The climate of the United Kingdom is generally mild and temperature is due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. The southeastern winds carry the warmth and moisture to Britain. The climate in Britain is usually described as cool, temperate, and humid. It's often foggy in Great Britain.
The weather is so changeable that the English often say that they have no climate but only weather.
Sometimes it rains so heavily that they say: "It rains cats and dogs". Rainfall is more or less-equal throughout the year. In the mountains there is heavier rainfall than in the plains of the south and the east. The driest period is from March to June and the wettest months are from October to January.
The average range of temperature (from winter to summer) is from 5 to 23 °С above zero. In the south of the country the temperature sometimes rises above 30 degrees. Winter temperatures below 10 °С are rare. It seldom snows heavily, frost is rare. January and February are usually the coldest months, July and August are the warmest months. The wind may bring winter cold in spring or summer. Sometimes it brings whirlwinds or hurricanes. Droughts are rare.
So, we may say that the British climate has three main features: it is mild, humid and changeable. That means that it is never too hot or too cold. Winters are extremely mild. Snow may come but it melts quickly. This humid and mild climate is good for plants. Trees and llowers begin to blossom early in spring.
VOCABULARY
mild [maɪld] — м'який; помірний
due to [dju: tu:] — завдяки; через те, що
to carry ['kærɪ] — нести, носити; переносити
temperate ['tempərɪt] — помірний (про клімат)
humid ['hju:mɪd] — вологий, вогкий
it rains heavily ['hevɪlɪ] — іде сильний дош
it rains cats and dogs — дош ллє як із відра
rainfall ['reɪnfɔ:l] — кількість (атмосферних) опадів
whirlwind [' wə:lwɪnd] — ураган, смерч
drought [draut] — посуха
QUESTIONS
1. What can you say about the climate of Britain ?
2. What is the weather like in Great Britain ?
3. What can you say when it rains heavily?
4. What is the average range of temperature ?
5. What are the main features of the British climate?
6. What is the driest period?
7. What are the wettest months?
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