General Characteristics of Continental Climate

Continental climate is generally characterized or depicted by a normal amount of precipitation which is concentrated mainly in the warmer months. The conventional showers and the frontal cyclone during the summer months are the origin of the precipitation which occurs when the maritime tropical air pushes northwards beyond returning polar front. Most regions show different summer precipitation results with only limited regions like the mountains of the Pacific Northwest of North America (continent) and also in Afghanistan, Central Asia, northern Iraq, Pakistan and Iran. All of them show maximum winter precipitation. The annual precipitation parts are the kind of a snowfall with the snow which is left on the ground for approximately 30 days. The mean annual precipitation mainly in the form of snow is 24 to 47 inches. Summer can also emphasize cooler temperatures and thunderstorm. Usually, Winters are cold still are prone to periodic mild spell resulting from occasional incursions of tropical air. During winters, the mean temperature is usually below the freezing point. In this climate zone, Autumn and spring seasons vary on the basis of latitude and elevation. Spring starts as early as the month of March whereas the southern parts whereas as late as the month of May in the northern parts.

Continental Climate temperature and precipitation
A continental climate is found in the inner of a continent. It is also defined as a climate having factors related to those located in such areas. Continental is an explanatory term that is common rather than specific. It involves small annual precipitation totals, temperature extremes, low relative humidities, and large diurnal as well as seasonal ranges of temperature.

A large range of temperature is considered to be the vastly diagnostic condition of a continental climate. In eastern and central Siberia an annual range of temperature in the abundance of 60°C is experienced. Central Canada has barely a smaller range as compared to Siberia i.e 40 to 50°C per year. The temperature at daily ranges is characteristically huge also. At Glasgow, Montana, the mean daily range of temperature is 10°C in January and 16.3°C in the month of July. Variations in diurnal temperature are also familiar due to temporal changes in the presence of inversions, air stability, and sky clarity etc. Radiations are followed by temperature curves very closely but it does not happen unexpectedly.

Locations and Vegetation of Continental Climate
Continental climate is experienced by the areas of the world which involves Central Russia, North America, and Siberia. Northern states of the United States, Siberia and Canada in a special exhibit huge differences in summertime and wintertime average temperature of around 40°C.

Vegetation of Continental Climate: The continental climate is primarily located in the eastern and inland parts of a continent. The cold winter and warm summer enable the growth and development of diverse plants, from plants to ground and perennial covers. Before clearing the lands for agriculture, a large part of the climate region was covered with forests. Coniferous and deciduous forests are the two forests within the climate zone. Some of the plants which are found commonly in continental climate areas which involve Carolina lupine, silver maple, and lavender. This zone also carries various kinds of animals which involve snakes and birds.