Vocabulary for weather - English tips

If you are studying English in the UK or are just visiting, you will have discovered that British people love to talk about the weather.  The UK’s weather is famous for being unpredictable, so it arrives in conversation a lot when people are making small talk. As a result, you’ll hear English vocabulary for weather again and again. Let’s explore the most common words and phrases!

 

Vocabulary for Cold Weather

December, January and February is the UK’s winter season, with icy conditions and sometimes snow. The average temperature is between 2 and 7°C (36–45°F), but temperatures often drop to just below 0°C (36°F).  It is also common for cold conditions in the other months, especially in the north. Here are some of the words you might hear to describe the cold weather.

 

Frosty

Cold enough for frost to form

Example:It was very frosty this morning”

 

Chilly

A little bit cold, but not too bad

Example:It’s a bit chilly, you should bring a jacket

 

Bitter

Very cold with a sharp wind

Example: There is a bitter wind today

 

Nippy

A fun word for when it’s cold enough to make you shiver.

Example: “Is there a door open? It’s a bit nippy

 

Freezing

Extremely cold, below 0°C

Example:It’s freezing outside

 

Vocabulary for Warm Weather

In summer, the average temperature ranges from 9–18°C (48–64° F), reaching around 30°C (86°F) in heatwaves. The UK is not known for its summers but we do experience some very pleasant months between June and September, where parks and beaches become a fantastic place to visit. Here are some of the words you might hear to describe the warm weather.

 

Sunny

The sun is out and is shining brightly

Example:You should wear some sunglasses, it’s very sunny out

 

Humid / Muggy / Stuffy

When the air is unpleasantly warm

Example:I can’t breathe very well, it’s very humid today

 

Glorious

When the weather is making you very happy

Example:I can’t wait to finish work today, the weather is glorious

 

Tropical

When the weather is so nice it reminds you of a much hotter country

Example: It’s tropical today, I might buy an ice cream to cool down!

 

Boiling / Baking / Roasting

When it is so hot, it feels like you are being cooked

Example: “I’m boiling, can we open a window?”

 

Vocabulary for Rainy Weather

Rain is common in the UK, but thankfully extreme weather is quite rare. The rainiest month is January, when 17.8 days have more than 1 mm (0.04 in) of rain on average. If you are visiting, make sure to pack some waterproof clothes. Here are some of the words you might hear to describe the rain.

 

“Drizzling” (verb) or “Drizzle” (noun)

Light, misty rain

Example: It’s drizzling a bit outside”

 

Pouring

Heavy, continuous rain

Example: “I want to go out but it’s pouring down”

 

Spitting

Very light rain, just a few drops here and there

Example: It’s only spitting a bit today, no need for an umbrella”

 

Showers

A short burst of rain that can stop as quickly as it starts

Example: “A few showers are expected at the weekend”

 

Damp

When the air feels wet and cold

Example: It’s very damp outside today”

 

Blustery

Windy and rainy at the same time

Example: “It’s very blustery today. My hat fell off”

 

 


 

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