Weather Terms

Video and Vocabulary Activity

PART 1-Prince Charles reads the BBC Scotland weather forecast

Watch the clip and answer the questions below.

1.10 minutes

Questions

1.It will be cold wet and windy. Where and when? 

2.Is there high, average or low pressure in the atmosphere? 

3.What will the weather be like around Edinburgh?

4.Where will the rain be lighter?

5.What weather conditions are expected for the Highlands?

6.Where will the weather be drier and brighter?

7.What will the day be like everywhere? What will be the average temperature?

8.What season do you think it is?

PART 2-Match the two columns to complete the definitions and explanations of weather terminology. Other combinations are possible but you have to match all the sentences.

1.A drizzle is ...	a.You can’t see the road ahead.
2.A heat wave is an extended interval of...	b.abnormally hot and usually humid weather
3.When there’s hail you can see...	c.rain
4.Showers are...	d.Ice crystals on things exposed to the air.
5.When the forecast says it will sleet, you can expect...	e.Soaking wet
6.If the forecast says there will be solid skies...	f.Rain which freezes before reaching the ground.
7.When there’s fog...	g.light rain
8.If there’s frost you can see...	h.a severe snowstorm with strong winds
9.When the forecast says it is overcast, it's ...	i.Your umbrella may break.
10.On a blustery day...	j.cloudy
11.Strong gusts means...	k.freezing cold
12.If you are caught in a downpour without an umbrella you’ll get...	l.You can sunbathe.
13.The opposite of a scorching hot or a boiling day is ...	m.Strong wind
14.If you are outside in a blizzard you will find...	n.ice balls or rocks

A Note on WILL & BE GOING TO for Predictions Weather forecasters use "will" mostly, because that is how we normally make predictions in English. For example: It will be a sunny day today. Or, if the heavy rain continues, we will have floods in the east. However, if the speaker is very sure, his/her prediction turns more into a certainty. "Be going to" is often used when we can see some form of evidence. If the sky is full of black clouds, you're more likely to say, "It's going to rain," because it's almost certain. Nowadays with satellites and other technology available, weather reporters often feel confident to use “be going to”.

Answers here!