Understanding Climate Classifications

The Köppen climate classification  divides climates into five main climate groups, with each group being further divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are A (tropical), B (arid), C (temperate), D (cold/continental), and E (polar).

Click here to jump below to see a world view of all climates.

Color Code Classification Description Common Translation
xxxxxxx Af Tropical, rainforest N/A
xxxxxxx Am Tropical, monsoon N/A
xxxxxxx As Tropical, savanna, dry summer N/A
xxxxxxx Aw Tropical, savanna, dry winter N/A
xxxxxxx BSh Arid, steppe, hot Hot semi-arid, tropical, hot summer, warm winter   
xxxxxxx BSk Arid, steppe, cold Cold semi-arid
xxxxxxx BWh Arid, desert, hot Hot deserts
xxxxxxx BWk Arid, desert, cold Cold deserts
xxxxxxx Cfa Temperate, no dry season, hot summer Humid subtropical
xxxxxxx Cfb Temperate, no dry season, warm summer Oceanic
xxxxxxx Cfc Temperate, no dry season, cold summer Subpolar oceanic
xxxxxxx Csa Temperate, dry hot summer Hot-summer Mediterranean
xxxxxxx Csb Temperate, dry warm summer Warm-summer Mediterranean
xxxxxxx* Csc Temperate, dry cold summer Cold-summer Mediterranean
xxxxxxx Cwa Temperate, dry winter, hot summer Dry-winter humid subtropical
xxxxxxx Cwb Temperate, dry winter, warm summer Dry-winter subtropical highland
xxxxxxx Cwc Temperate, dry winter, cold summer Dry-winter cold subtropical highland
xxxxxxx Dfa Cold, no dry season, hot summer Hot humid summer, cold winter
xxxxxxx Dfb Cold, no dry season, warm summer Warm humid summer, cold winter
xxxxxxx Dfc Cold, no dry season, cold summer Subarctic, long cold winter, short cold summer
xxxxxxx Dfd Cold, no dry season, very cold winter Extremely cold subarctic climate
xxxxxxx Dsa Cold, dry hot summer Mediterranean-influenced hot summer, cold winter
xxxxxxx Dsb Cold, dry warm summer Mediterranean-influenced warm summer, cold winter
xxxxxxx Dsc Cold, dry cold summer Mediterranean-influenced cold summer, cold winter
xxxxxxx Dsd Cold, dry summer, very cold winter Mediterranean-influenced cold summer, very cold winter
xxxxxxx Dwa Cold, dry winter, hot summer Monsoon-influenced hot summer, cold winter
xxxxxxx Dwb Cold, dry winter, warm summer Monsoon-influenced warm summer, cold winter
xxxxxxx Dwc Cold, dry winter, cold summer Monsoon-influenced cold summer, cold winter
xxxxxxx Dwd Cold, dry winter, very cold summer Monsoon-influenced very cold summer and winter
xxxxxxx EF Polar, frost Ice cap
xxxxxxx ET Polar, tundra Average temperature never exceeds 50 °F (10 °C)

* This climate is the rarest and predominantly found in climate fringes and isolated areas of the Cascades and Andes Mountains.

Köppen-Geiger World Map v2 (1991-2020)

Authors: Beck, H.E., McVicar, T.R., Vergopolan, N., Alexis, B., Lutsko, N.J., Dufour, A., Zeng, Z., Jian, X., van Dijk, A.I.J.M., Miralles, D.G.

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