View source for Continental climate

{{Short description|Köppen climate category}}
{{For|the influence of continental climates on viticulture|Climate categories in viticulture#Continental climates{{!}}continental climate (wine)}}

[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map v2 D 1991–2020.svg|thumb|upright=2.2|Areas of the world that feature a continental climate, according to Köppen]]

'''Continental climates''' often have a significant annual variation in temperature (warm to hot summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in central and eastern parts of the three northern-tier continents ([[North America]] and [[Eurasia]]), typically in the middle latitudes (40 to 55 or 60 degrees north), often within large landmasses, where [[prevailing winds]] blow overland bringing some precipitation, and temperatures are not moderated by oceans.

Continental climates occur mostly in the Northern Hemisphere due to the large landmasses found there. Most of [[Northern China|northern]] and [[northeastern China]], northern [[Mongolia]], most of [[Korea]], central [[Afghanistan]], parts of [[Kazakhstan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]],  eastern and southeastern [[Europe]], much of the [[Russian Federation]] south of the [[Arctic Circle]], central and southeastern [[Canada]], and the central and northeastern [[United States]] have this type of climate.<ref name=cc>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Continental Climate |url=http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/climate/Older/Continental_Climate.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427192955/http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/climate/older/Continental_Climate.html |archive-date=2009-04-27 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment |publisher=[[Manchester Metropolitan University]] |url-status=dead }}</ref> '''Continentality''' is a measure of the degree to which a region experiences this type of climate.<ref name=cc />

In continental climates, [[precipitation]] tends to be moderate in amount, concentrated mostly in the warmer months. Only a few areas—in the mountains of the [[Pacific Northwest]] of North America and in some regions in and around the [[Persian Plateau]] (in western [[Iran]], northern [[Iraq]], adjacent [[Turkey]], [[Afghanistan]], northern [[Pakistan]], and [[Central Asia]]) — show a winter maximum in precipitation. A portion of the annual precipitation falls as snowfall, and snow often remains on the ground for more than a month.

Summers in continental climates can feature thunderstorms and frequent hot temperatures; however, summer weather is somewhat more stable than winter weather. Continental climates are considered as [[temperate climate]] varieties due to their location in the temperate zones,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Senker |first1=Cath |title=Temperate Climates |date=3 May 2018 |publisher=Raintree Publishers |isbn=9781474738408 |page=5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jjRKDwAAQBAJ&q=continental+climates+temperate |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/weatherandclimatechange/climate/worldclimates/temperate.asp |title=Weather & Climate Change: Climates around the world |publisher=[[Education Scotland]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414115206/http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/weatherandclimatechange/climate/worldclimates/temperate.asp |archive-date=14 April 2016}}</ref> but are classified separately from other temperate climates in the [[Köppen climate classification]] system where they are identified by their first letter, a capital '''D'''. In the [[Trewartha climate classification]], they are identified as '''Dc'''.

