Is discussion of the weather really small talk?

It’s been really wet here for weeks. The mold has taken over, and it smells awful outside my front door. The flowers are doing well, but, well, people are getting tired of it.

You know that saying, “everyone always complains about the weather, but no one ever does anything about it?” Obviously, the weather is beyond human control. So, we complain about it. Or remark on it. It can warm us up for more serious conversation, but is it really small talk, or is it something we actually really do care about?

P.S. How’s the weather over there?