Woodward English
The Weather in English
In English, we usually use it is when we talk about the weather.
This is normally: It is + adjective OR It is + verb-ing
What is the weather like today?
It is + adjective = A description of the weather



It is sunny today.
It’s hot and humid today.
It’sa nice day today.
We can also say:
It is a + adjective + day (or morning/afternoon/night)


It’s a fine day.
It’s a windy afternoon.
It is + verb-ing = This type of weather is happening now.



It’s drizzling outside.
It’s snowing.
Take an umbrella, it’s raining.
What was the weather like yesterday?
You can also use it is in different tenses

It was cold yesterday.
What will the weather like tomorrow?

It will be cloudy tomorrow.
Source: Woodward English
Sweltering = It's sweltering. or It's a sweltering day.
day.
Warm = It's warn. or It's a warm day.
Sunny = It's sunny. or It's a sunny day.
Freezing = It's freezing. or It's a freezing
Cold = It's cold. or It's a cold day.
Cloudy = It's cloudy. or It's a cloudy day.
Clear = It's clear. or It's a clear day.
Stormy = It's stormy. or It's a stormy day.
Misty = It's misty. or It's a misty day.
Foggy = It's foggy. or It's a foggy day.
Breezy = It's breezy. or It's a breezy day
Windy = It's windy. or It's a windy day.
Showery = It's showery. or It's a showery day.
Frosty = It's frosty. or It's a frosty day.
Icy = It's icy. or It's an icy day.
Rainy = It's rainy. or It's a rainy day.
Snowy = It's snowy. or It's a snowy day.
Drizzly = It's drizzly. or It's a drizzly day.
Dry = It's dry. or It's a dry day.
______________________________________________________________________________
When you are learning vocabulary about the weather, it is important to remember that some of the
words have a noun form, a verb form and/or an adjective form. For example:



Rain: (noun)
Rain: (verb)
Rainy: (adjective)
The game was cancelled because of the rain.
I think it is going to rain later.
It’s a rainy day.
It pays to learn the different forms of each word and when they are used.
Nouns and Adjectives
Many times when we are talking about the weather, we can add the letter Y to the end of a noun to
make it an adjective.





rain
sun
wind
cloud
fog
(noun)
(noun)
(noun)
(noun)
(noun)
Source: Woodward English
- rainy
- sunny
- windy
- cloudy
- foggy
(adjective)
(adjective)
(adjective)
(adjective)
(adjective)
Questions about the weather
People commonly ask about the weather by saying:





What’s it like out(side)?
How’s the weather?
What’s the weather like?
What’s the temperature?
What’s the weather forecast?
Source: Woodward English
Vocabulary about the weather in English
The vocabulary is divided into different categories to make it easier.





Clear or Cloudy
Types of Rain
Cold stuff
Types of Wind
Mixed Vocabulary
Clear or Cloudy - adjectives
Bright:
Sunny
Clear
Fine
Partially cloudy
Cloudy
Overcast:
Gloomy
- full of light; when the sun is shining strongly
- the sun is shining and there are no clouds
- without clouds
- not raining, clear sky
- when there is a mixture of both blue sky and clouds
- with many clouds in the sky
- covered with cloud; dull
- with dark clouds and dull light; some people consider this weather depressing
Sometimes the cloud lowers to ground level and it becomes harder to see…
Noun
Adjective
Fog
Mist
Haze
foggy
misty
hazy
- thick cloud close to land
- light fog, often on the sea or caused by drizzle
- light mist, usually caused by heat
Types of Rain
Damp
Drizzle
Shower
Rain
Downpour
Pour
It’s raining cats and dogs
Torrential rain
Flood
Source: Woodward English
(adj)
(verb/noun)
(noun)
(verb/noun)
(noun)
(verb)
(Idiom)
(noun)
(verb/noun)
slightly wet (often after the rain has stopped)
to rain lightly with very fine drops
a short period of rain
water that falls from the clouds in drops
heavy rain
to have heavy rain
to rain heavily
very heavy rain
to become covered in water usually due to excessive rain
Cold stuff
Hail
Hailstones
Snow
Snowflake
Sleet
Blizzard
(verb)
(noun)
(noun/verb)
(noun)
(noun/verb)
(noun)
when frozen rain falls as small balls of ice (hailstones).
the small hard balls of ice that fall from the sky
frozen rain that falls from the sky as soft snowflakes
an individual piece of snow
snow or hail mixed with rain (often with some wind)
severe snowstorm with strong winds
Types of Wind
Breeze
a gentle wind (often nice or refreshing)
Blustery
blowing (strong) gusts of wind
Windy
continual wind.
Gale
a very strong wind
Hurricane/cyclone/typhoon a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce winds and heavy rain.
What’s the difference between a hurricane, a typhoon and a cyclone?
They are the same thing just with different names because of the region they are in.
Atlantic/Northeast Pacific = a hurricane
Northwest Pacific = a typhoon
Southern Hemisphere = a cyclone
Tornado: (noun) strong violent circular winds in a small area; a rapidly revolving column of air
In United States the word twister is often used instead of tornado.
More vocabulary about the weather
Drought
(noun) Long periods of time without rain causing a lack of water in the area
 A lot of the crops dried up because of the drought.
Forecast
(noun) A prediction of how the weather will be on a certain day
 The forecast says it’s going to rain tomorrow.
Lightning
(noun) A flash of light in the sky during a storm.
 Lightning lit the sky many times that night.
Puddle
(noun) a small pool of water on the ground, usually after rain.
 The kids jumped in the puddles on the way home from school.
Rainbow
(noun) an arch of colours in the sky formed when the sun shines through rain
 I took a photo of a beautiful rainbow that was just above the lake.
Smog
(noun) a cloud of pollution hanging over a city (a fog of smoke)
 The view of the city wasn’t very good because it was covered in thick smog.
Source: Woodward English
Sunburn
(noun) painful red skin caused by spending too long in the hot sun.
 If you don’t put on your sunscreen, you’ll get sunburn.
Sunshine
(noun) the light and heat of the sun
 I could feel the warm sunshine on my back.
Thunder
(noun/verb) the rumbling sound in the clouds that happens after lightning
 The cat hid inside because it was scared by the thunder.
Sentences using weather vocabulary

