Weather vs. Climate: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Weather is the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area, while climate refers to the long-term patterns of weather in a larger region.
Key Differences
Weather describes immediate atmospheric conditions, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation. Climate, in contrast, is the average of these conditions over decades in a specific region.
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Nov 22, 2023
Weather can change rapidly, from sunny to stormy within hours. Climate, however, indicates the long-term trends and patterns, evolving over years or centuries.
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Nov 22, 2023
Weather forecasting predicts short-term atmospheric changes, crucial for daily planning. Climate analysis, however, involves studying historical weather patterns to understand long-term environmental changes.
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Nov 22, 2023
Extreme weather events, like hurricanes, are specific, short-lived occurrences. Climate change, conversely, encompasses long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
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Nov 22, 2023
Weather is experienced daily and is often unpredictable. Climate is consistent with the expected conditions of a region, like a desert’s arid climate or a rainforest’s wet climate.
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Nov 22, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Word Origin
Old English "weder" (air, sky, storm)
Late Middle English, from Old French "climat"
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Nov 22, 2023
Common Usage
Refers to atmospheric conditions at a given time
Refers to the average weather conditions
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Nov 22, 2023
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Weather and Climate Definitions
Weather
The state of the atmosphere at a particular time and place.
The weather today is sunny and warm.
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Nov 17, 2023
Climate
A region's usual pattern of weather over a long period.
The climate change is impacting the polar regions significantly.
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Nov 17, 2023
Weather
The daily or momentary state of the sky and air.
We had great weather during our beach vacation.
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Nov 17, 2023
Climate
The average weather conditions of a region over a long period.
The Mediterranean climate is known for its hot, dry summers.
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Nov 17, 2023
Weather
Meteorological conditions affecting a specific area.
The weather in the city is different from the countryside.
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Nov 17, 2023
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Climate
The meteorological conditions, including temperature, precipitation, and wind, that characteristically prevail in a particular region.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place, with respect to variables such as temperature, moisture, wind velocity, and barometric pressure.
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
A region of the earth having particular meteorological conditions
Lives in a cold climate.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
Adverse or destructive atmospheric conditions, such as high winds or heavy rain
Encountered weather five miles out to sea.
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
A prevailing condition or set of attitudes in human affairs
A climate of unrest.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
The unpleasant or destructive effects of such atmospheric conditions
Protected the house from the weather.
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
The long-term manifestations of weather and other atmospheric conditions in a given area or country, now usually represented by the statistical summary of its weather conditions during a period long enough to ensure that representative values are obtained (generally 30 years).
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
(figuratively) The context in general of a particular political, moral, etc., situation.
Industries that require a lot of fossil fuels are unlikely to be popular in the current political climate.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
To expose to the action of the elements, as for drying, seasoning, or coloring.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
To discolor, disintegrate, wear, or otherwise affect adversely by exposure.
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
(obsolete) An area of the earth's surface between two parallels of latitude.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
To pass to windward of (a natural feature) despite adverse weather
Weathered Cape Horn in a gale.
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
One of thirty regions or zones, parallel to the equator, into which the surface of the earth from the equator to the pole was divided, according to the successive increase of the length of the midsummer day.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
To gain an advantageous position upwind of (another vessel), as in a race or naval battle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
The condition of a place in relation to various phenomena of the atmosphere, as temperature, moisture, etc., especially as they affect animal or vegetable life.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
To show the effects, such as discoloration, of exposure to the elements
The walls of the barn had weathered.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
To withstand the effects of weather
A house paint that weathers well.
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
The weather in some location averaged over some long period of time;
The dank climate of southern Wales
Plants from a cold clime travel best in winter
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
(Nautical) Of or relating to the windward side of a ship; windward.
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
The prevailing psychological state;
The climate of opinion
The national mood had changed radically since the last election
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
The long-term pattern of weather in a particular area.
The climate of the region is generally mild and wet.
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Nov 17, 2023
Weather
The short term state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including the temperature, relative humidity, cloud cover, precipitation, wind, etc.
What's the weather like today?
We'll go for a walk when the weather's better.
The garden party was called off due to bad weather.
Here and there, the weather on the sea allowed two of their friends to hear and see, too.
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
The prevailing weather patterns of a region over many years.
The desert has an arid climate with little rainfall.
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Nov 17, 2023
Weather
Unpleasant or destructive atmospheric conditions, and their effects.
Wooden garden furniture must be well oiled as it is continuously exposed to weather.
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Oct 19, 2023
Climate
The general weather conditions characteristic of a region.
The climate in tropical regions is typically hot and humid.
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Nov 17, 2023
Weather
(nautical) The direction from which the wind is blowing; used attributively to indicate the windward side.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
Facing towards the flow of a fluid, usually air.
