Weather is the short-term condition of the atmosphere. It includes temperature, rain, wind, clouds, humidity, storms, and pressure from hour to hour or day to day.

What climate means

Climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a place, usually measured over many years. A region's climate describes what conditions are typical, not what happens on one afternoon.

Why the difference matters

A cold day does not disprove a warming climate, and one hot day does not define a climate. Climate is the broader pattern behind many individual weather events.

Weather concepts like humidity, wind chill, heat index, and dew point help describe short-term conditions.