Daily English Day 3: Talking About the Weather

Talking about the weather is one of the most common and natural ways to start a conversation in English. Whether you are meeting someone for the first time, filling silence in a conversation, or just being polite, weather is a universal topic that everyone can relate to. In this lesson, we will explore useful weather-related vocabulary, simple sentence patterns, and common expressions you can use in daily life. By the end of this lesson, you will feel confident starting and continuing conversations about the weather.

Why Talk About the Weather?

Weather talk is not only about sunshine, rain, or storms—it is also about connection. In English-speaking cultures, people often use weather as “small talk.” Small talk is light conversation that helps people feel comfortable before moving to deeper or more serious topics. For example:

• At a bus stop: “It’s so hot today, isn’t it?”

• In an elevator: “Looks like it’s going to rain later.”

• Meeting a new colleague: “Beautiful weather we’re having this week.”

These short comments make communication friendly and polite.

Essential Weather Vocabulary

Here are some useful words to describe different weather conditions.

• Sunny – The sun is shining.

• Cloudy – The sky is full of clouds.

• Rainy – It is raining.

• Stormy – There is strong wind, rain, and thunder.

• Windy – The wind is blowing.

• Snowy – It is snowing.

• Hot / Warm – High temperature.

• Cold / Cool – Low temperature.

• Humid – Wet air, often uncomfortable.

• Foggy – The air is filled with fog, hard to see.

Learning these words helps you quickly describe what you see outside.

Basic Sentence Patterns

When talking about the weather, English speakers use simple sentence structures:

1. It is + adjective.

   • It is sunny.

   • It is cold today.

2. It is + verb-ing.

   • It is raining.

   • It is snowing.

3. There is / There are + noun.

   • There is a strong wind.

   • There are dark clouds.

4. Questions about the weather.

   • What’s the weather like today?

   • Is it going to rain tomorrow?

By practicing these patterns, you can easily create many sentences.

Common Weather Expressions

Native speakers often use casual expressions when talking about weather. Here are some examples:

• “Lovely day, isn’t it?” – A polite way to start a conversation.

• “Looks like rain.” – A prediction based on the sky.

• “It’s freezing!” – Very cold.

• “It’s boiling!” – Very hot.

• “The sun is out.” – The weather is sunny.

• “A bit chilly.” – Slightly cold.

• “Under the weather.” – Not feeling well (not about real weather, but a common phrase).

Talking About Seasons

Weather also changes with the seasons. You can practice by describing each season:

• Spring: “It’s warm and flowers are blooming.”

• Summer: “It’s hot and sunny most of the time.”

• Autumn (or Fall): “The air is cool and the leaves are falling.”

• Winter: “It’s cold, and sometimes it snows.”

These phrases are useful for conversations about your country or comparing climates with other countries.

How to Ask About the Weather

When you want to know about the weather, you can ask:

• “What’s the weather like today?”

• “How’s the weather outside?”

• “Is it cold today?”

• “Do you think it will rain later?”

These questions are polite and natural.

Talking About Weather Forecasts

Forecasts are predictions about future weather. They are often used in conversation.

Examples:

• “The forecast says it will rain tomorrow.”

• “It looks like it’s going to be sunny this weekend.”

• “They say a typhoon is coming.”

Using forecasts helps you connect daily plans with the weather.

Role-Play Practice

Here are two short dialogues you can practice.

Dialogue 1
A: Good morning! Nice day today.
B: Yes, it’s sunny and warm. Perfect for a walk.
A: Do you think it will stay like this?
B: I hope so. The forecast looks good.

Dialogue 2
A: Wow, it’s really cold today!
B: Yes, freezing! I forgot my jacket.
A: Don’t worry, it should be warmer tomorrow.

Practicing short exchanges like this makes it easier to use in real life.

Cultural Tips

• In many English-speaking countries, weather is a “safe topic.” You can talk about it with strangers without being rude.

• People often exaggerate: “It’s boiling!” doesn’t mean water is boiling, but that it feels very hot.

• Smiling while making weather comments makes you sound friendlier.

Practice Exercise

1. Fill in the blanks:

   • It is ______ today. (sunny / rainy / windy)

   • There is ______ in the sky. (a rainbow / dark clouds)

   • What’s the weather like in your country in winter? ______.

2. Make a weather report for today in your city. Example:
   “Today it is cloudy with a chance of rain. The temperature is cool, and there is a little wind.”

3. Practice with a friend:

   • Ask each other: “What’s the weather like today?”

   • Answer using different adjectives.

Conclusion

Talking about the weather is one of the easiest and most useful English skills for beginners. With simple vocabulary like sunny, rainy, cold, hot, and sentence patterns such as “It is + adjective” or “What’s the weather like?”, you can start conversations with confidence. Remember, weather is not just about the sky—it is about creating friendly connections with people around you. Practice these expressions daily, and soon talking about the weather will feel natural and enjoyable.

What is the goal of “Talking About the Weather” for beginners?

The goal is to help you start friendly conversations in English using a universal topic. By learning basic vocabulary (sunny, rainy, windy), simple patterns (It’s + adjective, It’s + -ing, There is/are + noun), and polite questions (What’s the weather like?), you can open small talk, connect with people, and smoothly move to other subjects such as plans, commuting, or hobbies.

How do I ask about the current weather in a natural way?

Use short, friendly questions. Try these:

• What’s the weather like today?
• How’s the weather outside?
• Is it hot (cold) today?
• Does it look like rain?

Notice the casual contractions: What’s and How’s. These sound natural in everyday conversation. Add a follow-up to keep the talk going: “Do you have an umbrella?” or “Any plans if it clears up?”

What are simple ways to describe the weather?

