Weather wonders! Vocabulary for weather

Whether you’re chatting about the forecast or just curious about the skies, knowing the right weather words can make all the difference.

You’ll learn some essential weather vocabulary, conditions, and phrases—from sunny days to stormy nights. Keep reading and you’ll find clear definitions, practical examples, and even some advanced terms and idioms to level up your weather talk.

Weather vocabulary

• Sunny: Bright with sunlight.
• Cloudy: Sky covered with clouds.
• Rainy: Wet with rain.
• Windy: Strong wind is blowing.
• Snowy: Snow is falling.
• Foggy: Thick mist or fog.
• Stormy: Thunder, lightning, or heavy rain.
• Hot: Very warm temperature.
• Cold: Low temperature.
• Warm: Pleasantly mild temperature.
• Cool: Slightly cold, refreshing.
• Humid: Air feels wet or sticky.
• Dry: No moisture in the air.

Weather conditions

• Rain: Water falling from clouds. 🌧️
• Snow: Frozen water falling as flakes. 🌨️
• Hail: Small balls of ice from storms.
• Sleet: A mix of rain and snow.
• Thunder: A loud sound during a storm.
• Lightning: A flash of light in the sky. ⚡
• Fog: Thick cloud near the ground. 🌫️
• Mist: Light fog, less dense.
• Rainbow: A colorful arc after rain. 🌈

Temperature and seasons

• Temperature: How hot or cold it is.
• Degrees: Unit to measure temperature (e.g., 20°C).
• Freezing: Very cold, below 0°C/32°F.
• Boiling: Extremely hot (informal).
• Spring: Mild, blooming season.
• Summer: Hot, sunny season.
• Autumn/fall: Cool, leaves fall.
• Winter: Cold, snowy season.

Common weather phrases

• What’s the weather like?
• It’s nice out. / The weather is pleasant.
• It’s pouring. / The rain is really heavy.
• It’s freezing! / The weather is very cold.
• It’s getting cloudy.
• The sun is shining. / It’s a bright and sunny day.
• It’s a bit chilly.
• Looks like rain. / It might rain soon.
• It’s clearing up. / The weather is improving.
• What’s the forecast? / What’s the weather?

Example sentences for practice

• The weather is sunny and warm today.
• It’s very windy, so hold onto your hat!
• The forecast says it will be rainy tomorrow.
• I love snowy days because I can build a snowman.
• It’s too hot to go outside right now.
• Is it foggy in the morning where you live?

Advanced weather vocabulary

• Overcast: Sky completely covered with thick clouds, often gray.
• Drizzle: Light, fine rain falling in small drops.
• Downpour: Sudden, heavy rain.
• Blizzard: Severe snowstorm with strong winds and low visibility.
• Torrential: Extremely heavy and intense rain.
• Gale: Very strong wind, often stormy.
• Muggy: Warm and uncomfortably humid.
• Frigid: Intensely cold, often below freezing.
• Swelter: Oppressively hot and uncomfortable.
• Temperate: Mild and consistent weather, not extreme.
• Squall: A sudden, violent gust of wind or brief storm.
• Hazy: Air obscured by dust, smoke, or heat waves.
• Deluge: A great flood or extremely heavy rain.
• Balmy: Pleasantly warm and mild, often soothing.

Advanced weather phenomena

• Precipitation: Any form of water falling from the sky (rain, snow, sleet, hail).
• Cumulonimbus clouds: Towering clouds associated with thunderstorms.
• Stratus clouds: Low, gray, layered clouds often bringing drizzling rain.
• Cirrus clouds: High, wispy clouds made of ice crystals.
• Barometric pressure: Air pressure affecting weather patterns (high or low).
• Front: Boundary between two air masses (e.g., cold front, warm front).
• Turbulence: Irregular air movements, often during storms.
• Dew point: The temperature at which air becomes saturated, forming dew or fog.
• Microburst: Sudden, powerful downdraft of air in a storm.
• Monsoon: A seasonal wind system bringing heavy rain, especially in Asia and parts of the western US.

More advanced weather phrases

• The skies are foreboding. / The clouds are coming together. There must be an approaching storm.
• A storm is brewing. / A storm is about to start.
• It’s unseasonably warm. / The temperature is unusual for the time of year.
• The air is saturated. / The humidity is really high.
• We’re in for a scorcher. / We’re expecting very hot weather.
• The barometer is dropping. / The air pressure is falling. (Signaling bad weather)
• It’s a blustery day. / This is some crazy windy weather.
• Visibility is severely reduced. (Fog, snow, or rain limits sight)
• The weather is quite unpredictable.
• We should have some calm, pleasant weather today.

Example sentences for practice

• The torrential downpour flooded the streets within minutes.
• This muggy weather makes it hard to stay comfortable outdoors.
• A cold front is moving in, bringing frigid temperatures by tonight.
• The cirrus clouds high above indicate fair weather for now.
• We experienced a sudden squall while hiking in the mountains.
• The forecast warns of a potential blizzard this weekend.
• The balmy evening was perfect for a stroll by the lake.
• Low barometric pressure suggests stormy conditions are imminent.

Idiomatic weather expressions

• Under the weather = Feeling unwell or low-energy (e.g., “I’m feeling under the weather today.”).
• Every cloud has a silver lining = A positive aspect in a bad situation.
• Raining cats and dogs = Very heavy rain.
• A storm in a teacup = Overreacting to a minor issue.
• Calm before the storm = Quiet period before trouble or chaos.
• Chasing rainbows = Pursuing unrealistic goals.