Weather and Climate Basics


From NOAA Ocean Service Education Website



What is the difference between weather and climate? Weather is the air temperature, cloud cover, precipitation , wind, moisture content, and air pressure at any particular time in any particular place.


Three tropical cyclones head into the Gulf of Mexico

Weather reflects the prevailing conditions of the air masses overlying the land and seas over the entire globe.



Climate is the overall picture of weather during periods of seasons or years. Historical records (including geological and recorded history) show us how the climate of the Earth has changed throughout its history.


An old saying goes,

"climate is what you expect, weather is what you get."