What's the weather like
A very common alternative, literally meaning 'How is the weather?'. Use it interchangeably with the main phrase.
Means 'How is the climate?'. Often used informally to mean 'weather', especially in Mexico and Colombia.
A more specific question: 'Is it sunny?'. You can replace 'sol' with 'lluvia' (rain), 'viento' (wind), or 'nubes' (clouds).
Hi Juan, what's the weather like today in your city?
I don't know what clothes to wear. How is the weather outside?
Before leaving on a trip, I always check what the weather is like at my destination.
We're going to the beach, but first, what's the weather like? Is it sunny?
Both '¿Qué tiempo hace?' and '¿Cómo está el tiempo?' are widely used and understood everywhere. You can't go wrong with either.
In these countries, asking '¿Cómo está el clima?' is extremely common in everyday conversation to ask about the day's weather, even though 'clima' technically means climate.
'¿Cómo está el tiempo?' is particularly frequent in the Southern Cone. '¿Qué tiempo hace?' is also perfectly understood.
'¿Qué tiempo hace?' is the most standard and frequently taught phrase. While other forms are understood, this is the default question.
¿Cómo es el tiempo? — ¿Cómo está el tiempo? — This is a classic 'ser vs. estar' error. Use 'está' for temporary conditions like weather. 'Es' would imply a permanent, unchanging characteristic, which doesn't fit for daily weather.
¿Qué como es el tiempo? — ¿Qué tiempo hace? — English speakers often try to translate 'like' directly to 'como'. In Spanish, the question is structured differently. Avoid adding 'como' here.
Using 'calor' as a verb. — Hace calor. — To say 'It's hot,' you use the expression 'Hace calor,' not '*Está calor*' or '*Es calor*'. The verb 'hacer' is used for many weather expressions (hace frío, hace viento, hace sol).
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