The BBC recently introduced new graphics for its television broadcasts - the first major change to the broadcast graphics since 2005 - and the new map led to complaints that it had a south of England bias, the map has since changed, Now the Met Office is planning to incorporate regional slang into local broadcasts to make bulletins simpler and more useful. 

We've an impressive lexicon of meteorological idioms, from "raining cats and dogs", to conditions "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". Cannonballs used to be stored aboard ship in piles, on a brass frame or tray called a 'monkey' and in very cold weather the brass would contract, spilling the cannonballs across the deck. 

A survey found multiple phrases for heavy rain across the country, such as "lashing" it down in Manchester, "bucketing" it down in the Black Country, and "chucking" it down in the North East and Yorkshire. 

We discuss weather regularly at Bolton FM. Each presenter has their preferred style of delivering the weather forecast, some keep it simple others embellish it. 

I like describing the weather in three words. My favourite is 'totally Phil Collins'. 

Sometimes this needs further explanation - 'No Jacket Required'. 

Depending on the age of the person I'm talking to and their familiarity with Phil's discography this may need further explanation and I resign myself to 'it's nice out'. 

That's all I want to know from a weather forecast, "Do I need a jacket or not?' 

Talking of jackets, Bolton at Home's 'Working Wardrobe' was a great success. 

This weekend why not join us in Bolton Market for The Saturday Weekender with Rob and Dorothy? They'll be in the lifestyle hall from 11am for lots of Bolton chat, the day's big news, great music and yes, weather.