English Learning: Extreme Weather Events in 2025

Dialogue

Alice: Bob, have you seen the news about 2025? It sounds like we’re in for a wild ride!

Bob: Alice! You mean the weather predictions? I just saw a headline about “tropical blizzards.” Is that even a thing?

Alice: Apparently, in 2025, it *could* be! The article said we might see a ‘heat dome’ over the Sahara that’s actually snowing. My brain just can’t compute.

Bob: Snowing in the Sahara? That’s less of a weather event and more of a cosmic joke! I was hoping for flying cars, not flying ice chunks in places they don’t belong.

Alice: Right? And they’re predicting “rain bombs” in cities that usually get a light drizzle. Imagine trying to commute through a literal bomb of water. You’d need a submarine, not a car.

Bob: My car is already a bit of a submarine on a regular Tuesday. This is just taking it to the next level. I’m worried about my garden. My prize-winning petunias won’t stand a chance against a flash flood followed by a sudden hailstorm.

Alice: Oh, Bob, your petunias! The unsung heroes of climate change. Don’t forget the “super-droughts” they’re warning about in typically wet regions. We might have to start rationing tap water for our houseplants!

Bob: I refuse to live in a world where my petunias wither and my succulents drown simultaneously. What about the “sky rivers” they mentioned? Are we talking actual rivers in the sky? Because that sounds pretty cool, actually.

Alice: Less ‘cool’ and more ‘terrifyingly biblical,’ I think. It’s about atmospheric rivers, basically massive columns of moisture that dump insane amounts of rain. So, not a *river* you can boat on, sadly.

Bob: Darn. No sky-fishing then. So, to recap, 2025 is bringing us snowing deserts, drowning cities, thirsty jungles, and rivers that aren’t rivers. Sounds like a really fun year for meteorologists.

Alice: And a very stressful one for anyone trying to plan a picnic. I heard one prediction for “firenadoes” in drought-stricken areas. A fire tornado, Bob! I’m pretty sure that’s a sign of the apocalypse.

Bob: Firenadoes? Okay, now I’m actively considering building an ark. Forget the petunias, I need to save myself! Are they at least predicting a “pizza rain” somewhere? That would balance things out a bit.

Alice: Unfortunately, no mention of edible precipitation. Just more “polar vortex” shenanigans, but this time they might happen in July. Your summer BBQ plans are officially at risk.

Bob: My grill is crying already. I guess we should just prepare for the unexpected then? Maybe invest in a very sturdy umbrella and a good sense of humor.

Alice: Precisely. Or a really stylish hazmat suit. See you in 2025, Bob, hopefully not floating past my window!

Bob: You too, Alice! Stay dry… or wet, depending on the forecast.

Current Situation

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense globally, driven largely by climate change. Scientists and meteorologists use sophisticated models to predict future weather patterns, often looking at how rising global temperatures will impact phenomena like heatwaves, droughts, floods, storms, and even unusual occurrences like sudden cold snaps in unexpected regions. While the specific, exaggerated scenarios discussed by Alice and Bob in the dialogue are fictionalized for humor, the underlying concerns about increased variability and extremity in weather are very real and a significant focus of climate science today, with many organizations projecting potential impacts for upcoming years like 2025 and beyond.

Key Phrases

in for a wild ride: expecting an exciting, difficult, or unpredictable experience.
Example: “With a new boss and a big project, we’re definitely in for a wild ride this quarter.”
Is that even a thing?: expresses surprise or skepticism about whether something exists or is commonly known.
Example: “He said he was going to a ‘silent disco.’ Is that even a thing?”
My brain just can’t compute: unable to process or understand something, often due to its absurdity or complexity.
Example: “The instructions for assembling this furniture are so complicated; my brain just can’t compute!”
taking it to the next level: making something more extreme, advanced, or intense.
Example: “They started with just a small café, but now they’re taking it to the next level by opening a chain.”
unsung heroes: people or things that do good work but receive little recognition or praise.
Example: “The support staff are the unsung heroes of this company; they keep everything running smoothly.”
to recap: to summarize the main points.
Example: “So, to recap, we need to finish the report by Friday and present it on Monday.”
sign of the apocalypse: an indication that a catastrophic or world-ending event is imminent.
Example: “The coffee machine is broken *and* the internet is down. It’s a sign of the apocalypse!”
balance things out: to make things fair or equal, or to compensate for something negative with something positive.
Example: “I had a terrible morning, but a delicious lunch helped to balance things out.”
at risk: in a situation where something bad or undesirable might happen.
Example: “Without proper funding, the project is at risk of being cancelled.”
prepare for the unexpected: to make arrangements for things that might happen that are not anticipated.
Example: “It’s always wise to prepare for the unexpected when traveling.”

Grammar Points

1. Future Simple (will/be going to)

Used to talk about future events, predictions, or intentions.

‘will’ + base verb: Often used for general predictions, spontaneous decisions, or promises.
Example: “We will see more extreme weather.”
‘be going to’ + base verb: Used for predictions based on present evidence, or for plans and intentions.
Example: “It looks like it’s going to rain heavily.”
From dialogue: “It sounds like we’re in for a wild ride!” (similar to ‘are going to experience’) “My prize-winning petunias won’t stand a chance.”

2. Modal Verbs for Prediction (might, could, may)

These verbs express varying degrees of possibility or likelihood about future events.

could / might: Suggest a weaker possibility.
Example: “It could snow in the desert.” “We might see a ‘heat dome’.”
may: Also expresses possibility, often slightly stronger than ‘might’ but still uncertain.
Example: “They may predict more floods next year.”
From dialogue: “Apparently, in 2025, it could be!” “we might see a ‘heat dome’ over the Sahara.” “this time they might happen in July.”

3. First Conditional (Real Conditional)

Used to talk about possible future situations and their probable results.

Structure: If + Simple Present, Subject + will/won't + Base Verb. It describes a real or very likely condition and its direct consequence.
Example: “If the drought continues, many crops will fail.”
From dialogue (implied): “If a flash flood hits, my petunias won’t stand a chance.”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Key Phrases)

Choose the best key phrase from the “Key Phrases” section to complete each sentence.

After hearing about the new project’s tight deadline, I knew we were ___________.
My friend told me he was going to try ‘laughter yoga.’ I asked him, “___________?”
The news about snow in the desert made me laugh. It sounds like a ___________!
The chef didn’t just cook a meal; he really was __________ with his presentation.
Let’s quickly ___________: the meeting is at 10 AM, and we need to bring our proposals.

Exercise 2: Complete the Sentences (Grammar – Future Tenses/Modals)

Complete the sentences using will, won't, might, could, or is/are going to.

Look at those dark clouds! It ___________ rain heavily soon.
I ___________ probably stay home this weekend; I haven’t decided yet.
Scientists say global temperatures ___________ continue to rise.
If the drought continues, many crops ___________ fail.
She ___________ be late because of the storm, but I’m not sure.

Exercise 3: Match the Cause and Effect (First Conditional)

Match the first part of the sentence (the condition) with the second part (the result).

If the temperature rises significantly,
If it rains all week,
If we don’t prepare for extreme weather,
If they predict more “rain bombs,”
If you invest in a sturdy umbrella,

a. many cities will experience flooding.
b. the outdoor concert will probably be cancelled.
c. we’ll face more natural disasters in the future.
d. you’ll be much better equipped.
e. we might see more intense heatwaves.

Answer Key

Exercise 1 Answers:

in for a wild ride
Is that even a thing?
cosmic joke
taking it to the next level
to recap

Exercise 2 Answers:

is going to
might / could / will
will / are going to
will
might / could

(Note: For question 2 and 5, ‘might’ or ‘could’ are often better for uncertainty. ‘Will’ can also be acceptable for general prediction.)

Exercise 3 Answers:

1. e. we might see more intense heatwaves.
2. b. the outdoor concert will probably be cancelled.
3. c. we’ll face more natural disasters in the future.
4. a. many cities will experience flooding.
5. d. you’ll be much better equipped.

Extreme Weather Events in 2025