Talking About the Weather in Intermediate English: Beyond Hot and Cold
INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH • EVERYDAY VOCABULARY
You can already say “It’s hot” and “It’s raining”. Now learn how to describe the weather in more detail, ask about the forecast and make small talk in English. This guide includes useful weather vocabulary, two examples for each teaching point, a weather idiom and a short practice activity.
Download this PDF for a quick guide, or continue reading for a more detailed explanation.
1. How to ask about the weather and forecast
A forecast tells us what the weather is expected to be like. Use these questions when making plans.
Ask about the forecast
“What’s the forecast for tomorrow?” “It’s supposed to be sunny.”
“What’s the forecast for the weekend?” “We’re expecting some rain.”
Ask whether the weather will change
“Do you think it’ll clear up later?” “Yes, the sun should come out this afternoon.”
“Do you think it’ll stop raining soon?” “I hope so. I’d like to go for a walk.”
Ask about the usual weather
“What’s the weather usually like there in December?” “It’s generally cold and wet.”
“Does it rain much there in summer?” “Yes, we often get afternoon showers.”
💡 “It’s supposed to…” means this is what is expected. It isn’t a guarantee.
“It’s supposed to rain tonight, so bring an umbrella.” “It’s supposed to warm up tomorrow, so we might go to the beach.”
2. Describe the weather more precisely
Temperature, wind and sky
These words help you explain how the weather feels. Boiling and freezing are often used informally to mean very hot and very cold.
Word + meaning | Two examples |
|---|---|
🧣 Chilly A little cold, often uncomfortably so. | It’s a bit chilly. I’ll get my jacket. The evenings are still chilly here. |
❄️ Freezing Very cold in everyday conversation. | It’s freezing outside! I’m freezing. Can we go indoors? |
🔥 Boiling Very hot in informal British English. | It’s boiling today. Let’s sit in the shade. I’m boiling in this jumper. |
💧 Humid The air contains a lot of moisture; in warm weather, it can feel sticky. | It’s hot and humid today. I find it hard to sleep when it’s humid. |
🍃 Breezy There is a light or moderate wind. | It’s breezy by the sea. It’s a warm, breezy afternoon. |
☁️ Overcast The sky is covered with clouds. | It’s overcast this morning. The sky stayed overcast all day. |
💡 Freezing can mean very cold without the temperature being below 0°C. Boiling is an exaggeration here; it does not mean the air is at boiling point.
Different kinds of rain
Word or phrase | Two examples |
|---|---|
🌦️ Drizzle Very light rain with small drops. We often say “It’s drizzling.” | It’s drizzling, but we can still go for a walk. There was a little drizzle this morning. |
🌦️ Showers Periods of rain that start and stop. They can be light or heavy. | We’re expecting a few showers this afternoon. There was a heavy shower just after lunch. |
🌧️ Heavy rain A lot of rain falling strongly. | Heavy rain is expected tonight. We stayed indoors because of the heavy rain. |
☔ It’s pouring! It’s raining heavily. Common in everyday conversation. | It’s pouring! Let’s wait inside. It poured all afternoon, so we cancelled the picnic. |
💡 Drizzle and heavy rain tell us how light or strong the rain is. Showers tells us it falls in separate periods.
3. Talk about changing weather and make small talk
When the weather changes
Useful phrase | Two examples |
|---|---|
Warming up Becoming warmer. | It’s warming up. We won’t need our coats. It usually warms up by midday. |
Cooling down Becoming cooler. | It’s cooling down. Let’s go for a walk. It should cool down after sunset. |
Clearing up The weather is improving: clouds or rain are going away. | It’s clearing up. I can see some blue sky. It rained this morning, but it cleared up after lunch. |
Looks like rain The sky suggests it may rain soon. | It looks like rain. Take an umbrella. Those clouds are dark. It looks like rain. |
Start a short conversation
A comment about the weather is a simple way to start a conversation. These mini conversations show how to keep it going.
“Lovely day, isn’t it?” “Yes! It’s nice to see some sunshine.”
“It’s a bit chilly for October, isn’t it?” “It is. I wish I’d brought a warmer coat.”
Talk about your plans
Use “I hope it stays…” when you want the weather to continue without changing.
“I hope it stays dry. We’re having a picnic.” “Me too. The forecast looks good.”
“I hope it stays sunny for our walk.” “So do I. It’s lovely outside.”
4. A weather idiom: come rain or shine
COME RAIN OR SHINE = WHATEVER HAPPENS
Use this idiom to say that something will happen regardless of the weather or any difficulties. It can describe a regular habit or a promise.
“She walks the dog every morning, come rain or shine.” “She does it whatever the weather is like.”
“You can count on me, come rain or shine.” “I’ll support you whatever happens.”
5. Try it yourself
Forecast vs reality
The forecast isn’t always right! Complete each sentence using the clues.
1. The forecast said sunshine, but… [heavy rain all afternoon] 2. The forecast said rain, but… [blue sky after lunch]
Make the description more precise
Replace the words in brackets with a word or phrase from this guide.
1. It’s [a little cold]. I think I’ll wear a jacket. 2. It’s [raining very heavily]. Let’s wait before we leave.
Your weather story
Answer aloud or write a few sentences. Try to use at least two phrases from this guide.
1. When did the weather last change your plans? 2. What was the forecast, and what actually happened?
Example 1: “We planned a picnic because it was supposed to be sunny. By lunchtime, it was pouring, so we ate at home.”
Example 2: “The forecast said rain, so we planned to stay indoors. It cleared up after lunch, and we went for a walk.”
Check your answers
Forecast vs reality — suggested answers: 1. The forecast said sunshine, but it poured all afternoon. 2. The forecast said rain, but it cleared up after lunch.
More precise descriptions: 1. It’s chilly. I think I’ll wear a jacket. 2. It’s pouring. Let’s wait before we leave.
