Weather and Natural Phenomena

Basic Vocabulary

Weather describes the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time. It includes elements such as temperature, precipitation, wind and cloud cover. Being able to name common weather conditions helps students understand news reports, write short descriptions and speak about everyday situations.

temperature - the degree of hotness or coldness measured by a thermometer, usually in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit

precipitation - any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from clouds (rain, snow, sleet, hail)

Example: Today the local forecast said the temperature would be $20^{\circ}\mathrm{C}$ and there would be light rain later. {IMAGE_0}

Talking about the Weather (Grammar and Phrases)

When talking about general weather patterns, English often uses the present simple: "It rains a lot in autumn." For actions happening now, the present continuous is common: "It''s raining right now." Familiar phrases include "There is a storm coming," "It''s sunny," "It''s freezing," and "It''s humid today." Practise common collocations such as "heavy rain," "strong wind," "clear sky" and "severe weather."

forecast - a prediction of future weather based on observations and models

To describe probability in forecasts, speakers use modal verbs and percentages: for example, "There will probably be rain" or "There is a $70\%$ chance of showers." Use phrases like "chance of precipitation," "expected high/low temperatures," and "wind gusts up to..." to make your speech or writing sound natural and precise.

Weather Forecasts and Measurements

Meteorological instruments measure different elements: thermometers for temperature, barometers for air pressure, anemometers for wind speed and rain gauges for precipitation. Pressure is often given in hectopascals or millibars; a typical sea-level pressure is about $1013\ \mathrm{hPa}$. Wind speeds can be reported in metres per second, kilometres per hour, or knots; a gentle breeze might be around {FORMULA_4}.

barometer - an instrument measuring atmospheric pressure, used in weather forecasting

anemometer - a device used for measuring wind speed

To convert temperatures between Celsius and Fahrenheit, use a standard formula. For example, the conversion formula is $F = \dfrac{9}{5}C + 32$. Applying that to $20^{\circ}\mathrm{C}$ gives approximately $68^{\circ}\mathrm{F}$.

Natural Phenomena and Disasters

Natural phenomena include everyday events like fog, mist and sunrise, as well as extreme events such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, droughts, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Learning vocabulary to describe intensity, causes and effects allows pupils to read news articles and safety instructions.

tornado - a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground

hurricane - a large tropical cyclone with very strong winds and heavy rain; called a typhoon or cyclone in other regions

When discussing earthquakes, people often mention magnitude. For instance, a strong earthquake might be reported as magnitude $M=6.5$. For flooding and rainfall reports, quantities are often measured in millimetres; light rainfall in an hour might be around $5\ \mathrm{mm}$. {IMAGE_1}

Useful Expressions and Classroom Activities

Practice speaking by describing today''s weather, predicting tomorrow''s forecast using modal verbs, and summarising a weather report from a newspaper or website. Useful starter sentences: "I think it will...", "There is a chance of...", "We can expect..." Encourage students to use specific vocabulary: gusty, blustery, drizzle, torrential, clear out, overcast, dense fog, heatwave and cold snap.

For writing tasks, ask pupils to compose a short weather forecast for their town using measured values and the correct grammar. They should include at least two measurements (temperature, pressure, wind speed or precipitation) using the terms learned, and practise converting units where appropriate with formulas such as $F = \dfrac{9}{5}C + 32$.

To extend learning, discuss climate versus weather: climate is the long-term average of weather in a region, while weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions. Talk about human impact and adaptations to extreme weather, emergency vocabulary and safety phrases like "take shelter," "evacuate," "stay indoors," and "emergency services."