Weather lingo

We have become used to some of the weather presenters’ more prosaic language, “if you’re stepping out today” and “spits and spots” being the most common.

In my parents’ time “stepping out” was an expression used to imply that a couple were serious about their relationship; and I’d much prefer “some light rain” to “spits and spots”. Spitting is, after all, prohibited.

However, why do the BBC Scotland presenters insist on adding “period” to morning, afternoon, evening and overnight? Recently, one even described the weekend as the “weekend period”.

J Lindsay Walls

Edinburgh