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✦ IELTS Topic: Weather – Rain & Wind – 10 Useful Phrases

Heavy rain
e.g., The football match was cancelled due to heavy rain.
Drizzle
e.g., It was only a light drizzle, so we didn’t need umbrellas.
Gusts of wind
e.g., Strong gusts of wind knocked over some signs in the street.
Thunderstorm
e.g., A loud thunderstorm kept me awake most of the night.
Torrential rain
e.g., The torrential rain caused local flooding in the village.
Blustery weather
e.g., The blustery weather made it hard to walk without a coat.
Umbrella blew inside out
e.g., My umbrella blew inside out in the wind — so annoying!
Soaked to the skin
e.g., I forgot my jacket and got soaked to the skin walking home.
Howling wind
e.g., We could hear the howling wind all night through the windows.
Rainy season
e.g., In some countries, the rainy season lasts for months.

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Rain & Wind

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

Does it rain often where you live?
Do you like rainy weather?
How do you prepare for a windy day?
Have you ever been caught in heavy rain?
Do you prefer calm weather or stormy weather?

Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a time you experienced rainy or windy weather.
You should say:

where you were
what the weather was like
what you did
and explain how you felt about it.

✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, we get a lot of drizzle and occasional torrential rain.
2. I like listening to howling wind, but not walking in it!
3. I wear a raincoat and check for blustery weather before leaving.
4. Once, I got soaked to the skin during a sudden thunderstorm.
5. I definitely prefer calm days — gusts of wind are annoying.

Part 2 Sample Answer

A few months ago, I was walking home from a friend’s house when the weather suddenly changed. It started as a light drizzle, but quickly turned into torrential rain.

I didn’t have an umbrella, so I got soaked to the skin within minutes. The gusts of wind were so strong that my hood kept blowing off, and I had to hold onto my bag tightly.

I even saw someone’s umbrella blow inside out! It was uncomfortable at the time, but now it’s a funny memory.

✦ Comprehension Test: Rain & Wind Vocabulary

1. "The football match was cancelled due to heavy rain."
Q: Why didn’t the match happen?

2. "It was only a light drizzle, so we didn’t need umbrellas."
Q: What was the weather like?

3. "Strong gusts of wind knocked over some signs in the street."
Q: What caused damage?

4. "A loud thunderstorm kept me awake most of the night."
Q: What disturbed the speaker?

5. "The torrential rain caused local flooding in the village."
Q: What was the result of the rain?

6. "The blustery weather made it hard to walk without a coat."
Q: What made it difficult to walk?

7. "My umbrella blew inside out in the wind — so annoying!"
Q: What happened to the umbrella?

8. "I forgot my jacket and got soaked to the skin walking home."
Q: What happened to the speaker?

9. "We could hear the howling wind all night through the windows."
Q: What could be heard?

10. "In some countries, the rainy season lasts for months."
Q: What kind of weather is common in these places?

✦ Answer Key

It was cancelled because of rain.
Light rain — not serious.
Strong wind.
The noise from the thunderstorm.
Flooding.
Windy conditions.
The wind damaged it.
Got very wet.
The sound of strong wind.
Frequent rain over a long time.