East Coast Weather Translator

We are forecast to receive between 4-8 inches of snow tonight. Being the veteran of many an East Coast winter weather forecast, I make this translation for the unitiated:

4-8 inches = 2 inches on grassy surfaces, snow turning to sleet and/or rain

We'll be lucky to have anything but a hard crust of ice on the fringes of the streets. The trucks are already out in full force spreading salt and there has been nothing but a flurry so far. Snow was forecast to begin at 4pm. It's now almost 7pm...and still just a few random flakes apparent.

Somehow, the forecasters always keep their jobs.