Extreme weather refers to unusual, severe, or unseasonal weather events that can cause significant disruption and damage. In French, these phenomena are described by specific terms that capture the intensity and nature of such events.
- Cyclone - A powerful tropical storm with strong winds and heavy rain.
- Canicule - A heatwave; an extended period of very hot weather.
- Inondation - Flooding; the overflow of water onto normally dry land.
- Tempête - Storm; a violent weather event with strong winds, rain, or snow.
- Gel - Frost; a weather condition where temperatures drop below freezing, causing ice to form.
- Tornade - Tornado; a rapidly rotating column of air descending from a thunderstorm.
- Avalanche - Avalanche; a mass of snow, ice, and rocks rapidly descending a mountainside.
- Orage - Thunderstorm; a storm featuring lightning, thunder, and usually heavy rain.
- Sécheresse - Drought; an extended period of deficient rainfall leading to water shortage.
- Grêle - Hail; precipitation in the form of ice pellets.
Which French terms refer to periods of extreme heat or dryness?
What is the French word for 'flood'?
Which terms describe types of violent storms in French?
How do you say 'avalanche' in French?
Which of these are types of storms or storm-related phenomena?
Cyclone
A cyclone (le cyclone) is a powerful tropical storm characterized by rotating winds that can cause widespread destruction through strong gusts and heavy rainfall.
- A tropical hurricane is called a cyclone in French.
- Cyclones bring heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds.
- They are most common in tropical and subtropical regions.
What is the French word for 'cyclone'?
Which of these words are associated with storm-related hazards?
Example:
- Le cyclone a détruit plusieurs maisons sur la côte.
(The cyclone destroyed several houses on the coast.)
Which sentence correctly uses 'cyclone' in French?
Which sentence correctly describes a storm in French?
Which sentence is about a cyclone's effects?
Canicule
Canicule (la canicule) describes a heatwave, an extended period of excessively hot weather that can be dangerous to health.
- It refers to prolonged, intense heat, not just a hot day.
- Common in summer, often linked with drought conditions.
- Can cause health risks, especially for vulnerable populations.
Example:
- La canicule a fait monter les températures à plus de 40 degrés.
(The heatwave raised temperatures above 40 degrees.)
What is the French term for a heatwave?
Which terms refer to periods of extreme heat or dryness?
Which sentence correctly uses 'canicule' in French?
Which sentence is about heatwave precautions?
Inondation
An inondation (l'inondation) is a flood, occurring when water overflows onto land, often due to heavy rain, storms, or overflowing rivers.
- Can cause extensive property damage and disrupt transportation.
- Often follows other extreme weather events like storms or cyclones.
- Can be sudden (flash floods) or gradual.
Example:
- Après la tempête, une inondation a submergé le village.
(After the storm, a flood submerged the village.)
What is the French word for 'flood'?
Which sentence correctly uses 'inondation' in French?
Which is a correct sentence about flooding?
Tempête
A tempête (la tempête) is a storm, often marked by very strong winds, and can include rain, snow, or other precipitation.
- More intense than a regular storm.
- Can cause power outages and damage to buildings.
- Includes phenomena like windstorms, blizzards, and sometimes thunderstorms.
Example:
- La tempête a déraciné des arbres dans tout le quartier.
(The storm uprooted trees throughout the neighborhood.)
How do you say 'storm' in French?
Which terms describe types of violent storms in French?
Which sentence correctly uses 'tempête' in French?
Which is a correct warning about a storm?
Gel
Gel (le gel) refers to frost or freezing conditions where temperatures drop below zero, causing ice to form and potentially damaging plants and infrastructure.
- Can damage crops and disrupt transport.
- Common in late autumn, winter, and early spring.
- Different from snowfall; gel specifically means freezing conditions.
Example:
- Le gel a détruit les bourgeons des arbres fruitiers cette année.
(The frost destroyed the flower buds of the fruit trees this year.)
What is the French word for 'frost' or 'freezing'?
Which sentence correctly uses 'gel' in French?
Which sentence is about the effects of frost?
Tornade
A tornade (la tornade) is a tornado, a violent, rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, capable of causing extreme damage.
- Less common in France than in the USA, but the term is used.
- Characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud.
- Associated with severe thunderstorms.
Example:
- La tornade a détruit plusieurs bâtiments dans une petite ville américaine.
(The tornado destroyed several buildings in a small American town.)
What is the French word for 'tornado'?
Which sentence correctly describes a tornado in French?
Which sentence shows a warning about a tornado?
Avalanche
An avalanche (l'avalanche) is a rapid flow of snow, ice, and debris down a mountain slope, often triggered by heavy snowfall or vibrations.
- Can be deadly for skiers and mountain climbers.
- Common in alpine regions.
- Travel and communication lines can be severely disrupted.
Example:
- Une avalanche a coupé l'accès à la station de ski pendant deux jours.
(An avalanche cut off access to the ski resort for two days.)
How do you say 'avalanche' in French?
Which sentence correctly uses 'avalanche'?
Which sentence is about post-avalanche safety?
Orage
An orage (l'orage) is a thunderstorm, marked by lightning, thunder, and often heavy rain or hail.
- Can cause power outages and flash floods.
- Sometimes followed by sudden temperature drops.
- Important to seek shelter during an orage.
Example:
- L'orage a éclaté en pleine nuit, réveillant tout le quartier.
(The thunderstorm broke out in the middle of the night, waking the whole neighborhood.)
What is the French word for 'thunderstorm'?
Which of these are types of storms or storm-related phenomena?
Which sentence correctly uses 'orage'?
Which sentence is good advice for a thunderstorm?
Sécheresse
A sécheresse (la sécheresse) is a drought, an extended period of insufficient rainfall leading to water shortages and crop damage.
- Can affect drinking water supplies.
- May lead to increased risk of wildfires.
- Has long-term economic impacts on agriculture.
Example:
- La sécheresse prolongée a entraîné une baisse importante des récoltes.
(The prolonged drought caused a significant drop in the harvest.)
What is the French word for 'drought'?
Which French terms refer to periods of extreme heat or dryness?
Which sentence correctly uses 'sécheresse'?
Which is good advice during a drought?
Grêle
Grêle (la grêle) refers to hail, which are balls or lumps of ice that fall during certain storms, potentially damaging crops, vehicles, and roofs.
- Often occurs during thunderstorms.
- Can vary in size from small pellets to golf-ball-sized.
- Can cause significant economic damage in a short time.
Example:
- La grêle a cassé les vitres de plusieurs voitures garées dans la rue.
(The hail broke the windows of several cars parked on the street.)
What is the French word for 'hail'?
Which sentence correctly uses 'grêle'?
Which sentence is about the aftermath of hail?
French extreme weather vocabulary covers a range of dramatic natural events, from heatwaves and droughts to cyclones and avalanches. Mastering these terms enables better understanding of weather forecasts, news reports, and conversations about environmental challenges.
- Learn key terms like cyclone, canicule, inondation, tempête, and tornade.
- Recognize how these words are used in context for clearer communication.
- Practice with example sentences and quizzes to solidify your knowledge.