Use the dummy subject it with adjectives or -ing verbs:

• It’s sunny/warm/humid/foggy.
• It’s raining/snowing/drizzling.

For things you can see, use there is/there are:

• There are dark clouds.
• There is a light breeze.

Combine time words for context: “It’s windy this afternoon.”

How do I talk about future weather or forecasts?

Use going to, will, or phrases like looks like and supposed to:

• It’s going to rain later.
• It will be sunny tomorrow.
• It looks like a storm is coming.
• It’s supposed to cool down on Friday.

Connect to plans: “If it rains, I’ll study at home.” / “If it’s clear, let’s have a picnic.”

What small-talk openers about weather sound polite and friendly?

Try positive or neutral comments plus a soft question tag:

• Lovely day, isn’t it?
• Pretty humid today, huh?
• Feels cooler than yesterday, doesn’t it?

Follow up with a question to continue: “Do you prefer summer or winter?” or “How was your commute in this rain?”

How can I compare weather between places or days?

Use comparatives and superlatives:

• Today is hotter than yesterday.
• This summer is the rainiest in years.
• The coast is cooler than the city at night.

Add reasons to sound natural: “It feels hotter because it’s more humid.”

How do I talk about temperature: Celsius vs. Fahrenheit?

State the unit clearly and keep it simple:

• It’s 30°C—pretty hot.
• It’s 68°F—nice and mild.

Useful ranges: “low 20s” (Celsius), “mid-70s” (Fahrenheit). Add how it feels: “It’s 28°C but feels like 33° because of the humidity.”

What key vocabulary should I remember for daily use?

Core adjectives: sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, stormy, foggy, humid, dry, chilly, freezing, boiling. Nouns: shower, drizzle, downpour, breeze, thunder, lightning, heatwave, cold front. Verbs: drizzle, pour, clear up, cool down, warm up. Keep a short personal list and recycle the words in your daily “mini weather report.”

What common mistakes should I avoid?

Avoid these frequent errors:

• For weather, use the dummy subject it, not the weather is in every sentence: “It’s raining.” (not “Raining is.”)
• Use uncountable/appropriate forms: “There is thunder.” (not “There are thunders.”)
• Keep tense consistent: if you describe now, use present: “It’s windy right now.”

How can I sound more natural with intensifiers and softeners?

Use adverbs to adjust tone:

• Strong: It’s really hot. / It’s absolutely freezing.
• Soft: It’s a bit chilly. / It’s kind of humid.

Combine with time and place: “It’s really windy by the waterfront this evening.”

Are there useful idioms and should I use them?

Yes—use simple, common ones:

• under the weather = feeling sick (not about real weather)
• a storm is brewing = trouble is coming
• on cloud nine = very happy

Use sparingly and check context: “I’m a bit under the weather, so I’ll stay in if it rains.”

What pronunciation tips help with weather words?

Focus on these:

• weather /ˈweð.ər/ vs. whether /ˈweð.ər/ (homophones—same sound; rely on context)
• temperature: TEM-pruh-cher (not “tem-per-a-ture” syllable by syllable)
• humid /ˈhjuː.mɪd/, humidity /hjuːˈmɪd.ə.ti/

Practice in short lines: “It’s humid today.” / “What’s the temperature?”

How do I politely agree or disagree about the weather?

Agreeing:

• I know, right? It’s so hot.
• Absolutely—beautiful breeze today.

Soft disagreeing (very important in small talk):

• Really? I actually find it pretty comfortable.
• Hmm, it feels a bit chilly to me.

Use gentle language to keep the tone friendly.

Can you give short practice dialogues I can repeat aloud?

At the bus stop
A: Nice day, isn’t it?
B: Yeah, it’s warm but not too hot.
A: Do you think it’ll stay sunny?
B: Hopefully! The forecast looks good.

Before a meeting
A: It’s pouring out there.
B: I know—glad I brought an umbrella.
A: Same here. Maybe it’ll clear up after lunch.

How can I give a mini weather report about my city?

Use this template and fill in details:

“This morning it’s [sunny/cloudy/windy] with [light/heavy] [rain/drizzle]. The temperature is around [number + unit], and it feels [adjective] because of the [humidity/wind]. Later, it’s going to [clear up/rain more/cool down]. I’ll probably [indoor/outdoor plan] if it [condition].”

Read it aloud daily to build fluency and automatic phrasing.

What cultural tips should I remember when using weather small talk?

Weather is a safe, polite opener in many places. Keep it positive or neutral, avoid complaining too much, and show interest in the other person’s experience: “How was your commute in this rain?” Use it as a bridge to new topics—transport, weekend plans, sports, or local events.

How do I move from weather to a deeper conversation?

Ask a related, open question:

• Do you prefer hot or cold weather?
• What’s your favorite season and why?
• Any plans if the weather stays nice this weekend?

Share a short personal detail to invite connection: “I like cool mornings for running.”

What quick exercises can I do to improve daily?

1. One-minute report: Describe today’s weather out loud.
2. Swap adjectives: Rewrite one line three ways: “It’s a bit chilly / pretty cold / absolutely freezing.”
3. Forecast chain: Make two conditional sentences: “If it rains, I’ll… If it clears, I’ll…”
4. Compare: Make one comparative: “Today is windier than yesterday.”

Can you summarize the essential patterns I should memorize?

Yes—master these four:

• It’s + adjective: It’s sunny/cold/humid.
• It’s + -ing: It’s raining/snowing/drizzling.
• There is/There are + noun: There is thunder. There are dark clouds.
• Forecast: It’s going to rain. It will clear up later.

Combine with time phrases (this morning, later, tomorrow) and softeners (a bit, kind of, really) for natural speech.

Daily English Guide for Beginners: Speak with Confidence Every Day