Climate and Weather
The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over
a short period of time. Climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time . Salem, Oregon is
on the 45th parallel. We have students attending from Eastern Oregon who live just north of the 45 th parallel in Condon
and just south in John Day. Their weather is NOT the same as Salem. Remember what we learned in the September
Learning Activity about what influences weather in relation to specific geographic locations at the same parallel?
Following are the Climate data for Salem, OR, West Palm Beach, Miami, and Big Pine Key, Florida. Any rows that did
not contain data in the original charts have been deleted. Which month in Salem is do you think is MOST like February
in Big Pine Key?
Climate Salem - Oregon
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Average high in °F:
48
52
56
61 68
74
Average low in °F:
35
35
37
40 45
49
Av. precipitation in inch: 5.94
4.57 3.98 2.8 2.2 1.54
Average snowfall in inch: 1
3
0
0
0
0
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high in °F:
82
82
77
64
53
46
Average low in °F:
53
53
48
42
38
34
Av. precipitation in inch: 0.47 0.43 1.3 3.03 6.5 6.85
Salem weather averages
Annual high temperature:
63.6°F
Annual low temperature:
42.4°F
Average temperature:
53°F
Average annual precipitation - rainfall: 39.61 inch
Av. annual snowfall:
6 inch
Climate West Palm Beach - Florida
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Average high in °F:
75
76
79
82
86
88
Average low in °F:
57
59
62
66
71
74
Av. precipitation in inch: 3.15 2.83 4.61 3.66
4.53 8.31
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high in °F:
90
90
88
85
80
76
Average low in °F:
76
76
75
72
65
60
Av. precipitation in inch: 5.75 7.95 8.35 5.12 4.76 3.39
West Palm Beach weather averages
Annual high temperature:
82.9°F
Annual low temperature:
67.8°F
Average temperature:
75.35°F
Average annual precipitation - rainfall: 62.41 inch
Climate Miami - Florida
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Average high in °F:
76
78
80
83
87
89
Average low in °F:
60
62
65
68
73
76
Av. precipitation in inch: 1.61 2.24
2.99 3.15 5.35 9.69
Days with precipitation: 6
6
Hours of sunshine:
5
222 227
7
10
13
266 275 280 251
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high in °F:
91 91
89
86
82
78
Average low in °F:
77 77
76
74
68
63
Av. precipitation in inch: 6.5 8.9 9.84 6.34 3.27 2.05
Days with precipitation: 17 16
Hours of sunshine:
18
15
8
7
267 263 216 215 212 209
Miami weather averages
Annual high temperature:
84.2°F
Annual low temperature:
69.9°F
Average temperature:
77.05°F
Average annual precipitation - rainfall:
61.93 inch
Days per year with precipitation - rainfall: 128 days
Annual hours of sunshine:
2903 hours
Av. annual snowfall:
0
Climate Big Pine Key - Florida
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Average high in °F:
75 77 79 82
86 88
Average low in °F:
62 64 67 70
74 77
Av. precipitation in inch: 2.24 2.72 2.4 2.13 3.07 6.34
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high in °F:
89 90 88 85 80 76
Average low in °F:
78 78 77 75 70 65
Av. precipitation in inch: 4.37 6.26 6.57 5.39 2.48 1.97
Big Pine Key weather averages
Annual high temperature:
82.9°F
Annual low temperature:
71.4°F
Average temperature:
77.15°F
Average annual precipitation - rainfall: 45.94 inch