It is sunny today.
It's snowing.
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:
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.
We have divided this vocabulary into different categories to make it easier. We have:
Clear or Cloudy Types of Rain Cold stuff Types of Wind Mixed Vocabulary
Clear or Cloudy
Damp: (adjective) slightly wet (often after the rain has stopped)
Drizzle: (verb/noun) to rain lightly with very fine drops
Shower: (noun) a short period of rain
Rain: (verb/noun) water that falls from the clouds in drops
Downpour: (noun) heavy rain
Pour: (verb) to have heavy rain
It's raining cats and dogs: (Idiom) To rain heavily
Torrential rain: (noun) very heavy rain
Flood: (verb/noun) to become covered in water usually due to excessive rain
Cold stuf
Hail: (verb) when frozen rain falls as small balls of ice (hailstones).
Hailstones: (noun) the small hard balls of ice that fall from the sky
Snow: (noun/verb) frozen rain that falls from the sky as soft snowflakes
Snowflake: (noun) an individual piece of snow
Sleet: (noun/verb) snow or hail mixed with rain (often with some wind)
Blizzard: (noun) severe snowstorm with strong winds
Types of Wind
Drought: (noun) Long periods of time without rain causing a lack of water in the area
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 colors in the sky formed when the sun shines through rain
I took a photo of a beautiful rainbow that was just above the lake.
The view of the city wasn't very good because it was covered in thick smog.
Sunburn: (noun) painful red skin caused by spending too long in the hot sun.
Thunder: (noun/verb) the rumbling sound in the clouds that happens after lightning
I'm so glad there is a breeze right now otherwise it would be very hot.
It's a blustery day; make sure your umbrella doesn't blow away.
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.
Is it raining outside?
Weather Idioms
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.
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.
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 cofee
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.
Every cloud has a silver lining: There is always something positive to come out of an unpleasant or difficult
situation.
I got laid of 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.
He got wind of the closure of the company so started looking for a new job immediately.
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.
Take you umbrella and a jacket because it's raining cats and dogs outside.
The project has been put on ice until our boss decides what to do next.
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.
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.
Paul isn't coming with us because he feels a little under the weather.
It is chilly today.
The temperatures given are only an approximation to give you an idea of when to use them.
28C (or more) - Hot
15 to 28C - Warm
10 to 15C - Cool
5 to 10C - Chilly
0 to 5C - Cold
0C (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 30C.
Boiling: very hot, often used in negative contexts
Humid: hot and damp. It makes you sweat a lot
Muggy: warm and damp in an unpleasant way
Scorching: very hot, often used in positive contexts
Stifling: hot and you can hardly breathe
Sweltering: hot and uncomfortable