Humid continental climate
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The humid continental climate is found over large areas of land masses in the temperate regions of the mid latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between polar and tropical air masses. The humid continental climate is marked by variable weather patterns and a large temperature range. The seasonal temperature variance can be as great as 30 to 40 degrees Celsius (55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature difference between the warmest and coldest months increases inland, away from the moderating influence of the ocean.
The warm summer subtype of the humid continental climate lies on the eastern and midwestern portions of the United States from the Atlantic to the 100th meridian and from about 37°N to 43°N latitude. This includes cities like Boston, Chicago and New York City. It is also found in the Balkans, northern China, and northern Korea. The warm summer subtype is marked by hot humid summers and winter cold waves.
The cool summer subtype is found in northern New England, the northern Great Lakes region and the Upper Midwest into most of southeastern and south central Canada (except for parts of southwestern Ontario) from about 43°N to 50°N. It is also found in much of Scandinavia, The cool summer subtype is marked by mild summers, long cold winters and less precipitation than the warm summer subtype. East central Europe is a cool summer subtype with less severe winters, similar to the winters of the warm summer subtype - the winters here are modified by the oceanic climate influence of western Europe.
At about 50°N, the climate transitions into a subarctic climate.
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