Home / Editor's Pick /

Weather & Climate: What is the difference between the two?

11:00
27 August 2023

Weather & Climate
What is the difference between the two?

Climate tree

Weather and climate. It can often be difficult to differentiate between these two entities, as they are both intrinsically linked but with key differences.

While weather looks at the minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, day-to-day changes in the atmosphere, climate looks at the long-term average of weather conditions at a local, regional and global scale.

Secondly, like weather, climate varies around the world based on latitude, altitude, and the influence of nearby water bodies. The only other major difference is that climate involves looking at the oceans and ice on the planet, as well as its atmosphere.

Meteorologists, climatologists, and scientists collect climate data to assess how the world has changed and how it is changing. They also use this data to look at the impact of climate on animals, humans, and weather patterns around the world.

So while the weather is right here, right now, climate looks a little deeper look into what is happening around the world over a longer period of time.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Split image showing a snowy Christmas market on the left and a UK weather map on the right with pink zones indicating widespread snowfall over Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Newcastle, plus white snow icons.
Monday, 8 December 2025

Everyone wants to know...

How likely is a White Christmas?
Map comparison showing 44 degrees in Indulkana and minus 51 degrees in Olenyok. Coloured temperature ranges show stark global contrasts.
Tuesday, 9 December 2025

Global extremes

Almost 100 degrees difference in temperature
Split image showing a towering storm cloud with rain shafts over the sea on the left and a vivid red aurora illuminating the night sky above residential rooftops on the right, divided by a curved white line.
Tuesday, 9 December 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Autumn captured by you
All weather news
This might also interest you
Sunday, 24 August 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mammatus clouds widely spotted
Monday, 25 August 2025

Bank holiday outlook

Warm day turning gusty in places
Friday, 22 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Sunny start for some, overcast later
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList