Language of the Day: Winter Weather Vocabulary
The weather is changing here in Vancouver, and winter is in the air!
As we enjoy the last few weeks of fall, you’ll want to learn a few new ways to discuss the weather with your Canadian friends and colleagues.
So get out your warm coats and scarves, and click the blog post to learn some winter vocabulary you can use this season!
black ice
snowed in
flurries
black ice
We all know what ice is… but what about black ice?! This is a very thin type of ice you will find on roads and sidewalks. It is called black ice because it’s so clear it is almost invisible against the pavement. Because it is difficult to see, it is quite dangerous and might cause you or your car to slip.
Example: Janet said that she slipped on the black ice outside her house and hurt her back.
cold snap
A cold snap is a period of cold weather when the temperature drops suddenly and noticeably. We often say we are having a cold snap or going through a cold snap.
Example: Emily wasn’t prepared for the cold snap – all of her coats were still in storage.
snowed in
Being snowed in means to be stranded or unable to leave a place because of heavy snowfall.
Example: It snowed so much last night! In the morning we were snowed in and I couldn’t even get to my car to go to work.
flurry
A snow flurry is what we call a windy snowfall when the snow is light and fluffy and blowing all over the place.
Example: the weather channel says we are going to have flurries overnight.
chilly
This is a very common adjective we use to describe cold weather.
Example: It’s chilly outside today! Don’t forget your coat!