In Spain we have suffered a cold wave of Siberian origin throughout the peninsula, except for the Canary Islands. We have been and many autonomous communities continue to be on alert for low temperatures, heavy rains and gusts of wind. This phenomenon is not exclusive to Spain and has also been reported in Japan.
During the cold waves There are many ways to explain or convey the cold, but meteorologists use some jargon that we may not fully understand. What terms are used for cold snaps? In this context, it's interesting to read about what is a cold wave.
What does it mean when a cold snap reaches its peak?
A cold wave reaching its peak is equivalent to reaching its coldest point, that is, when thermometers are about to indicate the lowest temperatures of the entire cold wave. It not only means that the cold wave reaches its lowest temperature, but peak also refers to the moment in a period in which it is critical or culminating for some physical, organic, etc. processes. This phenomenon may be related to the cold climate in various regions and is also related to the polar vortex.
Minus below zero
People are usually surprised when thermometers reach temperatures below zero. Since temperatures are so rare, expressions like "there are temperatures of less than zero" are common. In addition to our Spanish vocabulary, we often hear it from the media. This leads to confusion with the terminology. Temperatures are either negative or below zero, but not both. In this context, it is important to understand the confusion of terms in cold waves, which often occurs in extreme cold.
Where does the cold come from?
It's always said that when it's truly cold, it's polar cold. That is, the cold comes to us through the wind from the North Pole. However, the cold and cold waves don't always come from the poles. Sometimes they come from Siberia, other times from the steppes, etc. But for Spaniards, it will always be polar cold. In fact, meteorological phenomena like the North Pole also influence the arrival of these extreme temperatures, and we must take into account the climate changes that are being experienced globally.
Being chilled
It's one of the typical expressions people use when they go to work or to the coffee shop. "I'm freezing." It's an expression that refers to being so cold that one is "stunned." This feeling is very common when temperatures drop so low, and many people look for ways to combat the cold, such as wearing suitable thermal clothing. It has also been mentioned that in various parts of the world they are facing similar conditions, as in this one comparison of cold weather, which shows us how the cold is experienced in different regions.
Thermal clothing vs thermal clothing
Even on the coldest days, internet searches for ways to warm your home, save on heating costs, and dress warmly to avoid catching a cold increase. The most important thing is to look for clothing that insulates us from the cold to be as comfortable as possible both outdoors and indoors. Clothing that helps us avoid contact with the cold is called thermal clothing, meaning socks, undershirts, gloves, coats, etc. But keep in mind that it's "thermal" clothing, not "thermal" clothing. Thermal clothing is clothing that protects us from the cold, but the term "thermal" refers to anything related to hot water baths. Don't get confused; instead, Google "thermal clothing" and see what comes up. Also, knowing the difference is crucial for those searching. dress properly and avoid falling into terminological confusion.
Glacial cold
Similar to thermal and thermal, and polar cold, we often confuse the terms "glacial" and "glacier." In many news reports, we come across the expression "glacial cold." However, glacial refers to everything related to glaciers and the masses of ice that accumulate above the snowline. Glacial refers to a "very cold temperature" or "one that makes one freeze or freeze." To better understand the differences, it's interesting to explore how these terms relate to situations such as a heat wave in siberia, which contrasts with the cold waves in our context.
Write cold and ice or cold and ice
It is usually said at the time of writing a wave of cold and ice. However, the correct way to put it is cold snap and ice. Thanks to the diphthong hie, it is not necessary to put the e for the conjunction. There are always those who affirm that the thing is not so bad, that this is not cold or glacial or polar or anything, that it is a little cold, like a little thing, almost a friito, we could say, or a fricito, which are the diminutives of this noun, for which we are not infrequently asked.