It is usually chilly and damp in autumn, sometimes with rain or drizzle.

I’m so glad there is a breeze right now otherwise it would be very hot.

It is so humid that I’ve had to change my shirt twice already.

It’s a blustery day; make sure your umbrella doesn’t blow away.

Take a sweatshirt because it’s a little chilly outside.

Those large hailstones left dents in my car.
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There has been a gale warning so it’s not safe to go out fishing on our boat.

There was a drought in our province last summer. It didn’t rain for three months.

We won’t be able to see the solar eclipse because it’s overcast.
Questions using weather vocabulary

What’s the weather like in Buenos Aires in January?

How’s the weather in Moscow in winter?

It’s pretty hot. What’s the temperature?

Is it raining outside?

What’s the forecast for tomorrow?
What next?
Check out our list of idioms about the weather
See how to talk about the temperature in English
GAMES: Try our game about a weather forecast and also about Weather Idioms
http://www.vocabulary.cl/english/weather.htm
Source: Woodward English
The Temperature in English
The temperature is how hot or cold something is.
We use a thermometer to measure the temperature of something.
Temperature is usually measure in degrees.
The ° symbol after a number means degrees.
30° = thirty degrees
There are two main systems used for measuring temperature:
°F = degrees Fahrenheit (only used in United States)
°C = degrees Celsius (used in the rest of the world)
When talking about the temperature we normally use:
It + is/was/will be + adjective
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It is chilly today.
It was warm yesterday.
It will be cold tomorrow.
Here is a chart showing temperature vocabulary:
Source: Woodward English
The temperatures given are only an approximation to give you an idea of when to use them.
28°C (or more) - Hot
15 to 28°C - Warm
10 to 15°C - Cool
5 to 10°C - Chilly
0 to 5°C - Cold
0°C (or less) - Freezing
Remember, what is hot in one country may only be considered warm in another.
What may be chilly in one country may be freezing in another.
The following words refer to being MORE than hot and are used for temperatures over 30°C.
Boiling:
Humid:
Muggy:
Scorching:
Stifling:
Sweltering:
very hot, often used in negative contexts
hot and damp. It makes you sweat a lot
warm and damp in an unpleasant way
very hot, often used in positive contexts
hot and you can hardly breath
hot and uncomfortable
So what makes a day hot or cold? It depends on the weather…
What next?
See our vocabulary notes about the Weather in English.
Check out our list of idioms about the weather
How’s the weather today where you live?
Source: Woodward English
Weather Idioms
English Vocabulary
Below is a list of the most commonly used idioms about the weather in English:
As right as rain: to feel fine and healthy.

Don’t worry about me, I’m as right as rain after my knee operation.
Be a breeze: to be very easy to do.

Our English exam was a breeze. I’m sure I’ll get top marks.
Be snowed under: to have so much to do that you are having trouble doing it all.

