The difference between climate and weather is primarily a matter of time scale and scope. Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific place at a given moment or over days — such as temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation that can change minute-to-minute or day-to-day. In contrast, climate describes the long-term average of weather patterns and trends in a region over decades or more, typically 30 years or longer. Climate includes averages and ranges of temperature, rainfall, and other factors and helps to understand the typical conditions expected in an area.

To put it simply: weather is what you experience day-to-day , while climate is what you expect based on long-term patterns. For example, a single snowy day is weather, but the generally cold and snowy winters of northern Europe reflect its climate. Understanding this distinction is important for grasping environmental topics like climate change, which involves changes in long-term climate trends rather than short-term weather fluctuations.

Summary of Key Differences

• Weather: Short-term, immediate atmospheric conditions (minutes to days)
• Climate: Long-term average of weather conditions over decades or longer
• Weather is dynamic and highly variable; climate shows stable patterns over time
• Climate shapes what to expect in a region; weather represents the actual conditions experienced daily

This understanding clarifies why a cold day does not contradict global warming—a climate phenomenon indicating long-term global temperature increases—not short-term weather events.