Learn Italian words and expressions about the weather
The English, it is said, love to talk about il meteo (the weather). The Italians, on the other hand, really ought to make more use of this topic of conversation since in Italy the weather is incredibly varied. Where English weather is rather mite (mild), the Italian clima (climate) can go from extreme to extreme.
L’autunno (Autumn) often brings giornate fresche (crisp days) and sere freddolose (chilly evenings), with cieli blu (blue skies). In some parts of Italy, particularly the plains of the North, evenings are often associated with nebbia fitta (thick fog), and foschia (mist) in the morning.
L’inverno (Winter) can be exceptionally freddo (cold) as la temperatura (the temperature) si abassa (drops) as low as meno 20 gradi (-20 degrees) in the mountains. La neve (snow) is common, and bufere di neve (blizzards) are not uncommon both in the North and the South. Driving can be hazardous as ghiaccio (ice) covers the roads, turning to fanghiglia (slush) as the temperature si alza (rises).
When La primavera (Spring) finally arrives it brings soleggiate (sunny), mild days as well as long periods of pioggia (rain) or pioggerella (drizzle) - beneficial for the wide variety of flowers and plants that thrive in this country.
L’estate (Summer) is characterized by long periods of sole splendente (bright sunshine) and bollente (boiling) temperatures. The cities empty as people spend their holidays by the sea to escape the afa (close, humid weather) and take advantage of the brezze rinfrescanti (cooling breezes). Also common at this time of the year are temporali (storms) with tuoni (thunder) and lampi (lightning). Il vento (the wind) can be incredibly strong, even bringing the occasional tromba d’aria (whirlwind). Summer also brings grandine (hailstones).
