| Term | Definition |
| drought | a long season of no rain |
| jet stream | a high-speed wind current moving from west to east around the earth |
| arid | dry |
| barometer | an instrument for measuring air pressure |
| hygrometer | an instrument for measuring humidity |
| condensation | the forming of tiny droplets of water as water vapor cools |
| Celsius scale | a sale for measuring temperature on which 0 degrees marks the freezing point of water and 100 degrees marks the boiling point |
| Fahrenheit scale | a scale for measuring temperature on which 32 degrees marks the freezing point of water and 212 degrees marks the boiling point |
| squall | a brief, strong windstorm, often with rain or snow |
| climatic | having to do with the climate |