Reading/ Vocabulary - What's the weather like?

What would we talk about if it wasn't for the weather? I've always found that students love lessons on this topic and you can introduce them to a wealth of vocab and phrases.

So what have we got? For starters a compilation of articles about recent extreme weather around the world, taken from AFP, The Australian, The Guardian and the BBC. Comprehension questions follow.

Then there's the all important vocabulary...

...which you can test with the gap-fill at the bottom of the posting

Always take the weather with you...

Reading - Extreme Weather Articles

1. Cyclone Laurence lashes western Australia/ Raging bushfire in South Australia


SYDNEY — Tropical Cyclone Laurence ripped up trees and damaged buildings as winds of up to 215 kilometres (133 miles) an hour tore into the Western Australian coast, according to officials.

The storm had been at the highest rating of Category 5 when it smashed inland late Monday, battering the small communities of Eighty Mile Beach and Wallal in the resource-rich Pilbara and Kimberley region.

Sarah Edmunds, who lives on a cattle station south of the coastal resort town of Broome, described the overnight storm as "nerve-racking".

Bushfire

Chaotic scenes have erupted on the roads as residents battle to escape the approaching fire and sightseers clog the highway against advice from the Country Fire Service.

The fire has already burnt 509 hectareas of land, strengthened by 43 degree temperatures and strong winds.

The Country Fire Service (CFS) said there were unconfirmed reports that one house and one shed had been destroyed.

It said the fire was travelling in a southeasterly direction and warned local residents still in the area to stay inside their homes.

CFS crews are on standby across South Australia, facing hot, windy conditions with possible lightening before a trough from Tropical Cyclone Laurence moves through this evening, generating isolated showers and thunderstorms.

2. European weather deaths pass 100

More than 100 people have been killed in the cold snap across Europe, with temperatures plummeting and snowfall causing chaos from Moscow to Milan.

In Poland, where temperatures have dropped to as low as -20C in some areas, police appealed for tip-offs about people spotted lying around outside. At least 42 people, most of them homeless, died over the weekend.

In Ukraine 27 people have frozen to death since the thermometer dropped last week. In Germany, where temperatures have fallen to -33C in certain parts, at least seven people are known to have lost their lives in the freezing weather.

For millions of others across the continent, the cold snap has brought severe disruption, with flight cancellations and traffic jams thwarting pre-Christmas travel plans.

Airports were struggling to cope with icy runways, with Ryanair and Easyjet among several airlines to cancel some flights.

Roads were not exempt from the chaos. After a weekend that brought the heaviest snowfall in about 100 years, Moscow was gridlocked, with tailbacks snailing around the Russian capital.

Heavy snow and icy roads are causing chaos across most of the UK, where Met Office severe weather warnings are in place as the "deep freeze" continues.

Thames Valley Police said abandoned cars were causing an obstruction in the High Wycombe area.

All vehicles left on motorways overnight had been removed and owners must pay to get them back, the force said.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. Why did Sarah Edmunds describe the cyclone as 'nerve-racking'?
2. What was the advice given by the Country Fire Service? Did people follow the advice?
3. Were the house and shed destroyed?
4. What have been the main consequences of the cold weather in Europe?
5. Why are the police appealing for 'tip-offs' in Poland?
6. Why do people need to pay to get their cars back in the UK?

Language analysis

1. Identify 3 verbs in the first text that describe the destruction of Cyclone Laurence
2. Identify 3 different ways of describing cold weather in the second text

Language Analysis Answers

1. lash/ rip/ damage/ tear/ smash/ batter
2. cold snap/ temperatures plummeting/ temperatures have dropped/ thermometer dropped/ temperatures have fallen/ deep freeze

Weather exercises - gap-fill for students

Use the following word and phrases to fill in the gaps (sometimes more than one answer is possible)

wintry
snowfall
biting
snowstorms
blizzards
sub-zero
cold snap
icy
freezing
white stuff
plummet

The Big Chill continues in Europe, with __________ temperatures and heavy __________.

The __________ temperatures and _________ conditions are causing chaos for people trying to get to work.

