Continental climate

Continental climates often have a significant annual variation in temperature (hot summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in the middle latitudes (40 to 55 north), where prevailing winds blow overland, and temperatures are not moderated by bodies of water such as oceans or seas. Continental climates occur mostly in the Northern Hemisphere, which has the kind of large landmasses on temperate latitudes required for this type of climate to develop. Most of northern and northeastern China, eastern and southeastern Europe, central and southeastern Canada, and the central and northeastern United States have this type of climate. A statue of Ilanaaq, mascot of the 2010 Winter Olympics, located on Whistler MountainNorth Saskatchewan River valley in EdmontonThe Forks, with St. Boniface Cathedral in the background in WinnipegToronto skyline taken from Colonel Samuel Smith Park in EtobicokeDowntown Calgary from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) campusOlympic Stadium in MontrealQuebec City shoreHalifax as seen from the Dartmouth waterfrontDuckworth Street in St. John'sLake Louise, AlbertaRainbow Bridge and the American Falls in Niagara FallsDowntown Pittsburgh from Station SquareBoone, NC as seen from Howard's KnobBoston's skyline in the background, with fall foliage in the foregroundSan Francisco Peaks from Flagstaff, AZ Continental climates often have a significant annual variation in temperature (hot summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in the middle latitudes (40 to 55 north), where prevailing winds blow overland, and temperatures are not moderated by bodies of water such as oceans or seas. Continental climates occur mostly in the Northern Hemisphere, which has the kind of large landmasses on temperate latitudes required for this type of climate to develop. Most of northern and northeastern China, eastern and southeastern Europe, central and southeastern Canada, and the central and northeastern United States have this type of climate. 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 Iran, northern Iraq, adjacent Turkey, Afghanistan, 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 more stable than winter weather.