Weather and Climate

1. Do you usually listen to weather forecast?

1. Yes, I listen to one or two weather forecasts in the evening and I read the weather report
on teletext in the morning. Of course, I look out of the window too before I decide what to
put on.

2. Why are people interested in weather forecasts?

2. People listen to and watch the weather forecasts because they would like to decide what
clothes to wear, what programmes to organise in their free time and whether they can do
outdoor sports.

3. Do you always take weather into consideration when getting dressed in the morning?
3. Yes, usually I do. But the weather sometimes changes very quickly and what I have put on
in the morning is not appropriate in the afternoon.

4. Do you find that weather forecasts are usually accurate?

4. No, unfortunately; weather forecasts are only rarely accurate. It often happens that
weathermen predict totally different weather on different channels.

5. Describe the climate of the four seasons in Hungary.

5. In Hungary in spring the weather is usually changeable. It can be quite warm and sunny; or
cold and rainy and windy. Summer is hot, sultry and dry. Sometimes there are storms and
even hail. People don't like autumn very much because it is usually cold and rainy with strong
wind. In winter the weather is cold, the temperature is usually below zero and it often snows.
The mornings are foggy and frosty.

6. What are the average temperatures in Hungary?

6. In Hungary the summer is very hot, that is, the temperature is above 30C. In early spring
and late autumn the temperature is around 10°C. In late spring and early autumn the weather
is warm, it is around 20-25C. The winter is usually very cold and it often goes below zero,
sometimes as low as -20 C.

7. What is your favourite season?

7.To tell the truth, I like both winter and summer. I like winter because I often go skiing or
sometimes snowboarding abroad. I like walking when it's snowing and although it's cold, the
air is clean. In summer I can do many outdoor activities and stay out long because the
temperature is pleasant during the night.

8. In what climatic conditions would you like to live?

8. I like the climate of Hungary because I can enjoy all the four seasons.
9. When are there storms?
9. I think most storms occur in summer when the weather suddenly cools down after a hot
spell. The sky becomes extremely dark as if it was night, the wind starts to blow with great
force and big drops of rain begin to fall. There is thunder and lightning and rain keeps
pouring for quite a while. Sometimes there is even hail. In winter there sometimes are
snowstorms with strong wind. This kind of weather causes problems in the traffic. The roads
become extremely slippery and snowdrifts isolate villages for days.

10. Have you ever been in a big storm?

10. Yes, once when I spent my summer holidays in the mountains. The storm carne quite
unexpectedly and lasted long. I was scared because there was lightning and thunder which
seemed much more frightening than in the town.

11. Are there blizzards in Hungary?

11. No, blizzards are not characteristic for Hungary. There are heavy snowstorms mainly in
high mountains.

12. Are there hurricanes or tornadoes in Hungary?

12. Fortunately, there are no hurricanes in Hungary. I have heard that they cause much harm
in several countries like Mexico and the United States. I have seen on TV that a tornado
damaged some houses in a Hungarian town. Though tornadoes seem to be becoming more
frequent in some countries in Europe, in Hungary there have only been few cases.

13. How do you protect yourself against bad weather?

13. In rainy weather I usually take an umbrella but when I'm hiking, I wear a raincoat and a
pair of wellingtons. When it's cold, I put on warm clothes. In winter when the weather is
extremely cold, I wear leather boots, warm socks, corduroy trousers, a shirt and a warm
pullover or cardigan, a parka, and a knitted scarf and a beanie.

14. What does the expression "Indian summer" mean?

14. An Indian summer is a period of mild dry sunny weather occurring in autumn in the
northern hemisphere.

15. What is the connection between weather and agriculture?

15. Climate determines what crops can be grown. If the weather is too dry or too rainy; the
crops won't be good. Storms can destroy orchards and crops. All farmers are most afraid of
frost and hails because they cause the biggest damage.

16. How does weather influence traffic?

16. Weather influences drivers in many ways. In hot and humid weather people find it
difficult to concentrate and be patient. In fog and downpours drivers can hardly see
anything. When the weather is wet or it freezes, the roads become slippery and a lot of
accidents happen. Big changes in temperature damage roads and make driving more difficult.

17. Are you influenced by weather?

17. Yes, if the weather is dull, I feel under the weather and nothing can make me laugh. If
it's sunny when I get up, my day is happy.

18. How can one's body react to drastic weather changes?

18.A lot of people are susceptible to weather changes. They have splitting headaches or even
complain about having migraines. Some people feel unusually sleepy when there's a front.
Mainly the elderly suffer from pains in their bones and joints when the weather changes.

19. Why is weather a popular topic in conversations?

19. I think talking and complaining about weather is a habit of many people to start or keep
up conversations.

20. What do you know about the climate of Britain?

20. Since the British Isles lie between the Atlantic and the North Sea, the climate is
oceanic. This means that there are only slight temperature variations between day and night,
winter and summer, and comparatively high rainfall throughout the year and strong winds. It
is said that it rains every other day, on the average.

21. What natural disasters happen in the world?

21. There are floods, earthquakes, forest and bush fires, volcano eruptions, and landslides.