Weather vs. Climate — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Weather and Climate
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Definitions
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, describing for example the degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. On Earth, most weather phenomena occur in the lowest layer of the planet's atmosphere, the troposphere, just below the stratosphere.
Climate
Climate is the long-term average of weather, typically averaged over a period of 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years.
Weather
The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place, with respect to variables such as temperature, moisture, wind velocity, and barometric pressure.
Climate
The meteorological conditions, including temperature, precipitation, and wind, that characteristically prevail in a particular region.
Weather
Adverse or destructive atmospheric conditions, such as high winds or heavy rain
Encountered weather five miles out to sea.
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Climate
A region of the earth having particular meteorological conditions
Lives in a cold climate.
Weather
The unpleasant or destructive effects of such atmospheric conditions
Protected the house from the weather.
Climate
A prevailing condition or set of attitudes in human affairs
A climate of unrest.
Weather
Weathers Changes of fortune
Had known him in many weathers.
Climate
The long-term manifestations of weather and other atmospheric conditions in a given area or country, now usually represented by the statistical summary of its weather conditions during a period long enough to ensure that representative values are obtained (generally 30 years).
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Weather
To expose to the action of the elements, as for drying, seasoning, or coloring.
Climate
(figuratively) The context in general of a particular political, moral, etc., situation.
Industries that require a lot of fossil fuels are unlikely to be popular in the current political climate.
Weather
To discolor, disintegrate, wear, or otherwise affect adversely by exposure.
Climate
(non-standard) climate change
Weather
To come through (something) safely; survive
Weather a crisis.
Climate
(obsolete) An area of the earth's surface between two parallels of latitude.
Weather
To slope (a roof, for example) so as to shed water.
Climate
(obsolete) A region of the Earth.
Weather
To pass to windward of (a natural feature) despite adverse weather
Weathered Cape Horn in a gale.
Climate
To dwell.
Weather
To gain an advantageous position upwind of (another vessel), as in a race or naval battle.
Climate
One of thirty regions or zones, parallel to the equator, into which the surface of the earth from the equator to the pole was divided, according to the successive increase of the length of the midsummer day.
Weather
To show the effects, such as discoloration, of exposure to the elements
The walls of the barn had weathered.
Climate
The condition of a place in relation to various phenomena of the atmosphere, as temperature, moisture, etc., especially as they affect animal or vegetable life.
Weather
To withstand the effects of weather
A house paint that weathers well.
Climate
To dwell.
Weather
(Nautical) Of or relating to the windward side of a ship; windward.
Climate
The weather in some location averaged over some long period of time;
The dank climate of southern Wales
Plants from a cold clime travel best in winter
Weather
Relating to or used in weather forecasting
A weather plane.
Climate
The prevailing psychological state;
The climate of opinion
The national mood had changed radically since the last election
Weather
The short term state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including the temperature, relative humidity, cloud cover, precipitation, wind, etc.
What's the weather like today?
We'll go for a walk when the weather's better.
The garden party was called off due to bad weather.
Here and there, the weather on the sea allowed two of their friends to hear and see, too.
Weather
Unpleasant or destructive atmospheric conditions, and their effects.
Wooden garden furniture must be well oiled as it is continuously exposed to weather.
Weather
(nautical) The direction from which the wind is blowing; used attributively to indicate the windward side.
Weather
A situation.
Weather
(obsolete) A storm; a tempest.
Weather
(obsolete) A light shower of rain.
Weather
Facing towards the flow of a fluid, usually air.
Weather side, weather helm
Weather
To expose to the weather, or show the effects of such exposure, or to withstand such effects.
Weather
(by extension) To sustain the trying effect of; to bear up against and overcome; to endure; to resist.
Weather
To break down, of rocks and other materials, under the effects of exposure to rain, sunlight, temperature, and air.
Weather
(nautical) To pass to windward in a vessel, especially to beat 'round.
To weather a cape
To weather another ship
Weather
(nautical) To endure or survive an event or action without undue damage.
Joshua weathered a collision with a freighter near South Africa.
Weather
(falconry) To place (a hawk) unhooded in the open air.
Weather
The state of the air or atmosphere with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, clearness or cloudiness, or any other meteorological phenomena; meteorological condition of the atmosphere; as, warm weather; cold weather; wet weather; dry weather, etc.
Not amiss to cool a man's stomach this hot weather.
Fair weather cometh out of the north.
Weather
Vicissitude of season; meteorological change; alternation of the state of the air.
Weather
Storm; tempest.
What gusts of weather from that gathering cloudMy thoughts presage!
Weather
A light rain; a shower.
Peace to the artist whose ingenious thoughtDevised the weather house, that useful toy!
Weather
To expose to the air; to air; to season by exposure to air.
[An eagle] soaring through his wide empire of the airTo weather his broad sails.
This gear lacks weathering.
Weather
Hence, to sustain the trying effect of; to bear up against and overcome; to sustain; to endure; to resist; as, to weather the storm.
For I can weather the roughest gale.
You will weather the difficulties yet.
Weather
To sail or pass to the windward of; as, to weather a cape; to weather another ship.
Weather
To place (a hawk) unhooded in the open air.
Weather
To undergo or endure the action of the atmosphere; to suffer meteorological influences; sometimes, to wear away, or alter, under atmospheric influences; to suffer waste by weather.
The organisms . . . seem indestructible, while the hard matrix in which they are imbedded has weathered from around them.
Weather
Being toward the wind, or windward - opposed to lee; as, weather bow, weather braces, weather gauge, weather lifts, weather quarter, weather shrouds, etc.
To veer, and tack, and steer a causeAgainst the weather gauge of laws.
Weather
The meteorological conditions: temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation;
They were hoping for good weather
Every day we have weather conditions and yesterday was no exception
Weather
Face or endure with courage;
She braved the elements
Weather
Cause to slope
Weather
Sail to the windward of
Weather
Change under the action or influence of the weather;
A weathered old hut
Weather
Towards the side exposed to wind
