Time Is EverythingWhen it comes to distinguishing between weather and climate, weather generally covers short and specific timeframes and locations, while climate focuses on trends and statistical ups and downs over decades.

A forecast model is essentially a supercomputer that attempts to simulate behaviors in the atmosphere. An ensemble refers to a group of these supercomputers, each of which has a different variation. This allows us to assign a probability to a certain weather event happening.

The National Weather Service states that a snowstorm is "any storm that produces snow," which can form "anytime, anywhere." A nor'easter is a little different.

The National Weather Service issues a variety of weather warnings and advisories. Here's what they mean in Michigan.

An ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day is in effect, starting at midnight tonight and lasting throughout tomorrow morning. This is for wind chills that could be below zero during the early morning hours.

A winter storm that will likely not quite reach “bomb cyclone” status is nonetheless bringing messy weather to the eastern part of the U.S. today, with snow totals of a foot expected in parts of New York State and southern Maine.