Le previsioni del tempo – literally the weather forecasts (N.B. we use the plural in Italian) is more commonly known as il meteo (think of the word meteorological).

Like any specialized field, il meteo has its own particular vocabulary, which can be pretty daunting when all you want to know is whether it will be sunny or rainy tomorrow. Here is a useful meteo website that gives clear descriptions of the weather situation here in Italy, and if the words get too much there are also nice illustrative weather maps with appropriate pictures of suns and clouds: http://meteolive.leonardo.it/previsioni-meteo/ 

Here is an excerpt from il meteo for last weekend, with my translation:

Fine settimana incerto per molte regioni: ecco le ultime notizie

Uncertain  weekend for many areas: here’s the latest news

Instabilità in accentuazione su molte regioni stante la presenza di una saccatura sull’Italia.

Increasing instability in many areas due to the presence of a trough of low pressure over Italy. 

Fine settimana non ottimale per chi ama il sole, il bel tempo, il caldo ed i mari lisci come l’olio.

Not a very good weekend for those who love sun, good weather, warmth, and sea as smooth as oil.

Sia sabato che domenica l’Italia verrà interessata da una saccatura atlantica che, pur non portando un sistema frontale organizzato, creerà le condizioni per la formazione di qualche temporale, che si muoverà da nord-ovest verso sud-est.

Both on Saturday and Sunday Italy will be affected by an Atlantic trough (low pressure) which, whilst not bringing in a clear frontal system, will create the conditions for the formation of thunderstorms which will move from the north-west to the south-east.

Entriamo meglio nel dettaglio con il tempo di sabato. Ecco la cartina incentrata per il primo pomeriggio della giornata in questione. 

Let’s go into more detail with Saturday’s weather. Here’s the map for early Saturday afternoon.

Come si può notare, gran parte del nord Italia avrà un tempo inaffidabile. Qualche temporale si prevede prima al nord-est, mentre in serata gli sconfinamenti temporaleschi dalle Alpi potrebbero dare luogo ad un peggioramento anche al nord-ovest.

As you can see, a large part of northern Italy will have unpredictable (literally ‘untrustworthy’) weather. Several thunderstorms are predicted, beginning in the north east, whilst in the evening thunderstorms spreading (literally ‘trespassing’) from the Alps could also give place to a deterioration in the north-west.

Qualche precipitazione di passaggio (da ovest verso est) si prevede anche al centro-sud, specie nelle zone interne. Ancora vento forte sulla Sardegna e mari circostanti non in buone condizioni.

Some passing showers (from west to east) are also predicted in the center south, especially in inland areas. Once again there will be strong winds in Sardegna, with the surrounding seas not in good condition (i.e. no swimming!)

Il tempo migliore, oltre che sulla Sardegna (a parte il vento) lo avremo sulla Sicilia e sulle regioni estreme meridionali.

We’ll have the best weather, other than in Sardegna (apart from the wind) in Sicily and the extreme southern areas.

Unfortunately, this time il meteo was accurate!

In part 2 I’ll give you a list of weather vocabulary and take a look at colloquial ways of talking about the weather.