The Weddell Sea has a big impact on the local climate. The area typically has strong surface winds, and this carries strong winds into the mountains and lower latitudes. These winds also have an impact on the South Atlantic Ocean because they tend to push ice into this area. The Antarctic Bottom Water of the Weddell Sea usually ranges from -0,8 to 0 degrees Celsius (31.8 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit), but surface temperatures are generally below freezing.

The western Weddell Sea (the Antarctic Peninsula) is experiencing warming conditions and decreasing sea ice while in the eastern Weddell Sea, sea ice has been increasing over the past few decades contributing significantly to an overall increase in Southern Ocean sea ice extent.