Talking about Weather: English Vocabulary List

a period in the summer during which wind blows and rain falls in India or other hot South Asian countries

"The monsoon brought heavy rain that flooded the streets for days."

"A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind bringing torrential rainfall to South and Southeast Asia"

the tiny water drops that form on cool surfaces during the night, caused by condensation

"There is morning dew."

"The delicate spiderweb glistened with tiny droplets of morning dew, catching the first rays of sunlight."

a device used to measure the speed and direction of the wind

"The anemometer measures wind speed."

"The meteorologist used an anemometer to measure the wind speed during the approaching storm."

(in meteorology) a line on a map or chart connecting points that have the same atmospheric pressure at a given moment

"The isobar shows pressure."

"Meteorologists use the isobar to identify areas of high and low atmospheric pressure on weather maps."

a scale devised to estimate wind speeds based on the observed effects of the wind on the sea surface and land features

"The Beaufort scale measures wind from calm to a violent hurricane."

"The Beaufort scale is an empirical measure of wind intensity based on observed sea conditions"

a small amount of rain, snow, etc. that moves in a quick and stormy way and lasts only for a short period of time

"A flurry of snow fell gently."

"The sudden flurry of snow only lasted a few minutes but left a thin white layer on the sidewalks and car roofs before melting in the afternoon sun."

frozen raindrops or partially melted snowflakes that fall as ice pellets

"The sleet bounced off the window and made a tapping sound."

"Sleet is a type of winter precipitation consisting of small ice pellets that form when raindrops freeze before hitting the ground"

a meteorological phenomenon characterized by a dense, widespread snowfall that significantly reduces visibility, often resulting in a featureless landscape

"Complete whiteout on the road."

"The sudden whiteout conditions made it impossible to see the road ahead, forcing the driver to pull over."

a drastic and sudden rush of wind

"A strong gust of wind blew his hat off."

"A powerful gust knocked over the chairs and tables set up outside the seaside café."

partially melted snow or ice, often forming a wet and muddy mixture

"The snow turned to dirty slush on the busy city road."

"Slush is a partially melted mixture of snow and water that forms on roads after heavy snowfall"

a sudden, intense, and brief storm characterized by strong winds and often accompanied by rain or snow

"A sudden squall hit the small boat out at sea."

"The fishermen rushed back to shore when a fierce squall appeared on the horizon."

a sudden and rapid flooding of a normally dry area, often caused by heavy rainfall or the sudden release of water

"The flash flood washed away the road."

"The sudden flash flood washed away cars and flooded basements after six inches of rain fell in less than two hours near the small town."

a sudden, intense appearance of sunlight, often breaking through clouds and creating a radiant and vivid effect in the sky

"A beautiful sunburst broke through the dark clouds after the rain."

"A sunburst is a sudden appearance of sunlight through an opening in the clouds"

a weather phenomenon with an extensive circulation of winds around a central region of high barometric pressure that is connected with calm and fine weather

"An anticyclone means calm."

"An anticyclone settled over the region, bringing clear skies and dry weather for the entire week."

a strong, noisy, and gusty wind, often accompanied by turbulent

"The bluster of the wind made it hard to walk straight."

"The politician's bluster was just loud, empty talk without any real substance."

pleasantly warm, mild, and soothing

"The evening is balmy."

"The balmy evening was perfect for a walk on the beach and they stayed out until the stars appeared in the sky."