Precipitation 101

In Alaska, the Eskimos have 300 words for snow.  In Hawaii, they have just as many words for waves.  Here in Oregon, I feel like we have about that many words to describe precipitation.  

Here is a quick primer:

drizzle:  that annoying constant mist.  no need for a rain coat.

showers:  actual decent size water drops, occasionally falling through the day.  still no need for a rain coat.

rain:  constant rain throughout the day.  waterproof jacket needed.

heavy rain:  rain you can actually hear on the roof.  break Oregon code and bring an umbrella.

showers and sun breaks:  see showers above, but add in moments of sun in between the showers.  give up on the jacket halfway through the day.

freezing rain:  ice on EVERYTHING and the city will refuse to salt the roads and just wait for it to melt.

fog: when you can see about 40 feet in front of you.

freezing fog:  a weather phenomenon that causes slick roads.  for real, this happens.

the marine layer:  a layer of fog that comes in along the river from the coast.  this won't lift until around 2pm and it will feel like you've been in a bowl of soup all morning.

snow:  white rain.

snow showers:  occasional white rain.

heavy snow:  what closes the freeway in the mountain passes.

snow squalls:  sudden bursts of windy snow followed by blue skies.

wintry mix:  white rain mixed with normal rain.  this causes the schools to close.

Pineapple Express:  the remnants of typhoons in the Pacific ocean.  warm, warm rain that melts the snow.  i.e. a skier's nightmare.