Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Weather & Climate: What is the difference between the two?

11:00
27 August 2023

Weather & Climate
What is the difference between the two?

Climate tree

Weather and climate. It can often be difficult to differentiate between these two entities, as they are both intrinsically linked but with key differences.

While weather looks at the minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, day-to-day changes in the atmosphere, climate looks at the long-term average of weather conditions at a local, regional and global scale.

Secondly, like weather, climate varies around the world based on latitude, altitude, and the influence of nearby water bodies. The only other major difference is that climate involves looking at the oceans and ice on the planet, as well as its atmosphere.

Meteorologists, climatologists, and scientists collect climate data to assess how the world has changed and how it is changing. They also use this data to look at the impact of climate on animals, humans, and weather patterns around the world.

So while the weather is right here, right now, climate looks a little deeper look into what is happening around the world over a longer period of time.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
A wet start before conditions settle. Commonwealth Games 2026. . . Wednesday 22 July 2026
Split image showing a weather map for western Scotland with widespread rain around Glasgow on the left, and runners poised at a starting line on an athletics track on the right.
Wednesday 22 July 2026

Commonwealth Games 2026

A wet start before conditions settle
Drought for North Wales and Upper Severn. 2% of average rainfall. . . Thursday 23 July 2026
Split image showing a July rainfall anomaly map of Europe on the left with below-average rainfall across the UK, Ireland, and much of western and central Europe, and an active moorland wildfire on the right producing flames and thick smoke near homes.
Thursday 23 July 2026

2% of average rainfall

Drought for North Wales and Upper Severn
Forest fires are getting out of control. Spain and France. . . Saturday 25 July 2026
A split-screen image featuring a photograph and a weather map. On the left, thick, dark-grey smoke rises from several fire sites in a wooded coastal area; a calm stretch of water can be seen in the foreground. On the right, a weather map shows south-western France and northern Spain. A red arrow points from the Atlantic towards the French Atlantic coast, symbolising an onshore wind. Sunny weather is forecast for Bordeaux at around 20 degrees, and Bilbao is also expected to be sunny at around 27 degrees. A large warning sign with a flame symbol indicates an increased risk of forest fires.
Saturday 25 July 2026

Spain and France

Forest fires are getting out of control
All weather news
This might also interest you
A frozen start to the weekend. Icy conditions. . . Friday 13 February 2026
UK temperature map dated 14.02 showing widespread subzero values in blue shading, with readings such as −4 in Glasgow, −3 in Dublin, and −2 in London, alongside a blue thermometer icon.
Friday 13 February 2026

Icy conditions

A frozen start to the weekend
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. 40 °C in July?. . . Tuesday 30 June 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday 30 June 2026

40 °C in July?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList