Northern Europe especially the UK is experiencing extreme cold which is prolonged and has had serious consequences on everyday life. Whereas in Portugal there has been excessive rainfall also too in Brazil where hundreds have died from mud slides caused by torrential rain. People may wonder with such cold and wet how can there be global warming ............ a good question!
Websters dictionary defines climate as:
the prevailing or average weather conditions of a place, as determined by the temperature and meteorological changes over a period of years.
and weather as:
the general condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place, with regard to the temperature, moisture, cloudiness, etc.
Weather therefore is something experienced everyday and climate is long term. There is no doubt that global warming is being experienced by the planet and a consequence of this is a disruption to general weather conditions. We are frequently asked what the weather will be like during a particular month and these days our answer is always the same - we do not know!