I’m snowed under at work right now because two of my colleagues are on holiday.
Break the ice: to say or do something to make someone feel relaxed or at ease in a social setting.

He offered to get her a drink to help break the ice.
Calm before the storm: the quiet, peaceful period before a moment of great activity or mayhem.

The in-laws were about to arrive with their kids so she sat on the sofa with a cup of coffee enjoying
the calm before the storm.
Chase rainbows: when someone tries to do something that they will not achieve

I think she’s chasing rainbows if she thinks she can get into Oxford with her bad grades.
Come rain or shine: you can depend on someone to be there no matter what or whatever the weather.

I’ll be there to help you move house come rain or shine.
Every cloud has a silver lining: There is always something positive to come out of an unpleasant or
difficult situation.

I got laid off from work yesterday, but every cloud has a silver lining and now I can spend more time
writing my book.
Fair-weather friend: a person who is only your friend during good times or when things are going well for
you but disappears when things become difficult or you have problems.

She was a fair-weather friend because she was interested in me once I had lost my job.
Get wind of: to learn or hear of something that should be a secret.

He got wind of the closure of the company so started looking for a new job immediately.
Source: Woodward English
Have your head in the clouds: to be out of touch of reality. Your ideas may not be sensible or practical.

He has his head in the clouds if he seriously thinks he’s going to get a promotion soon.
It never rains but it pours: when things don’t just go wrong but very wrong and other bad things happen
too.

First he lost his keys to the house, then his wallet and then his car broke down. It never rains but it
pours.
It’s raining cats and dogs: it’s raining very hard.

Take you umbrella and a jacket because it’s raining cats and dogs outside.
On cloud nine: to be extremely happy.

They were both on cloud nine during their honeymoon.
Put on ice: to postpone for another day.

The project has been put on ice until our boss decides what to do next.
Ray of hope: there is a chance that something positive will happen.

There is a ray of hope after all, it looks like we won’t be losing our jobs.
Save for a rainy day: to save for the future when it might suddenly be needed (unexpectedly).

Don’t spend your entire wage in one night. You should save for a rainy day.
Steal my thunder: when someone takes attention away from someone else.

Don’t wear that dress to the wedding; the bride won’t like it because you’ll be stealing her thunder.
Storm in a teacup: when someone makes a small problem larger than it really is.

Those two are always arguing about something, it’s just a storm in a teacup.
Storm is brewing: indication that something is about to become bad or explode

You could tell by the looks on their faces that a storm was brewing.
Take a rain check: decline something now but offer to do it at a later date.

Thanks for inviting me to dinner but I can’t this week. Can I take a rain check on that?
Throw caution to the wind: to go crazy and forget all responsibilities or commitments.

They threw caution to the wind and quit their jobs in the heat of the moment.
Under the weather: you are not feeling well
Source: Woodward English

