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
The weather map shows extremely low temperatures in Canada.
Monday, 15 December 2025

Minus 53 degrees

Record cold in Canada's Yukon Territory
pinecones
Thursday, 11 December 2025

Winter helpers

How pine cones aid the weather forecast
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
Mammatus clouds
Thursday, 21 August 2025

Unusual view

Mammatus clouds over Ireland
Friday, 22 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Sunny start for some, overcast later
Split weather map showing UK wind speeds in orange-red shades up to 40 mph on the left and warning levels in green-yellow on the right, with a central wind warning sign.
Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Warnings active

Storm Benjamin impacts the UK
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