Feb 25 2022 - Poorly Timed Weather Gets Undue Attention
Do you know that the Weather Network has determined that the snow today is "POORLY timed". I am not accustomed to the "Weather" being subordinate to "Humans" when it comes to actions and events. Is there a name for this kind of expression? It must relate to Oxymoron.
In his book "Man vs. Weather" Dennis Diclaudio exclaims that humans have the right to bear instruments. He includes the thermometer, hygrometer, barometer, anemometer, the wind vase and a rain gauge. He goes on to explain how to set up your personal weather station. The following chapter is titled: "The difference between a meteorologist and a monkey in a blazer". I expect that is the chapter that applies to whoever created today's forecast headline above.
In fact, poorly timed turns out to be a common turn of phrase in weather. We had a poorly timed system on December 24 2021. Another Southern Ontario forecast in February 2020 was labelled "poorly timed". And a poorly timed storm dumped rain on Washington in November 2014. Most poorly timed weather events involve snow.
Poorly timed is equated to "unseasonable", that is: not suitable to or appropriate for the season or characteristic of the time of year. However, I argue that winter to be a seasonable time for snow storms.
If we combine poorly timed with undue attention (an excellent oxymoron), we can more fully enjoy one of last week's headlines. It had three men attempting to swim in New Brighton in Merseyside. They were joined by the coastguards search and rescue team dressed in full survival gear urging them to leave. Storm Eunice was getting started with gusts of up to 90mph expected. It was a serious storm with death and property damage.
Our expression of poorly timed definitely applies to their swimming adventure on several counts. New Brighton Beach water temperature is around 6 degrees C. Perhaps the trio of swimmers was seeking "undue attention" as experienced in primary classrooms to describe children's disruptive behaviour. The underlying assertion is: I belong only when you pay constant attention to me, and/or give me special service. A search and rescue team and the national news turned out to be a lot of attention and special service for the swimmers.
Here's our version of Lake Ontario on a winter snowstorm day.
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