Continental Mediterranean Climate

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Regions with continental Mediterranean climates Mediterraneo continentalizado mapa.png
Regions with continental Mediterranean climates

A continentalized Mediterranean climate is a variant of the temperate mediterranean climate with influences of a typical continental climate. It is found inland in the Mediterranean region, far away from coasts. This climate is common in inland Spain, and Turkey, where it borders a cold semi-arid climate. [1]

Contents

Characteristics of the continental mediterranean climate include cooler summers (in comparison to the typical mediterranean climate) and greater variation in seasonal temperatures. This climate typically borders a cold semi-arid climate, which shares some of the same characteristics as the continental mediterranean climate.

Köppen climate classification

The Köppen climate classification does not show a distinction for the continental mediterranean climate. As such areas with this kind of climate are labeled as Csa mediterranean climate, or BSk cold semi-arid climate.

A good example of this is Madrid, which according to the Köppen climate classification has a transitional Csa-BSk climate. [2] Madrid features cooler summers, and greater seasonal temperature variation compared to other mediterranean climates. It is also relatively dry, a characteristic of the Meseta Central of Central Spain.

Climate data for Madrid (667 m), Buen Retiro Park in the city centre (1981–2010)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)20.1
(68.2)
22.0
(71.6)
26.7
(80.1)
30.1
(86.2)
35.5
(95.9)
39.3
(102.7)
40.0
(104.0)
40.3
(104.5)
38.9
(102.0)
28.7
(83.7)
22.7
(72.9)
18.6
(65.5)
40.3
(104.5)
Average high °C (°F)9.8
(49.6)
12.0
(53.6)
16.3
(61.3)
18.2
(64.8)
22.2
(72.0)
28.2
(82.8)
32.1
(89.8)
31.3
(88.3)
26.4
(79.5)
19.4
(66.9)
13.5
(56.3)
10.0
(50.0)
19.9
(67.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)6.3
(43.3)
7.9
(46.2)
11.2
(52.2)
12.9
(55.2)
16.7
(62.1)
22.2
(72.0)
25.6
(78.1)
25.1
(77.2)
20.9
(69.6)
15.1
(59.2)
9.9
(49.8)
6.9
(44.4)
15.0
(59.0)
Average low °C (°F)2.7
(36.9)
3.7
(38.7)
6.2
(43.2)
7.7
(45.9)
11.3
(52.3)
16.1
(61.0)
19.0
(66.2)
18.8
(65.8)
15.4
(59.7)
10.7
(51.3)
6.3
(43.3)
3.6
(38.5)
10.1
(50.2)
Record low °C (°F)−7.8
(18.0)
−7.5
(18.5)
−4.5
(23.9)
−1.5
(29.3)
3.3
(37.9)
7
(45)
9.8
(49.6)
8.6
(47.5)
4.1
(39.4)
0.3
(32.5)
−3.8
(25.2)
−6.5
(20.3)
−7.8
(18.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)33
(1.3)
35
(1.4)
25
(1.0)
45
(1.8)
51
(2.0)
21
(0.8)
12
(0.5)
10
(0.4)
22
(0.9)
60
(2.4)
58
(2.3)
51
(2.0)
423
(16.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)65477322377759
Mean monthly sunshine hours 1491582112302683153553322591991441242,744
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología [3] [4] [5] [6]
Climate data for Madrid-Barajas Airport (609 m), in north east Madrid (1981–2010)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Average high °C (°F)10.7
(51.3)
13.0
(55.4)
17.0
(62.6)
18.7
(65.7)
23.1
(73.6)
29.5
(85.1)
33.5
(92.3)
32.8
(91.0)
27.9
(82.2)
21.0
(69.8)
14.8
(58.6)
10.9
(51.6)
21.1
(70.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)5.5
(41.9)
7.1
(44.8)
10.2
(50.4)
12.2
(54.0)
16.2
(61.2)
21.7
(71.1)
25.2
(77.4)
24.7
(76.5)
20.5
(68.9)
14.8
(58.6)
9.4
(48.9)
6.2
(43.2)
14.5
(58.1)
Average low °C (°F)0.2
(32.4)
1.2
(34.2)
3.5
(38.3)
5.7
(42.3)
9.3
(48.7)
13.9
(57.0)
16.8
(62.2)
16.5
(61.7)
13.1
(55.6)
8.7
(47.7)
4.1
(39.4)
1.4
(34.5)
7.9
(46.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)29
(1.1)
32
(1.3)
22
(0.9)
38
(1.5)
44
(1.7)
22
(0.9)
9
(0.4)
10
(0.4)
24
(0.9)
51
(2.0)
49
(1.9)
42
(1.7)
371
(14.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)55467422376655
Mean monthly sunshine hours 1441682242262583103543292581991511282,749
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología [7]
Climate data for Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport, 8 km (4.97 mi) from the city centre (altitude: 690 metres (2,260 feet), "satellite view".) (1981–2010)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Average high °C (°F)10.4
(50.7)
12.5
(54.5)
16.5
(61.7)
18.3
(64.9)
22.6
(72.7)
28.9
(84.0)
32.8
(91.0)
32.2
(90.0)
27.3
(81.1)
20.4
(68.7)
14.3
(57.7)
10.7
(51.3)
20.6
(69.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)6.0
(42.8)
7.6
(45.7)
10.8
(51.4)
12.6
(54.7)
16.5
(61.7)
22.2
(72.0)
25.6
(78.1)
25.1
(77.2)
21.0
(69.8)
15.2
(59.4)
9.8
(49.6)
6.7
(44.1)
14.9
(58.8)
Average low °C (°F)1.6
(34.9)
2.7
(36.9)
5.1
(41.2)
6.8
(44.2)
10.4
(50.7)
15.4
(59.7)
18.3
(64.9)
18.1
(64.6)
14.6
(58.3)
9.9
(49.8)
5.4
(41.7)
2.7
(36.9)
9.3
(48.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)34
(1.3)
35
(1.4)
25
(1.0)
43
(1.7)
50
(2.0)
25
(1.0)
12
(0.5)
11
(0.4)
24
(0.9)
60
(2.4)
57
(2.2)
53
(2.1)
428
(16.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)65477321377759
Mean monthly sunshine hours 1581732212382803163643352502031611352,840
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología [8]
Climate data for Madrid (UV Index)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Average ultraviolet index 2356899864225
Source: Weather Atlas [9]

Iberia

Spanish climate map.

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Continental oceanic climate

Coastal oceanic c.

Subtropical c.

Mountain c.

Semiarid steppe c.

Continental mediterranean c.

Coastal mediterranean c. Climate of Spain.svg
Spanish climate map.
 Continental oceanic climate
 Coastal oceanic c.
 Subtropical c.
 Mountain c.
 Semiarid steppe c.
 Continental mediterranean c.
 Coastal mediterranean c.

To better accurately depict the climate of Spain and Portugal, the Mediterranean climate is further categorized into not summer temperatures, (as per the Köppen climate classification), but by the harshness of the winter season. The "typical" Mediterranean climate is found in coastal regions (excluding the northern coast), while the continental Mediterranean climate dominates the interior of the country.

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Madrid and its metropolitan area has a cold semi-arid climate which transitions to a mediterranean climate (Csa) on the western half of the city. According to the Troll-Paffen climate classification, Madrid has warm-temperate subtropical climate and according to the Siegmund/Frankenberg climate classification, Madrid has a subtropical climate. Madrid has hot summers and relatively cool winters with somewhat frequent frosts and occasional snowfalls, with 3-4 snowy days on average.

References