Grammar of snow?

[GSVNoFixedAbode]

Ok, sort-of weather related. A question of grammar has come up.
These I understand to be correct:
- a heavy fall of snow
- snow is falling heavily
but is
- heavy snow is falling
correct (possibly as a description of the type of snow that is falling) or just a slight mangle of the language?

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Yes, well I have had some problems, probably in other topics of in trying to decipher what is the difference between thunderstorms and thundery showers? I have never has a successful answer.
Sort of like your question about snow terms.
Both are thunderstorms. "Some heavy and thundery" which to me means that the rain is that heavy is going to thunder down, or does that mean there is lots of cloud around and you don't see the lightning, or if so, what some people call 'sheet' lightning?
Just heard on TV one's short weather report from René "Thundery showers are expected in the south"
So lots of cloud, no sign of any lightning, unless obscured by the low cloud and the rain is going to thunder down.




Bad grammar.

[tgsnoopy]

As I understand it, with the last term, it implies that the snow itself is heavy for some reason. Not that the rate it is falling in is high or heavy if that makes any sense.

Mind you, your first term describes an event in totality. The second term describes a rate of the fall at a moment in time.

English is such a complicated language.

[TonyT]

Ok, sort-of weather related. A question of grammar has come up.
These I understand to be correct:
- a heavy fall of snow
- snow is falling heavily
but is
- heavy snow is falling
correct (possibly as a description of the type of snow that is falling) or just a slight mangle of the language?

Yes, its correct. Can you say "snow is falling"? Yes, snow in this case is a noun, and "is falling" is a verb. Its a complete simple sentence. You can just as easily say "heavy snow is falling" or "light snow is falling" or "some snow is falling" or "purple snow is falling". In these cases the phrases "heavy snow", "light snow", "some snow" and "purple snow" are all noun phrases, which function as a noun. You could even use a verb as a modifier to the noun, for example "melting snow is falling", because "melting snow" is still a noun phrase.

With reference to your first two examples, "a heavy fall of snow" is not a sentence, because it doesnt have a verb. You could say "A heavy fall of snow is occurring" which turns it into a sentence by adding the verb "is occurring". Your second example, "snow is falling heavily" is a sentence (it has a noun, verb, and an adverb tucked on the end "heavily").

[GSVNoFixedAbode]

Teasing it apart I suppose the question comes down to whether heavy is meant to be an adjective of snow or an adverb of falling. If the latter is it misplaced in position, or if the former is it the correct term? Heavy/wet/dry/powdery?

[TonyT]

Teasing it apart I suppose the question comes down to whether heavy is meant to be an adjective of snow or an adverb of falling. If the latter is it misplaced in position, or if the former is it the correct term? Heavy/wet/dry/powdery?

In the sentence "Heavy snow is falling" the word "heavy" can only ever be an adjective, describing the snow.

[GSVNoFixedAbode]

In the sentence "Heavy snow is falling" the word "heavy" can only ever be an adjective, describing the snow.

Which is the crux of the original question - is heavy snow is falling correct meteorological grammar or should it be snow is falling heavily?
Yeah, I know - should have phrased the question better at the start!

[TonyT]

I dont think anyone could object to the term "heavy snow" in terms of its meteorological usefulness or applicability. Its universally used, to the point where its a standard term in present weather codes and reporting sanctioned by the WMO. We also have heavy rain in the same category.

It gets a bit more murky when you say "heavy fog" (pun intended), "heavy frost" is common enough, and I sometimes read in the media "heavy winds" which is really not kosher for me as a meteorologist, but probably reflects common usage.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Frosts in 'sheltered ' areas is also a bad grammar experience.
Sheltered from what?
I thought frost only occurred in exposed area?

[TonyT]

Frost forms in valleys which are sheltered from the wind before the ridges which are exposed to the wind. Best advice: dont expose your area.