Lesson

Weather

Basic weather vocabulary

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Weather Vocabulary

This lesson covers common English words and phrases used to describe weather. You'll learn nouns, verbs, adjectives, and useful collocations to report conditions, understand forecasts, and discuss impacts on work, travel, and events.

  • Learn core weather nouns (e.g., drizzle, humidity, forecast).
  • Practice verbs and collocations (e.g., 'it is raining', 'calls for heavy rain').
  • Use weather vocabulary in professional contexts (meetings, travel advisories).

Table

Common Weather Vocabulary

Word Part of Speech Definition Example
forecast noun / verb A prediction of future weather conditions; to predict weather The forecast calls for heavy rain during the morning commute.
precipitation noun Any form of water that falls from the sky (rain, snow, sleet, hail) Precipitation levels are above average this month.
drizzle noun / verb Light rain; to rain lightly It's just a light drizzle — you probably don't need an umbrella.
humidity noun The amount of moisture in the air High humidity made the office feel uncomfortable during the presentation.
gale noun A very strong wind Gale-force winds caused minor damage along the coast.
overcast adjective Cloudy; the sky covered with clouds The day was overcast, so the outdoor event moved indoors.
heatwave noun A prolonged period of excessively hot weather A heatwave reduced productivity on the factory floor last week.
blizzard noun A severe snowstorm with strong winds and low visibility The blizzard forced the airport to close for 24 hours.

Tip

Key Tips for Using Weather Vocabulary

Use the right word form and common collocations to sound natural:

  • Nouns: 'rain', 'drizzle', 'snow', 'humidity', 'heatwave'. Use uncountable nouns (rain, snow) without 'a'.
  • Verbs: Use 'it' + verb for weather (It is raining; It will snow).
  • Collocations: 'heavy rain', 'light drizzle', 'gale-force winds', 'temperature drop'.
  • Forecast phrases: 'calls for', 'is expected to', 'is forecast to' are common in reports.

In news and reports, use precise collocations (e.g., 'heavy rain' vs 'a heavy rain' usually 'heavy rain').

Example

Examples in context

The forecast calls for heavy rain during the morning commute.

High humidity made the conference room feel stuffy.

A sudden heatwave reduced factory output last month.

Flight departures were delayed due to dense fog at the airport.

Tip

Common Mistakes

Avoid these universal errors when talking about weather:

  • Confusing 'weather' with 'whether' — they are different words with different meanings.
  • Using countable articles with uncountable weather nouns (say 'heavy rain', not 'a heavy rain').
  • Wrong verb patterns: use 'It is raining' or 'It will rain', not 'Raining now'.
  • Incorrect prepositions and time expressions: say 'during the storm' or 'in the morning', not random mixes.

Check word forms (noun/verb/adjective) and common collocations to avoid mistakes.

Quiz

Choose the best word to complete the sentence: The _____ warned of strong winds and coastal flooding.

Hint: Think about a weather prediction used by meteorologists.

Quiz

Complete: The forecast _____ heavy showers this afternoon.

Hint: Think of a common verb phrase used with 'forecast' to indicate predicted weather.

Quiz

Which sentence uses 'drizzle' correctly?

Hint: Focus on whether the sentence correctly describes light rain in natural English.

Key Points

Vocabulary

forecast

noun / verb CEFR B1 //ˈfɔːrkæst//

A prediction of future weather conditions; to predict weather

The forecast predicts thunderstorms this evening.

Vocabulary

drizzle

noun / verb CEFR B1 //ˈdrɪzəl//

Light rain; to rain lightly

A light drizzle started during our lunch break.

Vocabulary

humidity

noun CEFR B1 //hjuːˈmɪdəti//

The amount of moisture in the air

High humidity affected the indoor comfort during the seminar.

Vocabulary

precipitation

noun CEFR B2 //prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃən//

Any form of water that falls from the sky (rain, snow, sleet, hail)

Precipitation this quarter exceeded seasonal averages.

Vocabulary

gale

noun CEFR B2 //ɡeɪl//

A very strong wind

Gale-force winds disrupted coastal deliveries.

Vocabulary

overcast

adjective CEFR B1 //ˌoʊvərˈkæst//

Cloudy; the sky covered with clouds

The outlook remained overcast for the rest of the day.

Vocabulary

heatwave

noun CEFR B2 //ˈhiːtweɪv//

A prolonged period of excessively hot weather

The recent heatwave affected worker safety and schedules.

Vocabulary

blizzard

noun CEFR B2 //ˈblɪzərd//

A severe snowstorm with strong winds and low visibility

The blizzard led to a 24-hour shutdown of the regional office.