Extreme Weather Around the World
1. Match them up!
Match the types of extreme weather with their description.
freezing a very strong snow storm
boiling it rains balls of ice
hail very cold temperatures
blizzard a strong tropical storm
tornado very hot temperatures
flood a violently rotating column of air
hurricane a long, high sea wave, usually caused by an earthquake
tsunami it rains so much that water comes into streets and houses
2. Reading Text
The Earth is full of different kinds of weather. Sometimes, the weather can be very
normal sunny, rainy, or cloudy. But sometimes, it becomes extreme. People all over
the world have seen surprising and powerful weather. Let’s learn about some of the
most amazing weather records ever! The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth
was -89.2°C. This happened in Antarctica in 1983. Antarctica is a very cold place,
with lots of snow and ice. Scientists live there to study the weather and the
environment. On very cold days, they must stay inside because it is too dangerous to
go out.
In contrast, the hottest temperature recorded was 56.7°C. This happened in Death
Valley, USA, in 1913. Death Valley is a desert. In summer, the sun shines very
strongly, and the air becomes very hot and dry. It is hard for people and animals to
live there. Another dangerous weather event is a tornado. Tornadoes are strong,
spinning winds that can destroy houses and trees. The fastest tornado winds ever
recorded were 484 kilometers per hour. That is faster than a racing car! Tornadoes
can lift cars into the air and break everything in their path. One of the most powerful
tsunamis happened in Lituya Bay, Alaska, in 1958.
A tsunami is a huge wave, usually caused by an earthquake or landslide under
the ocean. That wave was 524 meters high, taller than most buildings. It moved very
fast and destroyed trees and land near the bay. Hurricanes are big storms with strong
winds and heavy rain. In 2005, the strongest hurricane called Wilma hit the
Caribbean and the USA. It caused floods, damaged houses, and many people had to
leave their homes. Even small things like hailstones can be extreme. Hailstones are
balls of ice that fall from the sky during some storms.
In 2010, a hailstone in South Dakota, USA, measured 20 centimeters wide —
almost as big as a melon! These weather records remind us that nature is powerful
and sometimes dangerous. That’s why it’s important to listen to weather reports and
stay safe during storms or extreme weather.
3. Reading Comprehension
A. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C):
Read the sentence. Circle the correct answer.
1. What is the coldest temperature ever recorded? -51.7˚C / -89.2˚C / -125˚C
2. What is the hottest temperature ever recorded? 56.7˚C / 65.7˚C / 75.7˚C
3. Where was it recorded? Basra, Iraq / El Azizia, Libya / Death Valley, USA
4. What are the fastest tornado winds ever recorded? 184 km/h / 334 km/h / 484 km/h
5. How high is the highest tsunami wave ever recorded? 324m / 524m / 724m
6. The strongest ever hurricane hit in 2005. What was its name? Wilma / Gilbert / Rita
7. In 2010 the biggest hailstone in the world fell. How wide was it? 10cm/ 20cm/ 50cm
B. True or False:
1. The coldest temperature happened in the USA. ______
2. Tornadoes have slow wind. ______
3. The tsunami in 1958 was taller than a building. ______
C. Fill in the blanks:
1. The hottest place was ____________.
2. The biggest tsunami happened in ____________.
3. A ____________ is a big wave caused by an earthquake.
SPEAKING TASK: Describing Extreme Weather
Talk about a kind of extreme weather you know.
You should say:
– What kind of weather it is
– What happens during that weather
– Where it usually happens
– How people stay safe