Many trains have been cancelled and buses are struggling to negotiate the ______ roads.

Weather forecasters are warning that the _________ will continue with further ____________ and ___________.

Tonight temperatures are set to ________ once again with ________winds.

But some people are enjoying the ___________. For children it means time off school and sledging and snowball fights.

Use the following word and phrases to fill in the gaps (sometimes more than one answer is possible)

umbrellas
heavens
drenched
claps
torrential
showers
thunderstorm
flashes
soaking
floods
rainfall

The _________ opened in Buenos Aires today as the city witnessed some of the heaviest _________ for years. Flash _________ were witnessed all over the city.

The ________ rain meant sales of __________ were booming, as people desperately tried to avoid getting ____________.

One ___________ wet woman described the scene as being like a 'monsoon'.

There were also reports of __________ of lightning and _______ of thunder during the ___________. Thankfully the forecast for tomorrow is for ____________ rather than more heavy rain.

Use the following word and phrases to fill in the gaps (sometimes more than one answer is possible)

sweltering
air-con
roasting
humid
milder
cool down
heatwave
burnt
beating down
hottest
sunbathers

Sydney is currently experiencing one of the ____________ summers in living memory.

The __________ conditions mean that people are staying indoors with the __________ turned to the highest setting.

The ___________shows no signs of abating and the situation on public transport has been described as 'unbearable'.

On the beaches the sun was __________ on the brave _____________, who were trying not to get _________

One resident of the city commented, 'It's absolutely __________...boiling hot every day and it doesn't even ______________ at night. We are all praying for some _________, less _________weather.'


Weather Exercises - Full texts

The Big Chill continues in Europe, with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.

The sub-zero temperatures and wintry conditions are causing chaos for people trying to get to work.

Many trains have been cancelled and buses are struggling to negotiate the icy roads.

Weather forecasters are warning that the cold snap will continue with further snowstorms or blizzards.

Tonight temperatures are set to plummet once again with biting winds.

But some people are enjoying the white stuff. For children it means time off school and sledging and snowball fights.


The heavens opened in Buenos Aires today as the city witnessed some of the heaviest rainfall for years. Flash floods were witnessed all over the city.

The torrential rain meant sales of umbrellas were booming, as people desperately tried to avoid getting drenched.

One soaking wet woman described the scene as being like a 'monsoon'.

There were also reports of flashes of lightning and claps of thunder during the thunderstorm. Thankfully the forecast for tomorrow is for showers rather than heavy rain.


Sydney is currently experiencing one of the hottest summers in living memory.

The sweltering weather means that people are staying indoors with the air-con turned to the highest setting.

The heatwave shows no signs of abating and conditions on public transport have been described as 'unbearable'.

One resident of the city commented, 'It's absolutely roasting...boiling hot every day and it doesn't even cool down at night. We are all praying for some milder, less humid weather.'


The Weather

Vocabulary and phrases

Hot/ Sunny

Mild
Humid
Warm
Boiling (hot)
Roasting
Searing
Scorching
Scorcher
Sweltering
The sun's shining
The sun's beating down

Cold/ Snow

Frost
Snow
Snowstorm
Snowfall
White stuff
Blizzard
Hailstone
Sub-zero temperatures
Below freezing
Chilly
Freezing (cold)
Wintry conditions
Temperatures plummeting/ dropping
Thermometer plummeting/ dropping
Cold Snap
The deep/ big freeze
The big chill

Wind

Light/ strong/ biting/ swirling wind
Blustery
Breeze
Gale
Hurricane
Tornado
Cyclone
Twister
It's blowing a gale
I got blown off my feet

Rain/ storms

(Light/ heavy) shower
Sunshine and showers
Drizzle
Torrential rain
Monsoon
Pouring down
Pissing down
Chucking it down
Hammering down
Raining cats and dogs
The heavens opened
Thunderstorm
Electrical storm
Lightning (flash/ bolt)
Thunder (clap)

General conditions

Bright
Clear
Cloudy
Overcast
Dull
Fog
Smog
Mist