What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is what the atmosphere is doing over hours or days, such as rain or sunshine. Climate is the average pattern of weather in a place over many years, usually 30 or more.
Weather includes temperature, rain, snow, wind, humidity and clouds at a given time. It can change quickly; a sunny morning can turn into a stormy afternoon. Weather forecasts predict these short-term conditions.
Climate describes what weather is usually like in a region, including averages and extremes. For example, the Sahara has a hot desert climate and London has a mild, wet one. Scientists usually calculate climate averages over 30-year periods.
A simple way to remember
A common saying puts it this way: climate is what you expect, weather is what you get. A single cold day does not disprove a warming climate, and one hot summer does not prove it. Climate change refers to long-term shifts in these average patterns.
Did You Know?
Earth's average surface temperature has risen by more than 1°C since the late 1800s, and the last decade includes the warmest years on record.