Severe Weather

Dangerous weather can include thunderstorms, lightning, tornadoes and winter storms. Stay alert to weather conditions and seek shelter if threatening weather approaches.

Weather advisories

• A watch means conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather. Monitor the situation closely if the weather deteriorates.

• A warning means severe weather has actually been observed and is imminent. Seek shelter immediately.

Weather warnings

Tornado warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when a tornado is approaching the area..

You should tune to local television or radio stations for the latest information about approaching severe weather.

Severe weather tips

• Have a good flashlight on hand.

• In a thunderstorm, no place outside is safe. A substantially constructed building offers the best protection.

• Stay away from telephones, electrical appliances and plumbing.

• If you hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Find safe shelter immediately.

Winter weather

A winter storm in some areas can last for several days and disrupt utilities and other services.

Plan for the worst and have adequate clothing, food and water ready before it is needed.

Driving in winter weather is particularly treacherous in the Upstate where there is little snow-removal equipment available. Stay off the roads as much as possible.

Exercises

1. Vocabulary

1. Translate from English into Russian.

Severe weather; a warning means; a watch means conditions are favorable for; be struck by lightning; disrupt utilities; driving in winter weather; have a good flashlight on hand; have adequate clothing, food and water ready; monitor the situation closely; National Weather Service; seek shelter; severe weather has been observed and is imminent; snow-removal equipment; stay alert to weather conditions; stay away from electrical appliances and plumbing; stay off the roads; substantially constructed building; the best protection; the weather deteriorates; threatening weather approaches; treacherous in the Upstate; tune to local television or radio stations; weather advisories; weather can include thunderstorms, lightning, tornadoes and winter storms; weather tips.

2. Write words that have an opposite meaning to the given below.

1. amenable, compromising, easy-going, friendly, willing;

2. build, construct, develop, get better, improve;

3. bad, disagreeable, unfavorable, unfriendly;

4. distant, doubtful, far, future, later;

5. insignificantly, slightly;

6. ignore, miss, overlook;

3. Write words that have a similar meaning to the given below.

1. caution, notice; 

2. premonition; prediction; 

3. assurance, defense, salvation;

4. apartment, asylum, cave;

5. be on alert;

6. betraying, catchy, deceitful, deceptive;

4. Match the words from the column one with the words from the column two. Translate the word combinations.

1. severe

2. adequate

3. close

4. constructed

5. electrical

6. flashlight

7. local

8. National Weather

9. radio

10. snow

11. stay

12. to be

13. weather

14. weather

15. winter

1. storm

2. -removal

3. stations

4. television

5. on hand

6. appliances

7. to

8. clothing

9. building

10. off

11. struck

12. advisory

13. conditions

14. weather

15. service

5. Дайте определение понятию.

1. electrical discharge;

2. lantern;

3. edible material;

4. visual and audio entertainment transmitted via radio waves;

5. communication by electronic air waves;

6. Make up sentences with the words and word-combinations given below:

Severe weather; adequate clothing; local television; plumbing; radio stations; shelter; snow-removal; thunderstorm; tornadoes; warning; watch; weather advisory; winter storm

2. Text

1. Answer the questions:

What kinds of severe weather can you name?

What to do in case of severe weather?

2. What cases of severe weather can you name?

Let’s watch an educational film. You will watch the movie and discuss what to do in a case of tornadoes.

Video “Tornado safety”

3. Read the text.

4. Translate the text.

5. Walk and talk.

a) Discuss the questions below with a partner and answer as many as you can.

1. What kinds can dangerous weather include?

2. In what case should you seek a shelter?

3. What is a watch?

4. What to do in case of a watch?

5. What is a warning?

6. What to do in case of a warning?

7. By what organization and when are tornado warnings issued?

8. What should you do in case of tornado warning?

9. Where should you go in case of thunderstorm?

10. Why do you need a good flashlight on hand?

11. Why should you stay away from telephones, electrical appliances and plumbing?

12. When should you find safe shelter immediately?

13. What damages can a winter storm cause?

14. What must you have in your emergency kit?

15. In what areas driving in winter weather is dangerous?

b) Walk around the class, asking and answering the questions with as many people as possible.