Climate, Continental

Continental climates have minimal influence from marine sources due to their location in continental interiors or upwind of coastal areas. In the humid mid-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere, continental climates are a buffer zone separating mild, subtropical climates from the severe sub-arctic climates. Continental climates are influenced by both arctic and tropical weather systems, where severe winters and hot, humid summer days both occur. The mid-latitude jet stream frequently flows over continental climate regions and drives mid-latitude storm systems accompanied by warm fronts and cold fronts.

Continental climates are similar to sub-arctic climates in that there is wide range in the annual temperature with cold winters and warm, occasionally hot summers. What makes continental climates unique is the day-to-day variability in weather and temperature. Winters ...