meteorology
/ˌmiːtiəˈrɑlədʒi/
noun
a field of science that deals with the earth's atmosphere, particularly weather forecasting
"Meteorology helps us understand and predict the weather for the coming days."
"Thanks to advances in meteorology, scientists can now predict storms and extreme weather events more accurately."
drift
/drɪft/
verb
to slowly move in the air or on water
"The boat drifts slowly down the river."
"The small boat began to drift away from the shore because nobody had tied it securely to the dock."
changeability
/ˌʧeɪndʒəˈbɪlɪti/
noun
the likeliness or quality of changing suddenly and frequently
"Changeability can be useful."
"The constant changeability of the weather made it difficult for us to plan our outdoor activities."
downpour
/ˈdaʊnpɔr/
noun
a brief heavy rainfall
"We got caught in a sudden downpour and were soaked within seconds."
"A sudden downpour started just as we left the house, so we had to go back."
gale
/ɡeɪl/
noun
a very powerful wind
"The gale knocked down trees."
"A gale is a very strong wind"
puddle
/ˈpʌdəl/
noun
a small pool of water or other liquid, particularly rainwater
"The child jumped into the puddle and splashed water everywhere."
"The child jumped into the puddle and splashed muddy water all over his new trousers and shoes."
snowdrift
/ˈsnoʊˌdrɪft/
noun
a mass of deep snow piled up by the wind
"A snowdrift blocked the road"
"A large snowdrift completely blocked the narrow mountain road after the severe winter storm"
vapor
/ˈveɪpɚ/
noun
extremely small drops of liquid in the air, resulted from the heating of the liquid
"The vapor rose quickly"
"The vapor rose quickly from the hot surface of the boiling water in the kitchen"
thundercloud
/ˈθʌndɚˌklaʊd/
noun
a very large dark cloud that produces thunder and lightning
"A thundercloud appeared"
"The thundercloud formed rapidly over the valley before the intense lightning storm began"
whirlwind
/ˈwɝːlˌwɪnd/
noun
a very strong wind that spins and moves quickly, damaging everything in its path
"A whirlwind struck suddenly"
"A powerful whirlwind struck suddenly and lifted dust and small objects across the field"
cloudburst
/ˈklaʊdˌbɝːst/
noun
a sudden and heavy rainfall
"A cloudburst flooded streets"
"A sudden cloudburst flooded streets and overwhelmed drainage systems within minutes of rainfall"
breezy
/ˈbriːzi/
adjective
having a gentle, refreshing wind
"The weather is breezy."
"The breezy weather made it perfect for flying kites so the children ran to the park with their toys."
climatic
/klaɪˈmætɪk/
adjective
related to the weather of a specific area
"These are climatic conditions."
"The climatic conditions in the desert are extreme with very hot days and surprisingly cold nights throughout the year."
extreme
/ɛkˈstɹim/
adjective
very high in intensity or degree
"The weather is extreme."
"The extreme weather conditions forced the mountain climbers to turn back just before they reached the summit of the highest peak."
gloomy
/ˈɡlumi/
adjective
experiencing or expressing sadness or a general sense of unhappiness
"The mood is gloomy."
"The gloomy weather matched his mood as he sat alone by the window watching the rain fall."
glorious
/ˈɡlɔriəs/
adjective
exceptionally beautiful or splendid, often inspiring awe or admiration
"It was a glorious day."
"It was a glorious sunny day so we decided to pack a picnic and go hiking."
misty
/ˈmɪsti/
adjective
having a cover of mist that creates a soft, blurred look
"The morning is misty."
"The misty morning made driving difficult so she turned on her headlights and drove slowly through the foggy streets."
temperate
/ˈtɛmpɚət/
adjective
(of a region or climate) having a temperature that is never very cold or very hot
"The climate is temperate."
"The coastal city has a temperate climate with mild winters and warm summers so many retirees choose to live there after they stop working."
unpredictable
/ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbəl/
adjective
unable to be predicted because of changing many times
"The weather is unpredictable."
