Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Hello from balmy Yaounde, Cameroon, where we're in the middle of the dry season, which doubles as the hot season. Oddly enough, even in Central Africa, the temperature makes for good conversation. My wife has always described highs in the mid 80s (and above, such as Paraguay's pleasant 105-degree scorchers) as "warm": "My, it's warm today."

For me, it's "hot": ("hotter than hell," "hotter than July") - I use "hot" to describe a heat that is uncomfortable, often excessive for my tastes. When she uses "warm" for these days, it gives me pause, because for me "warm" describes a pleasant, if elevated temperature, like that on a spring morning in April that opens with a warming sunrise before dousing us with boat-building rains.

To my ear, she uses "warm" and "hot" interchangeably, at least for the weather.

Is this difference in usage regional? Are both acceptable? Is this worth a fevered consideration?

Thanks, Steve