RPMiller hit the nail on the head with his post. Wind and water currents are EXTREMELY important to climate.

Perfect example is the Gulf Stream (travelling from eastern coast of S. America, up over the equator, past the east coast of north america, then crossing the atlantic, and continuing up past the west coast of the united kingdom).

The UK has year-round weather that is more moderate than New York state (I'm here in London, and I'm told that they go whole years without any snow.).

Big deal, you might say--until you compare how far north New York state and the UK are. The Gulf Stream has a HUGE impact on the weather of western Europe.