Talking About the Weather
1. Why do we talk about the weather?
In English, talking about the weather is a common way to start a conversation.
It is used as small talk when you meet someone.
It can also give important information about plans (e.g. travel, activities, clothes).
It is used as small talk when you meet someone.
It can also give important information about plans (e.g. travel, activities, clothes).
2. Basic Sentence Patterns
We usually describe the weather with “It is…” or “There is…”:
It is sunny / cloudy / windy / raining.
It is hot / warm / cold / chilly.
There is a storm / a breeze / thick fog.
It is sunny / cloudy / windy / raining.
It is hot / warm / cold / chilly.
There is a storm / a breeze / thick fog.
3. Asking About the Weather
What’s the weather like today?
How’s the weather?
Is it going to rain? (future)
What’s the temperature outside?
What’s the weather like today?
How’s the weather?
Is it going to rain? (future)
What’s the temperature outside?
4. Talking About Temperature
We say the number first, then degrees Celsius:
20°C — “twenty degrees Celsius”
0°C — “zero degrees Celsius”
We say the number first, then degrees Celsius:
20°C — “twenty degrees Celsius”
0°C — “zero degrees Celsius”
For minus temperatures, we say “minus”:
–5°C — “minus five degrees Celsius”
–5°C — “minus five degrees Celsius”
5. Vocabulary: Describing Temperature
+35°C and above — boiling hot / scorching hot / sweltering — extremely hot, uncomfortable;
+28°C to +34°C — hot — high temperature;
+20°C to +27°C — warm — comfortably above normal;
+12°C to +19°C— mild — neither hot nor cold;
+8°C to +11°C — cool — comfortably below normal;
+4°C to +7°C — chilly — a bit unpleasant, slightly cold;
–10°C to +3°C — cold — clearly low temperature;
–10°C and below — freezing cold / icy / frosty — extremely cold.
+35°C and above — boiling hot / scorching hot / sweltering — extremely hot, uncomfortable;
+28°C to +34°C — hot — high temperature;
+20°C to +27°C — warm — comfortably above normal;
+12°C to +19°C— mild — neither hot nor cold;
+8°C to +11°C — cool — comfortably below normal;
+4°C to +7°C — chilly — a bit unpleasant, slightly cold;
–10°C to +3°C — cold — clearly low temperature;
–10°C and below — freezing cold / icy / frosty — extremely cold.
6. Weather Adjectives
Sunshine / Heat
boiling — extremely hot, almost uncomfortable:
It’s boiling outside, I need some water.
It’s boiling outside, I need some water.
bright — a lot of light from the sun, cheerful weather:
The morning was bright and beautiful.
The morning was bright and beautiful.
hot — high temperature, you feel very warm:
It’s hot today, let’s go swimming.
sunny — the sun is shining, no clouds:
It’s a sunny day, perfect for a picnic.
It’s hot today, let’s go swimming.
sunny — the sun is shining, no clouds:
It’s a sunny day, perfect for a picnic.
Rain
rainy — it rains a lot:
April is usually a rainy month.
rainy — it rains a lot:
April is usually a rainy month.
showery — short periods of rain, then dry again:
The weather is showery – sun, then rain, then sun again.
stormy — strong winds, rain, sometimes thunder and lightning:The weather is showery – sun, then rain, then sun again.
It’s stormy, so we should stay inside.
wet — the ground or air has a lot of water because of rain:
The ground is wet after the heavy rain.
Clouds / Fog
cloudy — many clouds in the sky, little sun:
It’s cloudy today, I can’t see the sun.
cloudy — many clouds in the sky, little sun:
It’s cloudy today, I can’t see the sun.
foggy — thick cloud near the ground, hard to see:
It’s foggy — I can’t see the road clearly.
It’s foggy — I can’t see the road clearly.
misty — light fog, not as thick as fog:
The mountains look beautiful on this misty morning.
overcast — the sky is completely covered with clouds, no sun at all:
The sky is overcast and grey.
The mountains look beautiful on this misty morning.
overcast — the sky is completely covered with clouds, no sun at all:
The sky is overcast and grey.
Cold / Snow
cold — low temperature, you need warm clothes:
It’s cold outside, wear a jacket.
freezing — very, very cold, near or below 0°C:
It’s freezing today, the lake is turning to ice.
cold — low temperature, you need warm clothes:
It’s cold outside, wear a jacket.
freezing — very, very cold, near or below 0°C:
It’s freezing today, the lake is turning to ice.
icy — covered with ice, very slippery and cold:
The roads are icy, drive carefully.
snowy — snow is falling or lying on the ground:
We had a snowy winter last year
The roads are icy, drive carefully.
snowy — snow is falling or lying on the ground:
We had a snowy winter last year
Wind
windy — a lot of wind is blowing:
It’s windy, my umbrella almost flew away.
breezy — a light and pleasant wind:
It’s breezy on the beach — nice and fresh.
gusty — wind that comes in short, strong bursts:
It’s gusty today, with sudden strong bursts of wind shaking the trees.
windy — a lot of wind is blowing:
It’s windy, my umbrella almost flew away.
breezy — a light and pleasant wind:
It’s breezy on the beach — nice and fresh.
gusty — wind that comes in short, strong bursts:
It’s gusty today, with sudden strong bursts of wind shaking the trees.
Natural Phenomena
halo — a circle of light around the sun or moon;
hot spring — warm water that comes naturally from the ground;
lightning — bright flash in the sky during a storm;
lunar eclipse — when the earth covers the moon;
meteor shower — many shooting stars at the same time;
mirage — an image that looks real but isn’t (often in hot places);
northern lights — colourful lights in the night sky in the north;
rainbow — colours in the sky after rain;
shooting star / meteor — a single bright streak of light in the night sky;
solar eclipse — when the moon covers the sun;
thunder — loud sound after lightning;
tide — the sea moving in and out.
halo — a circle of light around the sun or moon;
hot spring — warm water that comes naturally from the ground;
lightning — bright flash in the sky during a storm;
lunar eclipse — when the earth covers the moon;
meteor shower — many shooting stars at the same time;
mirage — an image that looks real but isn’t (often in hot places);
northern lights — colourful lights in the night sky in the north;
rainbow — colours in the sky after rain;
shooting star / meteor — a single bright streak of light in the night sky;
solar eclipse — when the moon covers the sun;
thunder — loud sound after lightning;
tide — the sea moving in and out.