Paul isn’t coming with us because he feels a little under the weather.
http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/weather-vocabulary.htm
Source: Woodward English
Source: Woodward English
Weather Vocabulary
Word
Part of speech
Meaning
Example Sentence
airconditioner/airconditioning
noun
an appliance that cools down the air in a home
or building
The airconditioner keeps the office nice and comfortable even when it's
very hot outside.
avalanche
noun
a dangerous slide of snow down a mountain
The skiers were warned about a possible avalanche.
below freezing
preposition/adjective
temperature less than 0 degrees Celsius/(32F)
It's supposed to go below freezing before the weekend.
blizzard
noun
a storm with lots of snow and wind
The airplane couldn't take-off because of the blizzard.
boiling hot
adjective + noun
common expression for describing a very hot
day
It was boiling hot, so we all jumped into the lake.
breeze
noun
light wind
Don't bother with a hat. There is always a breeze near the ocean.
Source: Woodward English
Celsius
noun
measurement of temperature (0 degrees is
freezing/100 is boiling)
In the summer, the average temperature here is 20 degrees Celsius.
chilly
adjective
cold
It's a bit chilly today, so I think you should wear a coat.
clear
adjective
when the sky is blue because no clouds are
blocking the sun
On a clear night you can see a lot of stars.
cloud/cloudy
noun/adjective
water in the sky that appears as a white or grey
mass
It may look cloudy in the morning, but the sun always comes out by
afternoon.
cold spell
adjective + noun
a period of colder than average weather
They're calling for a cold spell, so we put off our camping trip.
cool
adjective
temperature in between warm and cold
The days were boiling hot, but the nights were cool and comfortable for
sleeping.
degrees
noun
measurement for temperature
I don't feel the heat until it's about forty degrees Celsius outside.
drizzling
continuous verb
raining slightly
I think I'll take the dog for a walk. It's only drizzling now.
drought
noun
a long period with no rainfall
Forest fires are a serious danger during a drought.
Fahrenheit
noun
measurement of temperature (32 degrees is
freezing/212 is boiling)
It was 100 degrees Fahrenheit when we got to San Francisco.
Source: Woodward English
flood
noun
overflow of rain water
The flood was so bad, our basement was full of water.
very light snowfall
There are a few flurries but the snow isn't sticking to the roads.
fog/foggy
noun/adjective
thick water vapor that blocks one's vision
We couldn't see the bridge because there was too much fog.
forecast
noun/verb
the expected weather for the future
According to the 5 day forecast, it's going to rain on our wedding day.
freezing cold
adjective + noun
common expression used to describe a very
cold day
It was a freezing cold day for the Santa Claus parade.
frost
noun
ice crystals on a frozen surface
Some flowers are so strong they can withstand frost.
frostbite
noun
a skin condition caused by over exposure to the
cold (typically reddish skin with white spots)
I lost my hat while I was skiing, and I ended up with frostbite on my ears.
hail
noun
small pieces of ice that fall during a storm
There was so much hail that some of the trailer homes were destroyed.
heat stroke
noun
a flu-like condition one can acquire after
spending too long in the sun
Bring lots of water and wear a hat to avoid heat stroke in this weather.
heat-wave
noun
extremely hot weather that is much higher than
average--usually lasts a short time
During the heat-wave we cooled our beds down with ice packs.
flurries
noun
Source: Woodward English
humid/humidity
adjective/noun
moisture in the air
It feels a lot hotter than it actually is because of the humidity.
hurricane
noun
a tropical storm with very strong wind and rain
Half of the buildings on the island were flattened by the hurricane.
icy
adjective
slippery because of ice
The roads are icy so please avoid driving down any hills.
lightning
noun
electrical discharge and flash between a cloud
and the ground
The outdoor pool always closes when the lifeguards think lightning is
coming.
mild
adjective
temperature that is warmer than average(in a
cold season)
It's quite mild out so I didn't bother with a hat or mittens.
meteorologist
noun
a person who studies weather patterns
The meteorologist predicted that the cold spell would be over by now.
minus/negative
adjective
indicates that a temperature is below zero
It was minus twenty degrees at the top of the skil hill.
overcast
adjective
no sun is visible
The sky is overcast this morning, but the sun is supposed to come out by
late afternoon.
partly cloudy
adverb + adjective
term often used in a weather forecast to
indicate that the skies are sunny and cloudy at
the same time
Tomorrow's forecast is partly cloudy with clear skies by nightfall.
Source: Woodward English
precipitation
noun
rain or snow that falls on an area
There is very little precipitation in the desert.
puddle
noun
collection of rain water
Children love to splash in puddles when they are wearing rubber boots.
rain/raining/rainy
noun/continuous
verb/adjective
water that falls to earth
My hair is all wet and messy from the rain.
raindrop
noun
a single measurement of rain
I love catching raindrops on my tongue.
rainbow
noun
a band of colours found in the sky after a
rainfall
According to legend you can find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
raining cats and dogs
idiom
raining heavily
They cancelled the football game because it was raining cats and dogs.
scorching/a scorcher
