What is climate normal?
Quick Answer
A climate normal is a long-term average of weather measurements for a place, usually calculated over 30 years. It provides a baseline for comparing current conditions.
The Full Story
Climate normals are standardized by the World Meteorological Organization using 30-year periods, such as 1991–2020. They are used to compare a day's temperature, rainfall, or snowfall with what is typical for that location and season. Normals are not predictions; they are reference values based on observed history. They help meteorologists, farmers, planners, and the public understand whether weather is unusually warm, cold, wet, or dry.
Key Facts
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"The baseline that tells you whether today’s weather is actually unusual."
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