w-e-a-t-h-e-r
WEATHER refers to atmospheric conditions including temperature, precipitation, wind, and humidity. In word games, this versatile 7-letter word featuring W and H tiles scores 13 base points and can earn a 50-point bingo bonus.
13
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
WEATHER encompasses the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including conditions like sunshine, rain, snow, wind, and temperature. It's one of humanity's most universal topics of conversation, affecting our daily decisions from clothing choices to travel plans.
Weather systems result from complex interactions between solar radiation, Earth's rotation, atmospheric pressure, and moisture. These forces create everything from gentle breezes to devastating hurricanes. Modern meteorology uses satellites, radar, and computer models to predict weather patterns with increasing accuracy.
The distinction between weather and climate is crucial: weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate describes long-term patterns. You experience weather daily, but climate shapes ecosystems and civilizations over decades and centuries.
Weather profoundly impacts human activities. Agriculture depends on seasonal patterns, aviation requires precise forecasts, and extreme weather events can reshape communities. The economic impact of weather is estimated in the trillions globally, affecting everything from energy consumption to retail sales.
As a Scrabble word, WEATHER offers excellent opportunities. Its 7 letters enable the valuable bingo bonus, while the W (4 points) and H (4 points) provide solid scoring. The word's common usage and familiar spelling make it easy to remember during gameplay.
WEATHER comes from Old English "weder," originally meaning "air, sky, breeze, storm." This traces back to Proto-Germanic "*wedra-" and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root "*we-dhro-," related to "wind" and "blow."
The word's evolution reflects ancient observations of atmospheric phenomena. Early Germanic peoples used variations of "weder" to describe both calm and stormy conditions. The Dutch "weer," German "Wetter," and Swedish "väder" all share this common ancestry.
Interestingly, "weather" as a verb (meaning "to endure" or "to expose to the elements") emerged in the 1650s. This usage gave us phrases like "weather the storm," both literally surviving bad weather and metaphorically enduring hardship.
The nautical term "weather side" (the side exposed to wind) dates from the 1620s, showing how maritime culture influenced the word's development. Sailors' need for precise weather terminology enriched English with numerous weather-related expressions.
Modern weather forecasting combines atmospheric physics, advanced mathematics, and powerful supercomputers. Meteorologists analyze data from thousands of weather stations, satellites, radar systems, and weather balloons to create predictive models.
Key measurements include barometric pressure (predicting storms), humidity levels (indicating precipitation likelihood), wind patterns (showing system movements), and temperature gradients (revealing frontal boundaries). These elements interact in complex ways that challenge even our best models.
Weather prediction accuracy decreases rapidly beyond 7-10 days due to the chaotic nature of atmospheric systems - the famous "butterfly effect." Small changes in initial conditions can lead to vastly different outcomes, making long-range forecasting inherently uncertain.
•WEATHER scores 13 base points, or 63 with the 50-point bingo bonus - the W and H tiles add significant value
•The highest temperature ever recorded was 134°F (56.7°C) in Death Valley, California in 1913
•Lightning strikes Earth about 100 times per second - that's 8.6 million strikes per day
•"Whether" and "weather" are homophones often confused in writing, but only WEATHER relates to atmospheric conditions
"The weather forecast predicts heavy rain this weekend."
"Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change."
"The old barn had weathered many storms over the decades."
"Playing WEATHER as a bingo earned me 63 points!"
Total base points: 13 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 3 | Consonants: 4
Build from WEATHER:
CLIMATE
Long-term patterns
STORM
Severe weather
RAIN
Precipitation
WIND
Moving air
CLOUD
Sky formation
FORECAST
Weather prediction
Other valuable words in Scrabble
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