difficult weather

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult weather" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe challenging or adverse weather conditions that may impact activities or travel. Example: "The hikers decided to postpone their trip due to the difficult weather forecast predicting heavy rain and strong winds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The farmers have suffered from difficult weather.

The New York Times

–What new technologies might improve the handling of cars in difficult weather and road conditions?

The New York Times

* A woman died and a man was seriously hurt in a car crash in Shropshire in "difficult weather conditions".

Independent

He said airplanes practiced antiship maneuvers in the Sea of Okhotsk on Thursday, as well as flying in difficult weather.

The New York Times

And afterward, Pakistani rescuers in helicopters spent days in difficult weather trying to pluck survivors off the mountain.

The New York Times

When my wife was a girl, though, she had to call a mountain rescue team after getting lost in difficult weather.

The New York Times - Tech

Roadside assistance Car breakdown cover is an area which is developing fast, not least because of the difficult weather conditions of the past few years.

Independent

It also offers a few niceties like a piste map and road cameras so you can plan your journey around traffic or difficult weather.

The New York Times

Yates said it had been virtually impossible for any of Froome's rivals to attack due to the difficult weather conditions during the stage.

The Guardian - Sport

"Because of the difficult weather conditions the ship can only be boarded from the air," the air force said in a statement.

The Guardian

In contrast with other retailers – including Marks & Spencer, which blamed weak summer trading on difficult weather conditions – Kristiansen said New Look had benefited from climatic conditions.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events affected by weather, specify what type of "difficult weather" is present (e.g. "difficult snowy weather", "difficult windy weather") for more clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult weather" as a catch-all term. Instead, be specific about the weather conditions: is it heavy rain, strong winds, or dense fog? Specificity improves clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

"Difficult weather" functions as a noun phrase where 'difficult' modifies 'weather'. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable in written English, evidenced by numerous examples across diverse contexts. The phrase identifies challenging atmospheric conditions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult weather" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe challenging weather conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While versatile, being specific about the type of weather (e.g. "heavy snow", "strong winds") enhances clarity. It appears frequently in news, science and general contexts. For alternative phrasing, consider "severe weather" or "inclement weather" depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severe weather

Emphasizes the intensity and potential danger of the weather.

harsh weather conditions

Highlights the unpleasant and potentially damaging aspects of the weather.

adverse weather

A more formal way to describe unfavorable weather conditions.

inclement weather

Focuses on the unsuitability of the weather for outdoor activities.

challenging weather

Highlights the difficulties presented by the weather.

unfavorable weather conditions

A general term for weather that is not conducive to certain activities.

rough weather

Suggests turbulent and potentially dangerous weather.

extreme weather

Emphasizes that the weather conditions are significantly outside the norm.

poor weather

A simple and direct way to describe undesirable weather.

stormy weather

Specifically refers to weather characterized by storms.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult weather" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult weather" to describe conditions that make travel, work, or other activities challenging. For example: "The flight was delayed due to "difficult weather" conditions".

What's a good alternative to saying "difficult weather"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "severe weather", "harsh weather conditions", or "inclement weather".

Is it more accurate to say "difficult weather" or "difficult weather conditions"?

Both "difficult weather" and "difficult weather conditions" are acceptable. "Difficult weather conditions" is slightly more formal, but they are largely interchangeable.

What kind of activities are most often affected by "difficult weather"?

Activities such as travel (flights, driving), outdoor work (farming, construction), and sports are commonly affected by "difficult weather". Understanding the specific impact helps to choose a suitable alternative phrase.