Weather vs climate — What’s the difference?
It’s been a common question for decades, and it’s never been more important to understand as we deal with our growing climate crisis.
The difference between climate and weather is a simple concept to grasp, but we’ll try to break it down for you in the most easy-to-understand way.
So, let’s get to it!
Weather vs Climate
Wondering how are weather and climate different?
The difference between climate and weather is that weather is the condition of the atmosphere in a particular, short period of time at a specific location, whereas climate is the average state of the atmosphere over a much longer period of time, usually a span of 30 years, and covering a much larger region.
As such, the greatest difference between weather and climate is duration, although climate also covers a larger area, as well.
Let’s break it down even further:
What is Weather?
Weather is the conditions in the air or the atmospheric state at a particular place and point in time regarding heat vs cold, wet or dry, sky clarity or storminess, windspeed, atmospheric pressure, and other factors. Weather involves short-term atmospheric changes.
What is Climate?
Climate is the expected trend or outlook for weather patterns in a particular area, most often averaged over a period of 30 years or so. Climate is a long-term evaluation of weather.
Take a look at this chart outlining the main differences between climate and weather:
It will reach a high of 90 degrees fahrenheit today, pretty hot!
It’s raining today, so I should bring an umbrella with me and wear my poncho as I commute to work.
It will be cold today.
Meteorologists forecast the weather, often for a 10-day period.
Weather tells us what to wear today.
It is generally hot during the summer in Texas and Mexico.
Since I’m traveling to Tutunendo, Colombia during the springtime, I should pack an umbrella.
It is usually cold in January.
Climatologists study the climate and climate change over 30-year periods.
Climate determines the clothes in our closet.
So, that was our guide on the differences between climate and weather!
What did you think?
We hope you found it easy to comprehend and that now you understand it better. Got any questions, feedback, or other points to add on climate vs weather? Let us know below in the comments, and thanks for reading!
Want some more difference busters? Check out our articles on the differences between US passport cards vs passport books, magnetic north vs true north, epidemics vs pandemics, Hispanic vs Latina, and race vs ethnicity.