Weather
Below is the list of commonly used words for Weather. Meaning has been given for each word together with an exemplary usage in a sentence. After you finish going through this list, there is a real IELTS Question to test your vocabulary. A model answer has also been provided for your reference. If you want to skip the vocabulary part and go to the IELTS Speaking Practice Question right away, then click on the button below.
to be below freezing: below zero degrees Celsius
bitterly cold: very cold and unpleasant
a blanket of snow: a complete covering of snow
boiling hot: very hot (informal)
changeable: weather that often changes
change in the weather: when weather conditions change
clear blue skies: a sky without clouds
to clear up: when clouds or rain disappear
to come out (the sun): when the sun appears out of a cloudy sky
a cold spell: a short period of cold weather
to dress up warm: to wear warm clothes to protect yourself against wintry conditions
a drop of rain: a little bit of rain
a flash flood: a sudden and severe flood
freezing cold: very cold (informal)
to get caught in the rain: to be outside when it rains unexpectedly
to get drenched: to get very wet
heatstroke: a serious condition caused by being too long in hot weather
a heatwave: a period of very hot weather
heavy rain: intense rainfall
long-range forecast: the weather forecast for several days or weeks ahead
mild climate: a climate without extreme weather conditions
mild winter: a winter that isn’t particularly cold
not a cloud in the sky: see ‘clear blue skies’ above
to pour down: to rain heavily
to be rained off: to be cancelled or postponed due to poor weather
sunny spells: short periods of sunny weather
thick fog: a dense fog that makes visibility very poor
torrential rain: see ‘heavy rain’ above
tropical storm: a storm typical of ones that you find in tropical climates
weather forecast: a TV/radio programme or section in a newspaper/magazine which predicts weather conditions
IELTS Speaking Sample 1 - Weather
Now, try to use these new words you just learnt to answer the following real IELTS Speaking Question. Read the question and speak your answer. You may also record your answer using a mobile phone or any other device. Then compare your answer with the model answers given after each question.
Part 1
The weather in my country is pretty nice. We have a mild climate, so it’s never boiling hot in the summer or freezing cold in the winter.
Yes… Cold, gloomy days put me in a bad mood. I love summertime, when it’s warm and sunny.
Yes, absolutely! I like when it rains… I love all the freshness around, the cool breeze after a heavy rain. It’s wonderful!
Well, I think it’s spring… The weather is very pleasant and it’s nice to see everything come back to life and blossom.
No, not really… For me winter is the most depressing season, because where I live it’s freezing cold in the winter. Moreover, the days are short and you can’t do a lot of outdoor activities.
Part 2
Describe the weather you like the most. You should say:
- Which weather type you enjoy the most
- Why do you enjoy particularly this type of weather
- How often do you experience this weather in your hometown.
It may sound strange, but my favourite weather is when it is cloudy, windy and drizzling as it makes me feel calm and relaxed… I like such weather especially at night because I can hear the little raindrops falling and see the dew on the window, and it helps me to sleep… It is very pleasant… Also, I love foggy weather… It’s very romantic and gives me a sort of feeling like I’m in an old black and white movie. However, I don’t like heavy rains and downpours. And I hate when temperature goes below zero, it’s too cold for me. Probably, the type of weather I like is common for the United Kingdom… But in my hometown such type of weather is very rare. Usually, we have dry and sunny days with occasional spells of rainy weather.
Part 3
Yes, it does… It affects the overall temperature of the world, making the weather warmer. Also, it often causes smog and gloomy weather.
Yes, I think that people respond to bad weather… In my opinion, during cold and dull days people are more depressed and irritated than usual… While bright sunshine and warmth makes us feel good.
IELTS Speaking Sample 2 - Weather
Part 1
It’s quite changeable really … we have periods of time with clear blue skies then all of a sudden we’ll have torrential rain.
Well … I suppose it’s a matter of personal taste really … I like it around the end of October and November … I’m not fond of the heat waves we often get during the summer … it’s not freezing cold during these months and we still get lots of sunny spells.
It depends … if I get caught in the rain and I get drenched I don’t like it … but I’m a gardener so a drop of rain is good for my plants.
Part 2
Describe a time when you experienced extreme weather conditions. You should say
- when this was
- where you were
- what the weather was like
- and say how you felt about the experience.
I was studying English in a language school a few years ago … we were in Cornwall in the UK … we’d been enjoying lovely sunny days … not a cloud in the sky … when all of a sudden there was a change in the weather … we were in town walking around the shops when it started to pour down … I’d never seen such heavy rain before … within about 10 minutes the roads were full of water … I think they call it a flash flood … it was like being in the middle of a tropical storm … the water was almost up to my knees … the weather forecast hadn’t predicted it so everyone was taken by surprise … I’m not sure you could call it ‘extreme’ weather as a few hours later it started to clear up … the sun came out and slowly the water level went down … but a lot of people’s houses were flooded so it would have been extreme for them … I found it all quite exciting … in my country we generally have a very mild climate and don’t often get floods like this so it was quite an experience for me.
Part 3
Absolutely … yes … I don’t mind the occasional cold spell but I think the winter months can make you feel down. I hate having to leave the house in the winter … there’s often a thick fog every morning and we sometimes get bitterly cold winds … the winter certainly makes me feel a little depressed … though having said that … it’s always nice to see the town covered in a blanket of snow.
I don’t know if it’s due to global warming or not but the weather in my country is certainly changing … we’ve been getting quite mild winters lately … the temperatures are sometimes below freezing but only occasionally … and then during the summer it can get boiling hot with a lot of older people even suffering from heatstroke.
Well … if you’re planning a trip or going on holiday it’s important to know whether you’ll need to dress up warm or take an umbrella … farmers need to know what the long-range forecast is so they can plan their work … I suppose people who organise outside events need to know as well in case things get rained off.