awful weather

USAGE SUMMARY

'awful weather' is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it to describe weather that is unpleasant or bad, for example, "It's been an awful week of weather here with rain every day!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Awful weather we're having.

The Guardian

The awful weather had now relented.

The Guardian - Sport

Last week was a record week for the business – we took £100m, despite the awful weather.

Independent

But getting relief to remote parts of the country, in awful weather, is not easy.

The Economist

Drugs, drink, weariness, the awful weather – all also seem to prompt these lift-off moments.

The Guardian - Books

Or possibly Monday, given the awful weather forecast which has appeared for the scheduled day four.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

If only they could save it from this god-awful weather, too.

The Guardian - Film

Seattle is a city of surprises, from the world-class opera company to the Victorian Romanesque architecture of Pioneer Square to the not-so-awful weather.

The New York Times - Travel

At the beginning of May 2013, Telephone Explosion Records celebrated the return of not-awful weather with the aptly named Toronto Thaw Festival.

Vice

Awful poor weather conditions - and survive this, it's just really a miracle".

BBC

Eventually, the January sessions were abandoned: not because admiration for the Confederate icon cooled, but because of awful winter weather.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of "awful weather", be specific about the effects. For example, instead of just stating "The awful weather ruined our plans", explain how: "The awful weather, with its torrential rain and strong winds, forced us to cancel the outdoor concert."

Common error

Avoid using "awful weather" as a catch-all phrase. Vary your descriptions to provide more vivid imagery and context. Instead of always saying "awful weather", consider phrases like "torrential downpour", "bitter cold snap", or "sweltering heatwave", depending on the specific conditions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awful weather" functions as a descriptive phrase, specifically an adjective ("awful") modifying a noun ("weather"). It serves to characterize the weather as unpleasant or undesirable. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "awful weather" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe unpleasant or severe weather conditions. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, expressing negative sentiments about weather conditions and their impacts. While "awful weather" is generally acceptable, consider more specific and descriptive alternatives, such as "torrential downpour" or "bitter cold snap", for more precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terrible weather

This alternative uses a different adjective to describe the weather, maintaining a similar negative connotation.

horrendous weather

This alternative employs a stronger adjective to emphasize the severity of the weather.

horrific weather

Similar to "horrendous", this alternative stresses the dreadful nature of the weather.

dreadful weather

This option replaces "awful" with "dreadful", implying a sense of fear or dismay about the weather.

atrocious weather

This alternative uses a more formal adjective, "atrocious", to describe the poor weather conditions.

miserable weather

This phrase highlights the unpleasant and depressing nature of the weather.

severe weather

This alternative emphasizes the intensity and potential danger of the weather conditions.

inclement weather

This is a more formal and general way to refer to unpleasant weather.

unpleasant weather

This is a more general and mild way to express that the weather is not enjoyable.

nasty weather

This alternative uses a colloquial adjective to describe the bad weather.

FAQs

What are some other ways to describe bad weather?

Instead of "awful weather", you could use phrases like "terrible weather", "horrendous weather", or "inclement weather" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "awful weather" in formal writing?

While "awful weather" is widely understood, it might be more suitable for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using more precise and descriptive alternatives like "severe weather conditions" or "adverse weather". This provides a clearer and more professional tone.

What kind of impact does "awful weather" typically have?

The impact of "awful weather" can range from minor inconveniences, such as cancelled plans, to significant disruptions, like travel delays and economic losses. The specific impact depends on the severity and type of weather event.

How does the phrase "awful weather" differ from "bad weather"?

"Awful weather" implies a stronger negative connotation than "bad weather". While "bad weather" simply indicates undesirable conditions, "awful weather" suggests conditions that are particularly unpleasant, severe, or even dangerous.