Mom used to say, "the day was not wasted, if you learned something new." I recently received an email from Mike, whose mom was on the same page as mine:
“My momma always said there was no such thing as a stupid question... so here goes! My partner and I were pondering the proper use of this weather language. Is it, "we are experiencing 'seasonable' temperatures for this time of the year," or should it be "we are experiencing 'seasonal' temperatures for this time of year"?
- Mike Hinchey
Union Square, Nova Scotia
That is a great question, Mike. The two words are often incorrectly used. They are not interchangeable, despite what we hear on radio and TV.
“Seasonal” refers to events, conditions or activities taking place in a particular season. For example, barbecues and bug spray are seasonal items.
“Seasonable” means normal for the time of year. It is not a synonym for mild. For example, "The weather is seasonable for January," – meaning the daytime high and overnight low temperatures are about where they should be.
One could also say, "In Halifax, Tuesday was unseasonably mild for seasonal sports." The corresponding adverbs are seasonally and seasonably.
I’m so glad you asked, Mike. I hope my explanation clears the air for you and your partner.
Carol Hansen was curious about something too; a lovely snow pattern she came across on a frozen lake. She writes:
"Cindy, can you explain why snow has blown into striped patterns on the flat surface of lake ice?”
- Carol Hansen
That's a good one. I would have to say that the sloshing of the lake water as it froze, created a less than perfectly flat ice surface. Minor undulations can act like troughs or gulleys in which the snow gets trapped. A light wind could clear a dusting of snow from the slightly more elevated surface while leaving the snow trapped in the troughs.
I love curious minds. If you have a question for me, don't hesitate: send it along to [email protected].
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Cindy Day is the chief meteorologist for SaltWire Network