==Köppen climate classification==
{{see also|List of cities with continental climate}}
Continental climate has at least one month averaging below {{convert|0|°C|°F|0}} and at least one month averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}.<ref name=KGcc2007>{{Cite Köppen-Geiger cc 2007}}</ref><ref name="kottek2006">{{cite journal|last1=Kottek|first1=Markus|last2=Grieser|first2=Jürgen|last3=Beck|first3=Christoph|last4=Rudolf|first4=Bruno |last5=Rubel|first5=Franz|title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated|journal=Meteorologische Zeitschrift|date=2006|volume=15|issue=3|pages=259–263|doi=10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130|bibcode=2006MetZe..15..259K|url=https://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/files/40083/metz_Vol_15_No_3_p259-263_World_Map_of_the_Koppen_Geiger_climate_classification_updated_55034.pdf}}</ref>
[[File:Df climate.png|thumb|upright=1.4|Regions where the continental climates (Dfa, Dfb, Dfc, Dfd) are found.]]
* ''Dfa'' = Hot-summer [[humid continental climate]]; coldest month averaging below {{convert|0|°C|°F|0}} (or {{convert|-3|°C|°F|0}}), at least one month's average temperature above {{convert|22|°C|°F|1}}, and at least four months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. No significant precipitation difference between seasons (neither the abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled).
* ''Dfb'' = Warm-summer [[humid continental climate]]; coldest month averaging below {{convert|0|°C|°F|0}} (or {{convert|-3|°C|°F|0}}), all months with average temperatures below {{convert|22|°C|°F|1}}, and at least four months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. No significant precipitation difference between seasons (neither the abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled).
* ''Dfc'' = [[Subarctic climate]]; coldest month averaging below {{convert|0|°C|°F|0}} (or {{convert|-3|°C|°F|0}}) and one–three months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. No significant precipitation difference between seasons (neither the abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled).
* ''Dfd'' = Extremely cold subarctic climate; coldest month averaging below {{convert|−38|°C|°F|1}} and one–three months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. No significant precipitation difference between seasons (neither the abovementioned set of conditions fulfilled).
[[File:Dw climate.png|thumb|upright=1.4|Regions where the Monsoon-influenced continental climates (Dwa, Dwb, Dwc, Dwd) are found.]]
* ''Dwa'' = [[Monsoon]]-influenced hot-summer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below {{convert|0|°C|°F|0}} (or {{convert|-3|°C|°F|0}}), at least one month's average temperature above {{convert|22|°C|°F|1}}, and at least four months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter.
* ''Dwb'' = Monsoon-influenced warm-summer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below {{convert|0|°C|°F|0}} (or {{convert|-3|°C|°F|0}}), all months with average temperatures below {{convert|22|°C|°F|1}}, and at least four months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter.
* ''Dwc'' = Monsoon-influenced subarctic climate; coldest month averaging below {{convert|0|°C|°F|0}} (or {{convert|-3|°C|°F|0}}) and one–three months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter.
* ''Dwd'' = Monsoon-influenced extremely cold subarctic climate; coldest month averaging below {{convert|−38|°C|°F|1}} and one–three months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. At least ten times as much rain in the wettest month of summer as in the driest month of winter.
[[File:Ds climate.png|thumb|upright=1.4|Regions where the Mediterranean-influenced continental climates (Dsa, Dsb, Dsc, Dsd) are found.]]
* ''Dsa'' = [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]]-influenced hot-summer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below {{convert|0|°C|°F|0}} (or {{convert|-3|°C|°F|0}}), average temperature of the warmest month above {{convert|22|°C|°F|1}} and at least four months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and the driest month of summer receives less than {{convert|30|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}.
* ''Dsb'' = Mediterranean-influenced warm-summer humid continental climate; coldest month averaging below {{convert|0|°C|°F|0}} (or {{convert|-3|°C|°F|0}}), average temperature of the warmest month below {{convert|22|°C|°F|1}} and at least four months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and the driest month of summer receives less than {{convert|30|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}.
* ''Dsc'' = Mediterranean-influenced subarctic climate; coldest month averaging below {{convert|0|°C|°F|0}} (or {{convert|-3|°C|°F|0}}) and one–three months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and the driest month of summer receives less than {{convert|30|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}.
* ''Dsd'' = Mediterranean-influenced extremely cold subarctic climate; coldest month averaging below {{convert|−38|°C|°F|1}} and one–three months averaging above {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. At least three times as much precipitation in the wettest month of winter as in the driest month of summer, and the driest month of summer receives less than {{convert|30|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}.

==Seasons==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2025}}
Annual precipitation in this zone is usually between {{convert|600|mm|in}} and {{convert|1200|mm|in}},  The timing of intermediate spring-like or autumn-like temperatures in this zone vary depending on latitude and/or elevation. For example, spring may arrive as soon as March (in the [[Northern Hemisphere]], September in the [[Southern Hemisphere]]) in the southern (in the Northern Hemisphere, northern in the Southern Hemisphere),  parts of this zone or as late as May (November) in the north (south). Summers are warm or hot while winters are below freezing and sustain lots of frost.

==Climatology==
Continental climates exist where cold air masses infiltrate during the winter from shorter days and warm air masses form in summer under conditions of high sun and longer days. Places with continental climates are as a rule either far from any moderating effect of oceans or are so situated that prevailing winds tend to head offshore.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-21 |title=What Is a Continental Climate? |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-continental-climate.html |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=WorldAtlas |language=en-US}}</ref> Such regions get quite warm in the summer, achieving temperatures characteristic of tropical climates but are colder than any other climates of similar latitude in the winter.

==Neighbouring climates==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2025}}
In the Köppen climate system, these climates grade off toward [[temperate climate]]s equator-ward where winters are less severe and [[semi-arid climate]]s or [[arid climate]]s where precipitation becomes inadequate for tall-grass [[prairie]]s and shrublands. In Europe these climates may grade off into [[oceanic climate]]s ('''Cfb''') or [[subpolar oceanic climate]]s ('''Cfc''') in which the influence of cool oceanic air masses is more marked toward the west. In western and eastern Asia, and the central United States these climates grade off toward [[humid subtropical climate]]s ('''Cfa/Cwa'''), [[subtropical highland climate]]s ('''Cwb'''), or [[Mediterranean climate]]s ('''Csa/Csb''') to the south.

==See also==
* [[Hemiboreal|Hemiboreal climate]]
* [[Humid continental climate]]
* [[Microthermal|Microthermal climate]]
* [[Subarctic climate]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons-inline}}

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[[Category:Köppen climate types]]
[[Category:Climate of Asia]]
[[Category:Climate of Europe]]
[[Category:Climate of North America]]