美国有线新闻 CNN 夏威夷群岛迎降雪 美国半数人不过情人节

 

CARL AZUZ: Well, Kona is a part of Hawaii's big island a Kona Low is a weather event that often brings cooler weather to the islands. Rain and gusty¹ winds are also part of a Kona Low and the island state was recently hit with a big one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Check this out.

CARL AZUZ: What he wants you to check out is exactly what it looks like — snow at Poli Poli State Park on the island of Maui. Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources says this might be the first time ever that snow has fallen in a Hawaii state park. It's common at the tops of the state's volcanoes but not at all common at elevations² as low as 6,200 feet. But there's a lot more to this Kona Low. As it approached the islands last weekend, the mayor of Hawaii county tweeted that every beach park and every state park would be closed. And as the system moved away from the state earlier this week, it left behind broken trees, power lines and traffic lights. At one point, tens of thousands of Hawaiians were without electricity.

At the summit of Mauna Kea, a dormant³ volcano on the big island, wind gusts⁴ of 191 miles per hour were recorded. That's the same wind speed of a very powerful hurricane. As you might expect, the system brought some high and dangerous surf. In northwest Maui, Hawaii News Now says a man from California was killed after he got stuck in rough ocean conditions. Some waves near the islands measured 60 feet, and there was coastal⁵ flooding on Oahu's north shore. The National Weather Service expected more cool, rainy weather on Thursday.

That also happens to be St. Valentine's Day — a holiday probably named for a Christian⁶ religious leader who lived in the third century. Though its history has been debated, one thing that isn't is that Americans spend money on the holiday. In fact, an annual survey released by the National Retail⁷ Federation⁸ — a U.S. trade association — indicates that Americans plan to spend more than $20 billion this year. That works out to about $162 for every person who plans to celebrate. And that's despite the fact that the survey says fewer Americans are celebrating the holiday.

It's down to 51 percent this year from a high of 63 percent 12 years ago. The NRF doesn't know why fewer people are celebrating, but for those who do, greeting cards are a big seller. They account for more than $900 million of spending. That tradition dates back decades.

1 gusty   

adj.起大风的

参考例句：

• Weather forecasts predict more hot weather,gusty winds and lightning strikes.天气预报预测高温、大风和雷电天气将继续。
• Why was Candlestick Park so windy and gusty? 埃德尔斯蒂克公园里为什么会有那么多的强劲阵风？

2 elevations   

（水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升

参考例句：

• Weight of the crust changes as elevations are eroded and materials are deposited elsewhere. 当高地受到侵蚀，物质沉积到别的地方时，地壳的重量就改变。
• All deck elevations are on the top of structural beams. 所有甲板标高线均指结构梁顶线。

3 dormant   

adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的

参考例句：

• Many animals are in a dormant state during winter.在冬天许多动物都处于睡眠状态。
• This dormant volcano suddenly fired up.这座休眠火山突然爆发了。

4 gusts   

一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作

参考例句：

• Her profuse skirt bosomed out with the gusts. 她的宽大的裙子被风吹得鼓鼓的。
• Turbulence is defined as a series of irregular gusts. 紊流定义为一组无规则的突风。

5 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

6 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

7 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

8 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。