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Humid subtropical climate

CLIMATOLOGY

WRITTEN BY: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Humid subtropical climate, major climate type of the Köppen classi cation characterized by relatively high temperatures
and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. This climate type is found on the eastern sides of the continents
between 20° and 35° N and S latitude. Although the climate is made up of two subtypes (Cfa and Cwa), the Cfa subtype
predominates.

In summer, these regions are largely under the in uence of moist, maritime air ow from the western side of the subtropical
anticyclonic cells over low-latitude ocean waters. Temperatures are high; the warmest months generally average about 27 °C
(81 °F), with mean daily maxima from 30 °C to 38 °C (86 °F to 100 °F) and warm, oppressive nights. Summers are usually
somewhat wetter than winters, with much of the rainfall coming from convectional thunderstorm activity; tropical cyclones
also enhance warm-season rainfall in some regions. The coldest month is usually quite mild (5–12 °C [41–54 °F]), although
frosts are not uncommon, and winter precipitation is derived primarily from frontal cyclones along the polar front.

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In North America, the spring and early summer seasons, when the front begins its northward return, are notorious for the
  thunderstorms
outbreak of tornadoes associated with frontal  ARTICLE MEDIA
 tropical
along the zone of interaction between  and polar air. In
eastern and southern Asia, the monsoon in uence results in a modi ed humid subtropical climate (Cwa) that has a clearly
de ned dry winter when air diverges from the Siberian anticyclone, and the polar front and cyclone paths are de ected
around the region. These areas generally lie on the poleward side of tropical monsoon (Am) and tropical wet-dry (Aw)
climates and exhibit a somewhat larger annual temperature range than Cfa types. Winters are sunny and rather cool. Annual
precipitation totals average about 100 cm (39 inches) but vary from 75 to over 200 cm (30 to 79 inches).

This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty, Editor.

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