Weather Vocabulary in English: Essential Words and Phrases
If you don’t know what to talk about, talk about the weather! In order to know how to continue a conversation about climate and weather in English, we’ll look at a few simple and easy-to-remember words. That way you’ll be up-to-date and able to talk about weather phenomena in English. Equipped with this weather vocabulary, you can walk outside, look around, and know exactly what to say and how to discuss it.
“Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.” – Mark Twain
What are the most common weather vocabulary terms?
Common weather vocabulary includes terms like ‘forecast’, ‘temperature’, ‘humidity’, and ‘precipitation’. These words are essential for understanding weather reports and discussing weather conditions.
Climate vs. Weather
So to start, let’s learn two basic words and what makes them different.
Climate – the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.
Weather – the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.
It can be seen that “climate” has a much broader meaning than “weather.”
For example:
- What’s the weather like today? – It’s sunny and a little windy today.
- What’s the climate in Spain? – It’s the Mediterranean.
English Vocabulary About Climate & Weather
- Flood
- Drought
- Famine
- Earthquake
- Tsunami
- Blizzard
- Squall
- Storm (variations include ice storm, snowstorm, rainstorm, windstorm, sandstorm)
- Hail
- Drizzle (small raindrops)
- Sleet
- Frost
- Overcast
- Smog (air pollution)
- Snowfall
- Mudslide
- Avalanche
- Volcanic eruption
- Typhoon
- Monsoon
- Tornado
- Hurricane
- Cyclone
- Heat wave
- Snow/snowflakes
I invite you to watch a video from the Museum of Natural History regarding natural phenomena and events.
English Terms Used by Meteorologists
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Rainfall
- Thunderstorm
- Fog/Mist (foggy, misty)
- Atmospheric pressure
- Wind velocity and direction
- Solar radiation
- Cloudiness
- Storm possibility
- Tropical storm
- Water vapor
- Wind chill
- Air pressure
Sayings in English about the Weather
- There’s no bad weather, there are just bad clothes.
- After rain comes fair weather.
- If bees stay at home, rain will soon come; if they fly away, fine will be the day.
- A warm November is the sign of a bad winter.
- Rainbow at noon, more rain soon.
- The higher the clouds, the better the weather.
That’s all! Learn new words in English and improve your vocabulary. And speak with others, using the new words when you do.
P.S. What expressions about weather do you know?
Connected Topics & Additional Resources – Everyday Life & Hobbies
Want to learn more? Check out this additional hobbies vocabulary!