"The weather in spring is highly unpredictable so you should always carry an umbrella and a jacket with you."
atmospheric pressure
/ˌætməˈsfɛrɪk ˈprɛʃɚ/
noun
the force exerted on the surface of the earth that is a result of the weight of the atmosphere
"Atmospheric pressure affects weather."
"Atmospheric pressure decreases as you climb higher making it harder to breathe on mountains."
scorching
/ˈskɔrʧɪŋ/
adjective
(of weather or temperature) extremely hot, causing intense heat and discomfort
"The sun is scorching."
"The scorching heat of the summer sun made everyone rush to the beach to cool off in the water."
hazy
/ˈheɪzi/
adjective
(of air) difficult to see through because of heat, mist, or dust
"The sky is hazy."
"The hazy sky was caused by wildfire smoke that drifted from hundreds of miles away and settled over the region."
thunderclap
/ˈθʌndɚˌklæp/
noun
one single sound heard when thunder strikes
"A loud thunderclap scared me."
"The sudden thunderclap echoed through the valley and made everyone jump in surprise."
scorching hot
/ˈskɔrʧɪŋ hɑt/
phrase
(of temperature or weather) extremely high in degree
"The weather is scorching hot."
"The weather was scorching hot so we decided to stay inside with the air conditioning all day."
freezing cold
/ˈfriːzɪŋ koʊld/
phrase
having an extremely low temperature
"My hands are freezing cold."
"It was freezing cold outside so I wore my warmest coat and a thick scarf."
famine
/ˈfæmɪn/
noun
a situation where there is not enough food that causes hunger and death
"Famine causes many deaths yearly."
"A man-made famine is a catastrophic food crisis caused directly by political decisions"
clear up
/klɪr ʌp/
verb
(of weather) to become free of clouds, rain, or storms
"The sky will clear up."
"We are hoping the storm clouds will clear up by tomorrow so we can have our picnic outside."
visibility
/ˌvɪzəˈbɪlɪti/
noun
the distance that is possible or clear for one to see, particularly because of the weather conditions
"Visibility was low today"
"Visibility dropped sharply due to dense morning fog over the entire coastal region"
soak
/soʊk/
verb
to make someone or something extremely wet
"Soak the beans overnight before cooking."
"You need to soak the dried beans in water overnight before cooking them to make them soft and easy to digest."
front
/frʌnt/
noun
the point where two air masses of different temperatures meet
"A cold front is coming."
"Meteorologists are closely monitoring the approaching cold front, which is expected to bring significant temperature drops."
torrent
/ˈtɔrənt/
noun
a powerful stream of water or other liquid that moves very fast
"The torrent was strong"
"The torrent of water rushed down the mountain slope after continuous heavy rainfall"
baking
/ˈbeɪkɪŋ/
adjective
having an intense level of heat that is often uncomfortable
"The sun is baking."
"The baking cookies in the oven made the whole kitchen smell like vanilla and butter and sugar and love."
dense
/dɛns/
adjective
thick and difficult to see through, often used to describe fog or smoke
"The fog is dense."
"The dense fog on the motorway significantly reduced visibility for all drivers."
dull
/dəl/
adjective
(of weather or sky) overcast, cloudy, or lacking brightness
"The sky is dull today."
"The persistent dull weather made everyone feel rather lethargic and uninspired."
favorable
/ˈfeɪvɚəbəl/
adjective
(of winds) blowing in the direction that aids movement or travel
"The weather is favorable."
"The favorable weather forecast encouraged us to plan an outdoor picnic for Saturday afternoon in the park."
gloomy
/ˈglumi/
adjective
(of weather) dark in a way that is depressing
"It was a gloomy day."
"The gloomy atmosphere of the old house contributed to the protagonist's growing sense of dread."
glorious
/ˈglɔriəs/
adjective
(of weather) hot and sunny
"The weather was glorious."
"After weeks of rain, the glorious sunshine finally broke through, lifting everyone's spirits."
thaw
/θɔ/
verb
to become softer or liquid
"The ice will thaw."
"We need to let the frozen pipes thaw completely before turning the water back on."