured in mm isn't
really rain at all, more condensation, or thick mist. Real rain is measured
in inches :-)

Jim Webster