How to Talk About Weather and Seasons in the IELTS Test: A Vocabulary Guide

Whether you are describing your hometown’s climate in the IELTS Speaking test or discussing environmental shifts in the Writing test, your vocabulary choices can significantly boost your final score.

In this guide, you'll expand your vocabulary with the best collocations, synonyms, idioms, and phrasal verbs to describe weather and seasons.

Collocations for Describing Weather

A collocation is two or more words that naturally go together. Using them correctly prevents your English from sounding like a direct translation.

For example, you would say:

• “Tomorrow we expect heavy rain.” ✓

• NOT: “Tomorrow we expect strong rain.” X

Common Weather Collocations

• Adjective + Noun (Wind/Climate): 

  • Strong winds (winds with high speed and force)

  • Mild weather / mild climates (pleasant weather conditions)

  • A light rain (gentle, low-intensity rainfall)

  • Heavy rain

• Verb + Noun: 

  • Climate change (long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns)

  • Check the forecast (To look at the weather report)

  • Get caught in the rain (To be outside when it starts raining - often without an umbrella or comfortable shelter)

• Noun + Noun

  • Heat wave (A long period of unusually hot weather)

  • Flash flood (A sudden local flood due to large amounts of rain)

Example sentences:

• “Well, usually in late August and September, there are really strong winds where I live.”

• “We can see that there are more heatwaves in places that typically have mild climates, such as Europe.”

• “I only use an umbrella when it’s raining heavily; if it's a light rain, I will just suck it up and deal with it.”

• “Global warming has become a big issue recently, and if we don't care about the environment, there may be irreversible climate change.”

• "I always check the forecast in the morning so I know whether to bring an umbrella with me."

• "Many European countries are experiencing heat waves, which is quite strange since they usually have rather mild weather"

• “I forgot my umbrella this morning and got caught in the rain on my way to class.”

Avoid Repeating Adjectives Like 'Hot' or 'Cold' with These Synonyms

Looking for more precise ways to describe the temperature? Use these synonyms, paying close attention to their specific context and tone:

Synonym	Tone / Use	Example
Scorching	Used to emphasize extreme, burning heat.	"On days when the sun is scorching, I prefer to just stay inside and try to beat the heat."
Balmy	Warm and comfortable weather (often used for late spring/summer).	"I love May and June; during those months it’s rather balmy and quite comfortable."
Gloomy	Dark, grey, overcast, and depressing weather.	"Although I would love to travel to London for a vacation, I hear that the weather is quite gloomy year-round, so I wouldn't like to live there."
Freezing	Extremely cold.	"I can't stand January; the mornings are freezing and the short days make it unbearable."
Muggy	Warm, humid weather	“I don't mind the heat, so long as it isn't too muggy; I hate humid weather.” (so long as = as long as)

Common Weather Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs show a natural, native-like command of English, which is highly rewarded in the IELTS Speaking exam.

• Dies down: To gradually become less strong, active, or violent.

  • “When the rain dies down, we will go for a walk.”

• Clear up: When clouds, rain, or storms disappear to reveal bright skies.

  • “Although it rains often, it usually clears up within an hour or two.”

• Blow over: When a storm, problem, or argument is forgotten without causing major harm.

  • Weather: "The meteorologist said that the storm should blow over by tomorrow morning"

  • Non-weather: “When Sarah cost the company several thousand dollars due to a mistake she had made, she was quite nervous, but I assured her that it would all blow over in a week or two.”

IELTS Vocabulary: Weather Idioms for the Speaking Test

Using idiomatic language naturally is a key requirement to hit Band 7 or higher in the Lexical Resource criteria. Here are high-yield idioms that fit perfectly into conversational English:

Idiom	Meaning	Example
Rain or shine	We always do something no matter what happens or what the weather is like.	"I go for my morning run every single day, rain or shine."
To save for a rainy day	To reserve money or resources for a future time when things might be difficult.	"It’s wise to put a portion of your income aside to save for a rainy day."
Steal someone's thunder	To take the attention or praise away from someone else's achievements.	"I waited to announce my high exam score until the day after his birthday because I didn't want to steal his thunder."
Take a rain check	To politely decline an offer now, but suggest doing it at a later date.	"I'm too busy studying tonight, so I'll have to take a rain check on dinner."
Under the weather	To feel slightly sick, tired, or unwell.	"I couldn't attend the speaking practice session yesterday because I was feeling under the weather."
When it rains, it pours	When one bad thing happens, other bad things tend to happen at the same time; or, events (good or bad) occur all at once. Often said in a humorous or witty way at the end of a sentence.	"This morning I dropped my laptop, then I spilled my coffee on myself at lunch, and at the end of the day, my boss fired me - when it rains, it pours!"

Practice IELTS Questions

Try using the new collocations, synonyms, and idioms you learned above to answer these real IELTS exam questions:

Speaking Part 1

• What is the weather typically like in your hometown?

• What is your favorite season, and why?

• Does the weather ever affect your mood or daily routine?

Speaking Part 2

Describe a time when you got caught in bad weather.

You should say:

• When and where it happened

• What kind of weather it was

• What you did to handle it

  And explain how you felt about the experience.

Writing Task 2

Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing the world today. Some people believe that governments should take the lead in solving this problem, while others think that individuals should take responsibility.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.