| Term | Definition |
| Weather | combination of temperature, precipitation, cloud cover and winds experienced daily |
| Climate | temperature, precipitation, and conditions of a place averaged over a long period of time |
| Avg Annual Temp | monthly average temperature added together and divided by 12 |
| Continental | climate type that develops away from the influence of the ocean with a large annual temperature range and low precipitation |
| Temp Range | subtraction of coldest average monthly temperature from warmest average monthly temperature |
| Maritime | climate type that is strongly influenced by the closeness of an ocean or large water body and has a small annual temperature range and lots of precipitation |
| Jet Stream | west to east movement of air in the mid-latitude flowing at speeds of 400 km/h at an altitude between 8,000-15,000 m |
| Relief | precipitation created when an air mass rises to cross a mountain barrier. Also called orographic precipitation. |
| Convectional | precipitation caused on hot summer days when heated land causes the air above it to rise. As the air rises, it cools and creates condensation. |
| Cyclonic | precipitation caused when a warm, moist air mass is forced to rise by a cool, dry air mass. Also called frontal precipitation. |
| Front | leading edge of an air mass |
| Leeward | side of a mountain range that faces away from the prevailing wind |
| Warm Front | boundary between a cold air mass and an advancing warm air mass |
| Cold Front | boundary between a warm air mass and an advancing cold air mass |
| Rain Shadow | area on the side of a mountain range with very little precipitation occurs because evaporation is greater than condensation |
| Windward | the side of a mountain range that faces the prevailing wind |