adjective/noun
extremely hot temperature/a very hot day
It was a scorcher, so the whole family slept in the cool basement.
season
noun
time of year characterized by certain weather
Winter,Spring,Summer,Fall (or Autumn)
My favorite season is Fall, because I love to watch the leaves changing
colours.
shower
noun
quick/light rainstorm
They've been calling for showers all week, but so far it's been dry.
Source: Woodward English
sleet(similar to hail)
noun
rain that freezes as it falls
All-weather-tires are best if you have to drive in sleet.
slush/slushy
noun/adjective
snow on the ground that has been rained on
The snow turned to slush as soon as it started to rain.
smog
noun
heavy,dark cloud cover caused by pollution
You really notice the smog downtown in this type of humidity.
snow/snowy/snowing
noun/adjective/ continuous
verb
frozen water that warms slightly as it falls to
earth
It is already snowing up in the mountains, so the ski season should be great
this year.
snowstorm
noun
large amounts of wind and snow
All of the schools were closed because of the snowstorm.
the gassy star that warms the earth
We hope to have sunshine on the day of the beach picnic.
sunburn
noun
painful red/pink skin caused by being in the sun
too long
The bald man got a sunburn on his head.
sunglasses/shades
noun
dark eyewear that protects you from the sun
I forgot my shades and I was driving right into the sun.
suntan/tanned
noun(also verb)/adjective(also
verb)
brown/golden skin caused by long periods of
sun exposure
I got a suntan on the cruise, but it has already faded away.
sun/sunshine/sunny
noun/noun/adjective
Source: Woodward English
sunscreen/suntan lotion
noun
cream that protects your skin from sun damage
Don't forget to reapply your sunscreen when you get out of the lake.
temperature
noun
how warm or cold the air is
Can you check the temperature before we get dressed for our walk?
instrument for measuring the temperature of
the air
When I checked the temperature this morning, the thermometer said it
was already thirty degrees Celsius.
thunder is a loud noise after lightning, caused
by rapid expansion of air superheated by the
lightning
Let's close all of the windows. It looks like a thunderstorm is coming.
violently spinning windstorm
The tornado picked up everything in its path, including animals and cars.
held over one's head and body for rain
protection
I always keep an umbrella in my car in case of rain.
UV (ultra violet) rays
noun
the damaging rays from the sun
Ultra violet rays can cause skin cancer if you don't wear sunscreen.
wind/windy
noun/adjective
blowing air outside
It's too windy to play golf today.
wind chill factor
noun
when the wind makes the air feel colder than
the actual temperature
It's minus two, but with the wind chill factor it's minus fifteen.
thermometer
noun
thunder/thunderstorm
noun
tornado/cyclone
noun
umbrella
noun
Source: Woodward English
Source: Woodward English
http://www.saberingles.com.ar/lists/weather.html
Vocabulary
WEATHER
English - Spanish
Source: Woodward English
shower
llovizna
drizzle
llovizna
to drizzle
lloviznar
rain
lluvia
to rain
llover
to teem down
llover a cántaros
deluge
diluvio
flurry
ráfaga
downpour
lluvia torrencial
to pour down
llover torrencialmente
to hail
llover con granizo
hailstones
granizo
snow
nieve
to snow
nevar
slush
nieve derretida
frost
helada
ice
hielo
sleet
aguanieve
to be soaked to the skin
estar mojado hasta los huesos (lit. hasta la piel)
to be drenched
estar empapado
to be wet through
estar empapado
storm
tormenta
blizzard
tormenta de nieve
thunderstorm
tormenta eléctrica
thunder
trueno
Source: Woodward English
thunderclap
trueno
lightning
relámpago
bolt of lightning
rayo
cloud
nube
to cloud over
nublarse
mist
niebla
fog
niebla, bruma
haze
bruma
breeze
brisa
drought
sequía
dew
rocío
heat wave
ola de calor
hot spell
ola de calor
cold snap
ola de frío
wind
viento
gust of wind
ráfaga de viento
gale
viento muy fuerte
biting wind
viento muy fuerte
blustery wind
viento muy fuerte
whirlwind
torbellino
hurricane
huracán
tornado
tornado
weather forecast
pronóstico del tiempo
changeable weather
clima cambiante
inclement weather
clima inclemente
mild weather
clima templado, suave
above zero
sobre cero
below zero
bajo cero
the temperature dropped
la temperatura disminuyó
flood
inundación
drought
sequía
climate
clima (ex. tropical climate)
to be hot
estar caluroso
to be boiling hot
estar muy caluroso
to be warm
estar templado
to be boiling
estar muy caluroso
to be stifling
estar muy caluroso, pesado
to be oppressive
estar demasiado caluroso
to be airless
estar sin aire
to be fair
estar bueno
to be fine
estar bueno
to be muggy
estar templado y húmedo
to be humid
estar húmedo
to be damp
estar húmedo
to be dry
estar seco
to be cold
estar frío
to be freezing
estar muy frío
to be icy
estar muy frío
to be chilly
estar demasiado frío
to be cloudy
estar nublado
to be overcast
estar muy nublado, cubierto
to be rainy
estar lluvioso
to be misty
estar nebuloso
to be foggy
estar brumoso
to be sunny
estar soleado
to be windy
estar ventoso
We thank Santiago Planellas Rotllan (from Girona, Spain) and Luis Alfredo Paiva (from Córdoba,
Argentina) for their contribution.
Source: Woodward English
Practice
Exercise - Weather - Easy
Dictation - Weather - Easy
Flashcards - Weather - Easy
Hangman - Weather - Easy
Word Search - Weather - Easy
Word Match - Weather - Easy
Memory Game - Weather - Easy
Dictation - Weather - Medium
Dictation - Weather - Difficult
Hangman - Weather - Difficult
Word Search - Weather - Difficult
Source: Woodward English