gale

今日は天候表現を取り上げます。イギリスでは海岸沿いで、天気が大荒れの模様です。

Public warned to stay away from seafronts as heavy storms lash Britain
Gale force winds and 24 hours of heavy rain have left Britain on flood alert as the Environment Agency warns Britons to stay away from the seafront and quaysides.

Strong winds, large waves and high tide has led to a risk of coastal flooding across large swathes of the south west and along the south coast of England.
Twelve flood warnings are in place across the South West and Wales, while a further 62 areas across Scotland, England and Wales have been told to prepare for possible flooding.
Freezing drizzle and black ice caused problems for motorists, with the AA attending 5,800 breakdowns this morning.
Around 30 businesses were under flood water in south Cornwall, where 21mm of rain fell in 18 hours.
Heavy downpours were seen in the far south west of the country overnight but the worst of the weather is likely to have passed, forecasters said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/9744394/Public-warned-to-stay-away-from-seafronts-as-heavy-storms-lash-Britain.html

良い機会なので、本日は三つの表現を拾います。
まず一つ目の単語です。galeは（『ジーニアス英和辞典　第３版』大修館）によると、「強風＜breezeより強くstormより弱い＞」とあります。
次に二つ目の単語です。drizzleは『ジーニアス英和辞典』(同上)で調べたところ、「｛名｝細雨、霧雨、こぬか雨」「｛動｝自動詞で[itを主語として]細雨[霧雨]が降る（＋down）」と書かれていました。
最後に三つ目の単語downpourは『ジーニアス英和辞典』(同上)によると「どしゃ降り」という意味になります。

英語にも様々な天候表現があるのだと改めて実感しました。貪欲にインプットしていきたいと思います。(Shou-VR*)