Vocabulary

cloudy adj.:

a cloudy sky / day

cloud n. Note: the noun can be used both as countable and uncountable: Dark clouds massed on the horizon. / There was so much cloud, that we couldn’t see anything. / There’s more cloud today than yesterday.

drizzle n.: Tomorrow will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle.

Compare: rain – drops of water from clouds

drizzle – rain in very small light drops

shower – a fall of rain (or snow) lasting a short time: Scattered showers are expected this afternoon.

downpour – a heavy fall of rain

If it is raining very heavily we say it is pouring, but if it is raining very lightly we say it is drizzling.

drizzle v.: It’s been drizzling all day.

drizzly adj.:

a drizzly afternoon

patchy adj.: Southeast England will start with some patchy rain at first.

patchy drizzle / rain / cloud

spell n. (= period): The weather forecast is for dry, sunny spells.

a spell of dry weather

breeze n. (= wind): She let the gentle breeze cool her face.

breezy adj.: It was a sunny, breezy day (= one with quite strong but pleasant winds), just right for sailing.

Compare: wind, breeze, gust, gale

Wind is a general word for a moving current of air. A breeze is usually a pleasant, gentle wind. A gust is a strong, sudden rush of air: A gust of wind blew the door shut. A gale is a very strong wind: Our chimney was blown down in a gale.

variable adj. (= likely to change frequently): British weather is perhaps at its most variable in the spring. / The winds today will be light and variable.

westerly adj. 1) (= from the west): Westerly winds are winds from the west.

2) (= towards the west): We travelled in a westerly direction.

southerly, northerly, northeasterly, etc.

humid adj.:

a humid day / climate

Compare: damp, humid, and moist

Damp is often used in a bad sense: I can’t wear these socks: they are damp. Moist is used especially of food and parts of the body, and often has a good sense (= not too dry): a rich, moist cake / moist eyes / lips. Humid is a more scientific word usually used of climate or weather: It was hot and humid in the jungle.

clear v.: After the storm the sky cleared. / The sky is clearing.

outlook n. (= the likely future situation): The outlook for today is cloudy and dry at first with showers later.

Word combinations

patchy drizzle / rain

isolated showers

sunny / bright spells

variable cloud

moderate winds

fresh winds

Exercises

1. Comprehension. Decide whether these statements are true or false, according to the forecast:

1. The weather on the territory of Scotland will be dry and warm.

2. Wales won’t see the sun the whole day.

3. The East will stay dry and sunny.

4. Strong winds will sweep South Wales.

5. The maximum temperature in the Lake District is 19 degrees Celsius.

6. Fresh easterly winds are expected in Central Highlands.

7. There will be rain in Northern Ireland in the morning.

8. Glasgow Area will be fairly wet.

9. The Orkney Islands will face rather gloomy weather with some spells of sunshine.

10. The Republic of Ireland will be captured by constant rain in place.