Weather Basics.Understanding Cambridge EFL Checkpoint Assessments

Understanding Cambridge EFL Checkpoint Assessments

1. Weather Basics Explore daily conditions and extreme weather events.

2. Agenda • What is weather? • Different types of weather conditions • Understanding extreme weather events • Why weather matters to us • How we predict future weather

3. What is Weather? Weather describes the daily conditions of the atmosphere, like temperature, precipitation, and wind. It's always changing, from sunny mornings to stormy afternoons.

4. Why Study Weather? • Affects daily plans: clothes, travel, outdoor fun. • Ensures safety: prepares for storms, heatwaves. • Impacts jobs: farming, shipping, tourism. • Helps forecast future conditions.

5. Sky Conditions Sunny means clear skies with lots of sunshine. Overcast skies are cloudy and dull. Foggy conditions involve thick mist, significantly reducing visibility.

6. Gentle Breeze Powerful Gale A breeze is a gentle, light wind. It often feels pleasant, offering a refreshing coolness on a warm day. You might feel a cool breeze from the sea. In contrast, a gale is a very strong, powerful wind. Gales can make trees sway violently and cause rough seas. A gale blew across the coast all night, making it hard to walk.

7. Types of Rain • Drizzle: Very light rain, often misty. • Occurs when clouds have small water droplets. • Downpour: Heavy, intense rain. • Often during thunderstorms or sudden heavy showers.

8. Frozen Forms Snowfall is falling snow, creating beautiful winter scenes. Frost forms as a thin layer of ice on surfaces, often seen on grass or windows. Hail consists of small balls of ice falling from the sky, which can cause damage.

9. Air Moisture Humidity is the amount of moisture or water vapor in the air. High humidity makes temperatures feel hotter because sweat evaporates slower from your skin. For instance, an 80°F day with high humidity can feel like 90°F.

10. Temperature Extremes Chilly means uncomfortably cool, like needing a jacket. Scorching is extremely hot, making outdoor activities difficult. A heatwave is a prolonged period of unusually hot weather, impacting health and energy.

11. Thunder and Lightning • Thunderstorm: A storm with thunder and lightning. • Lightning: A powerful, visible flash of light. • Thunder: The sound caused by lightning's rapid heating. • They happen together, but lightning is seen first.

12. What is a Blizzard? Why Are Blizzards Dangerous? A blizzard is a severe snowstorm, defined by strong winds, typically over 35 mph, and heavy falling or blowing snow. This combination reduces visibility to less than a quarter mile. Conditions must last for at least three hours to be classified as a blizzard. Blizzards create extremely hazardous conditions. Travel becomes nearly impossible due to whiteout visibility and deep snowdrifts, making roads impassable. They can also lead to power outages, extreme cold, and isolation, posing serious safety risks.

13. A tornado is a violent, rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm, causing immense destruction.

14. Long Dry Spells A drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall. This leads to severe water shortages, deeply affecting agriculture and the natural environment. For example, crops can fail and rivers can dry up.

15. Weather Predictions A weather forecast is a prediction of future weather conditions. This helps us plan daily activities, like knowing if we need an umbrella. Forecasts are also vital for safety, especially with severe weather.

16. Describing Our World Look outside or think about a recent weather event you experienced. Describe it using at least three of the new vocabulary words we just learned. Be ready to share your description!

17. Weather Watchers Keep observing the world around you. Understanding weather helps you prepare and appreciate nature's power.

18. Resources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjtJfDvVQTc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU2B_85A7Sk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-acul-qhZE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXdm30Kacps

19. Conclusion • Weather is always changing. • It affects our daily lives. • Be prepared for extreme conditions. • Forecasts help us plan ahead.