Weather. Climate

1) What is the weather like in your country?

Our weather is very unpredictable. One minute it can be lovely sunshine, the next we’re experiencing a downpour. The UK is well-known for this.

2) Do you like the weather in your country?

Yes and no. I get frustrated that we have so many rainy days but we do have some glorious weather as well. When the sun comes out and there’s not a cloud in the sky, I couldn't be happier.

3) Is the weather the same in all parts of your country?

There are some quite marked regional differences. I live in the south-west where it's mild but we get high precipitation. It’s drier in the east and they actually had a drought this summer. Further north, it’s very cold in winter and they get heavy snow.

4) Are there any problems with the climate in your country?

We certainly seem to have experienced more violent storms and torrential rain in recent years. This has caused serious flooding in some places. A village near where I live had a flash flood this summer which washed away cars and a few buildings. People say global warming is to blame.

5) Does the weather ever affect the way you feel?

Most definitely. I feel so much more cheerful and full of energy when it’s sunny, whatever season it is. Even a break in the weather on an overcast day lifts my spirits.

Describe your favourite season.

You should say:

• what the season is and when it occurs

• what the weather is like during this season

• what your typical activities are during this season

and explain why it is your favourite season.

That’s really difficult as I like things about every season but if I had to choose one, I guess I’d go for spring. It covers the months of March, April and May in my country and is actually the time of year I was born.

I spend the cold winter months looking forward to the first signs of spring as nature comes back to life with the change of the season – things like the snowdrops poking through the soil, colourful daffodils and crocuses, blossom on the trees, shiny new leaves and the birds singing their hearts out as they build their nests. It’s such a lovely time of year.

The weather gradually improves week by week, although we can still get frost right up to the end of April and even snow, but it’s usually just sleet and turns to slush as soon as it touches the ground. Hail storms are quite common and bright rainbows, which we see as a promise of fine weather to come.

Whilst there’s plenty of warm sunshine in spring, a shower of rain is never far away and the wind tends to be quite chilly so you need to dress up warm to go out. I keep a close eye on the weather forecast before making plans as to what to do.

To sum up the weather, you’d have to say that it’s changeable – a mixture of sunny spells and cloudbursts is how I’d describe it.

As the temperature rises, I definitely get more active. I start to take longer walks and go out on my bike more often. Weather permitting, we often have a barbecue on my birthday.

I also get stuck into some gardening. There’s always lots of cutting down and clearing up to do, plus the grass begins to grow again and needs cutting. At weekends, I go to the garden centre to buy bedding plants ready for a colourful summer display.

One of the best things of all about spring is the lighter evenings, such a relief after the dark winter months. You can now spend evenings outdoors if you want to rather than being stuck in watching TV.

So you see, there are lots of reasons why spring is my favourite month. I love the hotter weather of the summer, of course, but there’s something about the freshness of spring that makes it special.

1) How do the different seasons affect the lifestyle of people in your country?

As we have a fairly mild climate, people are able to enjoy the outdoors all times of the year. Of course, summer is the most popular time for going to the beach and such like but even on blustery winter’s days, you’ll see people out walking along the shore enjoying the fresh air. With our unpredictable weather, we’re used to getting caught in the rain whatever the season so we just put on our waterproofs and off we go.

When it’s warm, people tend to take a picnic when they go out walking or cycling but in chilly weather, they’re more likely to stop off at a cosy pub or café for something to eat.

One of the biggest differences in our lifestyle through the seasons is down to the variation in daylight hours. In summer, it’s light until around 10.30pm whilst in the middle of winter it’s dark by 3.30pm. No-one feels much like going out when it’s cold and dark so we stay at home more.

2) Do you think people who live in cold places have different personalities to people who live in warm or hot places?

That’s something I’ve never considered but now I come to think of it, I’m sure they do. From my experience, people living in cold countries are fairly reserved and quite serious. Those living in hot climates, on the other hand, are more outgoing and full of life. That’s apart from the most humid regions where it’s so hot and sticky that you just want to sit around and do nothing all day.

Although I’d have to agree overall, I think there are many other factors than temperature and the weather that affect people’s personalities.

3) Do you think there are any problems with the world's climate now?

I believe that we’re facing many serious issues with our climate at the moment and they're only going to get worse unless we do something about global warming soon.

In my country, the winters are getting milder and wetter and serious flooding is becoming common. It’s a real problem in many areas. However, that’s nothing compared to the devastating tropical storms that some parts of the world are experiencing, more violent ever before. Meteorologists predict that they will get even stronger in the future which is a great concern.

One of the most serious problems of climate change is the melting of the icecaps as it’s causing rising sea levels. It’s possible that many coastal areas could be under water by the end of the century. Now that really is a worry.