Dude, you're getting a gale!

I don’t want to generalize and I’ve no wish to promote national stereotypes, you can get that kind of thing elsewhere, but…

A couple of things I’ve long admired about the English are their phlegmatic reserve and genius for understatement.

Not sure what I’m talking about? Go listen to the Shipping Forecast.

The seas around Britain might be churned by gale force winds, waves higher than a four-storey house, visibility down to less than zilch and a hurricane on the way; it wouldn't make any difference, the report would still be given in the same calm, reassuring tone.

And now a general report for all areas
West or Southwest 7
Increasing gale 8 to storm force 10
Perhaps hurricane force 12 later
Occasional thundery rain
Poor

It’s mesmerizing, undecipherable on first hearing and characteristically English.