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Weather & Climate Vocabulary
Fiche | Anglais
Vocabulary on the theme of weather and climate.
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Primaire
1-6
Table des matières
- Haut de page
- Basic Weather & Climate Vocabulary
- Weather Phenomena Vocabulary
- Weather Description Vocabulary
- Weather-Related Verbs
- Weather & Climate Vocabulary at a Glance
- Weather & Climate Vocabulary Exercise
- Advanced Weather & Climate Vocabulary
- Advanced Weather Phenomena Vocabulary
- Advanced Weather Description Vocabulary
- Weather Expressions
- Climate Zones
- Extreme Climate Effects
- Weather Measurement Vocabulary
- Exercise – Advanced Weather & Climate Vocabulary
- See Also
Weather Phenomena Vocabulary
1Blizzard vs. snowstorm: a blizzard is a type of snowstorm. It is very severe and can be dangerous.
2Tropical cyclones are generally referred to by regional names.
- When they form in the Atlantic Ocean or in the North-East Pacific Ocean, they are hurricanes.
- When they form in the Indian Ocean, they are tropical cyclones.
- When they form in the Western Pacific Ocean, they are typhoons.
Weather & Climate Vocabulary Exercise
Advanced Weather & Climate Vocabulary
Advanced Weather Phenomena Vocabulary
downpour
A very heavy, sudden and intense rainfall.shower
A short period of rain.drizzle
Very light rain with tiny, fine drops that look like a mist.snowfall
The amount of snow that falls during a specific period of time.flurry
A very light and brief snowfall.icy rain
Rain that falls as liquid but freezes instantly when it hits a cold surface. Also called “freezing rain.”freezing rain
Rain that falls as liquid but freezes instantly when it hits a cold surface. Also called “icy rain.”sleet
A mixture of rain and snow or rain that freezes into small ice pellets before it hits the ground.smog
A thick, dirty type of air pollution that looks like a mixture of smoke and fog.breeze
A gentle, light and refreshing wind.gale
A very strong, powerful wind.temperature
A measurement of how hot or cold the air is.humidity
The amount of water vapour in the air.pressure
The weight of the air pressing down on the Earth. It is measured with a barometer.precipitations
Any form of water—liquid or solid—that falls from the sky. This includes rain, snow, sleet and hail.spring thaw
The period in spring when the snow and ice finally melt because the temperature stays above 0°C.summer solstice
The day of the year with the most hours of daylight and the shortest night. Around June 20 or 21.autumn foliage
A season when the leaves on trees and plants change colour and fall off.winter freeze
The period of time when the temperature stays below 0°C.
Advanced Weather Description Vocabulary
light (rain, wind, snow)
Small in amount, force or intensity. It is the opposite of "heavy" or "strong."strong (wind, storm)
Having a lot of power, force or intensity. It is the opposite of "light."heavy (rain, wind, snow)
Great in amount, force or density. It is the opposite of "light."gentle (rain, wind)
Light and not strong.clear
A sky with no clouds, fog or smoke.overcast
A sky covered in clouds.partly cloudy
A sky with some clouds and some blue sky.below zero
The temperature is colder than 0°C.minus
To indicate the temperature is below 0°C. (Ex: minus 10°C.)negative
To indicate the temperature is below 0°C. (Ex: negative 10°C.)mild
Weather that is not too cold and not too hot. Weather that feels comfortable.chilly
Cool, but not freezing weather. You definitely need a sweater or a light jacket to stay comfortable.cool
Slightly cold in a pleasant and refreshing way.warm
A comfortable temperature that is between "cool" and "hot."
Weather Expressions
to clear up
When the clouds, rain or fog go away and the sun begins to show.to brighten up
When the sky becomes lighter because the sun is starting to shine through the clouds.to cloud over
When the sky becomes covered with clouds, hiding the sun and blue sky.to pour down
To rain very heavily and continuously.to freeze up
When something (rivers, lakes, machinery) becomes solid, stuck, or covered in ice so that it can no longer move or work properly.to freeze over
When the entire surface of a body of water (like a lake, pond or river) becomes covered with a layer of ice.to blow over
When a storm or bad weather passes by or finishes without becoming serious.snowed in
When so much snow falls that you cannot leave your home or town.cold spell
A sudden, short period of time when the weather is much colder than normal. Shorter than a cold wave.cold wave
A weather phenomenon where the air temperature drops very rapidly and stays extremely cold over a large area for several days.freezing cold
Extremely cold.scorching
Extremely hot.heatwave
A period of several days when the weather is much hotter than normal.dry spell
A period of time (usually several weeks) with very little or no rain.raining cats and dogs
To rain very heavily and continuously. A synonym of “pour down.”
Climate Zones
tropical
A climate that is hot all year round, with no winter season.temperate
A climate that is mild and moderate, with no extreme heat or extreme cold for long periods.arid
A climate or land that is extremely dry because it receives very little rain or snow.polar
A climate that is extremely cold all year, with very short, cool summers and long, dark winters.mediterranean
A climate characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.continental
A climate characterized by extreme differences between a very cold winter and a hot summer.arctic
A climate characterized by extremely cold temperatures, ice-covered waters and treeless land.alpine
A climate zone found at high altitudes (on mountains), characterized by cold temperatures, thin air and a lack of trees.oceanic
A climate influenced by the ocean, characterized by cool summers and mild winters, with rain spread throughout the year.
Extreme Climate Effects
global warming
The slow and steady increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans.greenhouse effect
A process where the Earth's atmosphere traps some of the Sun's energy to keep the planet warm enough for life.sea level rise
The increase in the average level of the world's oceans.flood
An overflow of a large amount of water onto land that is normally dry.drought
A long period of time (months or even years) with very little or no rain or snow, leading to a severe shortage of water.
Weather Measurement Vocabulary
thermometer
An instrument or tool used to measure how hot or cold it is.barometer
An instrument used to measure the air pressure (also called atmospheric pressure”).hygrometer
An instrument used to measure the amount of humidity (water vapour) in the air.anemometer
An instrument used to measure the speed and direction of the wind.rain gauge
A tool used to measure the amount of rain received.snow gauge
A tool used to measure the amount of snow received.Celsius
The metric scale (°C) used to measure temperature, where water freezes at 0° and boils at 100°.Fahrenheit
A scale (°F) for measuring temperature where water freezes at 32° and boils at 212°.wind chill factor
A measure of how much colder the air feels on your skin because of the wind.