Weather side, weather helm
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
To expose to the weather, or show the effects of such exposure, or to withstand such effects.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
(by extension) To sustain the trying effect of; to bear up against and overcome; to endure; to resist.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
To break down, of rocks and other materials, under the effects of exposure to rain, sunlight, temperature, and air.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
(nautical) To pass to windward in a vessel, especially to beat 'round.
To weather a cape
To weather another ship
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
(nautical) To endure or survive an event or action without undue damage.
Joshua weathered a collision with a freighter near South Africa.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
The state of the air or atmosphere with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, clearness or cloudiness, or any other meteorological phenomena; meteorological condition of the atmosphere; as, warm weather; cold weather; wet weather; dry weather, etc.
Not amiss to cool a man's stomach this hot weather.
Fair weather cometh out of the north.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
Vicissitude of season; meteorological change; alternation of the state of the air.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
Storm; tempest.
What gusts of weather from that gathering cloudMy thoughts presage!
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
A light rain; a shower.
Peace to the artist whose ingenious thoughtDevised the weather house, that useful toy!
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
To expose to the air; to air; to season by exposure to air.
[An eagle] soaring through his wide empire of the airTo weather his broad sails.
This gear lacks weathering.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
Hence, to sustain the trying effect of; to bear up against and overcome; to sustain; to endure; to resist; as, to weather the storm.
For I can weather the roughest gale.
You will weather the difficulties yet.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
To sail or pass to the windward of; as, to weather a cape; to weather another ship.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
To undergo or endure the action of the atmosphere; to suffer meteorological influences; sometimes, to wear away, or alter, under atmospheric influences; to suffer waste by weather.
The organisms . . . seem indestructible, while the hard matrix in which they are imbedded has weathered from around them.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
Being toward the wind, or windward - opposed to lee; as, weather bow, weather braces, weather gauge, weather lifts, weather quarter, weather shrouds, etc.
To veer, and tack, and steer a causeAgainst the weather gauge of laws.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
The meteorological conditions: temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation;
They were hoping for good weather
Every day we have weather conditions and yesterday was no exception
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
Change under the action or influence of the weather;
A weathered old hut
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Oct 19, 2023
Weather
Atmospheric conditions including temperature, wind, and precipitation.
The weather forecast predicts rain for the weekend.
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Nov 17, 2023
Weather
The short-term variations in the atmosphere.
The weather can change quickly in the mountains.
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Nov 17, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can weather change rapidly?
Yes, weather can change within hours or even minutes.
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Nov 22, 2023
Does climate change quickly?
No, climate change refers to gradual changes over long periods, such as decades or centuries.
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Nov 22, 2023
What does climate mean?
Climate is the long-term average of weather patterns in a larger area, typically over decades.
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Nov 22, 2023
What is weather?
Weather refers to the current state of the atmosphere in a specific area, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation.
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Nov 22, 2023
What affects weather?
Weather is influenced by factors like atmospheric pressure, temperature, and moisture levels.
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Nov 22, 2023
How is weather different from climate?
Weather represents short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate indicates long-term trends and patterns.
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Nov 22, 2023
What determines a region's climate?
Climate is determined by the long-term average of weather elements like temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns.
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Nov 22, 2023
Can weather be accurately predicted?
Weather can be predicted with some accuracy for short periods, usually up to a week.
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Nov 22, 2023
Is climate predictable?
Climate predictions involve long-term trends and are less precise than weather forecasts.
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Nov 22, 2023
Are weather and climate the same?
No, they are different; weather is short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate is the long-term pattern.
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Nov 22, 2023
What is a weather forecast?
A weather forecast predicts atmospheric conditions over a short period, like days or a week.
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Nov 22, 2023
Do weather patterns affect climate?
Yes, long-term weather patterns contribute to defining a region's climate.
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Nov 22, 2023
What role does the ocean play in weather and climate?
Oceans significantly influence both weather and climate by affecting temperature and precipitation patterns.
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Nov 22, 2023
Can human activities affect climate?
Yes, activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation contribute to climate change.
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Nov 22, 2023
What is the difference between a meteorologist and a climatologist?
A meteorologist specializes in weather forecasting, while a climatologist studies long-term climate patterns and trends.
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Nov 22, 2023
What is a climate model?
A climate model simulates the Earth's climate system to project future climate changes over decades.
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Nov 22, 2023
How do we study climate?
Climate is studied using historical weather data, climate models, and analysis of natural indicators like tree rings.
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Nov 22, 2023
What is global warming?
Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities.
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Nov 22, 2023
How does climate change impact weather?
Climate change can lead to more extreme and unpredictable weather events.
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Nov 22, 2023
Why is understanding climate important?
Understanding climate helps in predicting long-term environmental changes and preparing for their impacts.
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Nov 22, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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