A Guide to Weather Terms for Kansans

Snowfall
less than 2" is a dusting or minor accumulation. If it doesn't cover the grass, you can't call it major accumulation.

2-6" snow is a noticeable accumulation. This isn't a "significant winter weather event."

6-12" is significant accumulation. You don't need to cancel everything. Really. Everyone leave 5 minutes earlier and don't drive like the raving maniacs that so many of you are.

>12" can legitimately be called a major winter weather event, particularly if coupled with wind and drifts.

Snowplows
A snowplow is a unique piece of road machinery that efficiently clears snow from the roadways. It is good to USE this piece of machinery to clear the roads of any amount of snow above 2", preferably before everyone goes out driving around.

A truck with a snowplow attachment is NOT a snowplow. Even a dump truck with a snowplow attachment does not a snowplow make. Sorry.

Temperature
32-40 degrees is chilly. It does not yet qualify for characterization as cold. If you like, you could also call it crisp.

15-32 degrees is cold. Although you are really better off avoiding the term cold until the temp is a couple degrees under 30. No, you can't call 20 degrees bitter cold, frigid, or very cold. No. Don't argue. You just can't do it.

0-15 degrees is very cold. A wind chill that drops the "real feel" temperature into this range can also be called very cold. Again, this range doesn't merit the use of frigid or bitter cold. Suck it up and buy a real winter coat. You wouldn't be so cold if you dressed properly.

-15-0 degrees can be called very very cold or downright cold. It's really not quite cold enough to use any of those more dramatic temperature descriptions.

<-15 degrees. You have finally reached the range where you theoretically use the terms frigid or bitter cold. Just a note of warning though...you probably want to wait until it's below -20 to really use those terms. We understand you will never be quite as tough as people from farther north.