The Difference Between Weather and Climate

Weather and climate are often confused, but they are actually quite different. Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area, such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation. In contrast, climate refers to the long-term patterns and averages of these conditions. For example, South Africa's weather may be hot and dry on a specific day, but its climate is generally warm with a mix of dry and wet seasons. Understanding this distinction is important in Grade 7 Geography when learning about Physical Geography, specifically weather and climate.