There are four seasons in the year. They are spring, summer, autumn and winter. Every season is beautiful and pleasant in its own way.
Spring is a wonderful season. It is no wonder that before Julian calendar was introduced, March had been the first month of a year. In spring nature awakens from its winter sleep. The days grow longer and the nights grow shorter. The ground is covered with fresh green grass and snowdrops, the first spring flowers. Then trees grow covered with new leaves and blossom. The birds begin to sing and build their nests. The air is fresh and the sun shines brightly in the sky.
The days are warm and everything is full of life and joy. As for me I prefer the end of May. I like the first spring showers. In Мay spring nights are the shortest, and the season of white nights begins. St. Petersburg is especially beautiful during this time.
Summer comes in June. It is the hottest season of the year. The trees are green with leaves and the gardens are alive with flowers. There are many parks and gardens in St. Petersburg, which are so beautiful in summer. I think everybody enjoys this season. Many people have their vacation in summer. It is not pleasant to stay in town in summer and most people leave it. They go for long walks, bathe in rivers and lakes, lie in the sun, pick flowers in the fields and gather berries and mush rooms in the forests.
I do not likeit when it is too hot and too stuffy in summer. I cannot stand the heat. It is sometimes so hot that I cannot fall asleep at night, I like warm, sunny weather. I am also fond of summer rain. Still I hate it when it rains cats and dogs.
In general, I cannot say summer is my favourite season. My parents usually make me help them about our country house.
I prefer autumn to summer. I like the "golden autumn" very much. It is still warm but the leaves change colour. It is the best time to go to the environs of St. Petersburg, especially to Pavlovsk. But in autumn the weather often changes and it gets colder and colder. The autumn sky is often grey and cloudy. It is usually windy and rainy. Autumn rain is by no means pleasant. The nights are getting longer. It gets dark soon after 5 p.m. It becomes quite chilly all of a sudden. I adore the crisp fresh autumn air.
In the middle of November it usually begins to snow. In winter the sun sets early and rises late. Sometimes it is very cold. It often snows. Everything around looks so beautiful covered with snow and ice. It is especially felt on the New Year's Eve.
Vocabulary
continental climate – континентальный климат
maritime climate – морской климат
season of the year – время года
Indian summer – бабье лето
What is the weather like? – Какая погода?
weather forecast – прогноз погоды
The weather is cold – Погода холодная
frosty – морозный
cool – прохладный
hot – жаркий
warm – теплый
gloomy – мрачный, хмурый
cloudy – облачный
lovely – приятный
nasty – ненастный
sunny – солнечный
rainy – дождливый
dull – пасмурный
fine – хороший
mild – мягкий
wet –сырой
damp – сырой
dry – сухой
rainbow – радуга
cloud – облако, туча
icicle – сосулька
slush – слякоть
sleet – снег с дождем
hail – град
blizzard – вьюга, метель
puddle – лужа
to melt – таять
to be covered with snow – покрываться снегом
thunderstorm – гроза
thunder – гром
thunderbolt – удар грома
lightning – молния
rain – дождь
shower – ливень
to rain – идти (о дожде)
to rain fast = to rain heavily = to rain cats and dogs – идти (о сильном дожде)
to pour – литься (о дожде)
it is pouring – льет как из ведра
it is drizzling – моросит
to get wet to the skin = to get wet through – промокнуть ло нитки
mist – дымка, легкий туман
fog – туман, густой туман
to clear up – проясняться (о погоде)
it is snowing hard – идет сильный снег
it is freezing hard – сильно подмораживает
storm – шторм, буря
tempest – буря
raindrop – дождевая капля
snowdrop – подснежник
snow-drift = snow-pile – сугроб
drought–засуха
in town–в городе (но: in the country – за городом)