Location:

This is the more severe sub-type of humid continental climate occupying the northern parts. Mild summer climate extends across the United States of America and southern Canada east of the 100th meridian. Included in this climatic region are the Great Lakes reign and New England.

In Eurasia it covers a more extensive area including Poland, eastern Germany, southern Sweden and a large part of the former Soviet Union. Again in northeastern Asia, Deb climate occupies the central and northern Manchuria, southeastern Siberia, and Hokkaido in northern Japan.

On its pole-ward boundaries this climate is bordered by sub-arctic climates with far more severe winters. Towards the equator, this climate merges with the steppe regions in the dry continental interiors and with the humid continental hot summer climate.

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This climate is characterized by a shorter, more moderate summer and a longer, more severe winter. It is located between 50° N – 60° N and 65°N latitudes.

Temperature:

Since this climatic subtype is located in higher latitudes, temperature is usually lower than that in the humid continental hot summer climate to its south. Winters are more severe and summers are milder than in Dca subtype.

It is noteworthy that the difference in temperature between these two subtypes is much larger in winter than in summer. The coldest winter months have an average temperature of -12°C to -6.7°C, whereas the hottest summer months average 18°C to 21°C.

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In the western part of Europe, this climate has cool summers, but the winter is not so severe as in other interior locations. In fact, the winter is made milder because of the marine influence.

Precipitation:

Humid continental mild summer climate receives relatively less precipitation than Dca climate. Precipitation tends to decrease from the coastal region towards the semiarid interior. Precipitation also maintains its declining trend towards the pole.

There is spatial variation in the amount of precipitation received in this climate. However, the average precipitation varies from 50 cm to 100 cm.

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Because of the more northerly location, this climatic region falls directly into the cyclonic storm belt. Therefore there is more cyclonic precipitation. The convectional precipitation in summer is far less than that in Dca climate.

During winter, precipitation is usually in the form of snow. Even though the total precipitation is less than what it is in the warm summer type of climate, this climate is characterized by greater snowfall. Besides, the snow cover is thicker and stays on the ground for more than 3 months.

Another characteristic feature of this climate is the highly changeable nature of its daily weather.

Natural vegetation:

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In this climate also the more humid regions have forests as natural vegetation. Coniferous forests as well as mixed broad-leaf deciduous-coniferous forests are found here.

Towards the polar margins where winter is longer and more severe, coniferous forests composed of fir, pine, and spruce predominate. The interior regions which are semiarid have prairie and steppe grasslands.