Canada is a huge country. It is the world’s second-largest country by total area and by land area. This results in a large number of districts and a variety of weather conditions. A temperate climate prevails almost throughout Canada and only in the north of the country is it subarctic, which is due not only to the fact that the country is located close to the Arctic Ocean but also as a result of the influence of oceanic winds from the west. The winter in the country is very cold, while during summer there is practically no days with exhausting heat. Therefore in the north of the country, near the Arctic Ocean, the air temperature reaches up to -30°C in winter. On the other hand, in summer it keeps close to zero. In the west side of Canada, the temperature regime is determined by the warm current of the Pacific Ocean. Winter in this area is rather mild, with average air temperature of about 4°C. In summer however, the temperature is above 20°C. Behind the polar circle, the temperature is always below zero. In the south side, the average temperature is about 21°C in summer.
On the east coast, the weather is unstable due to the collision of Atlantic and continental air masses. Due to such processes in winter, there are often snowfalls, storms, and frequent changes of atmospheric pressure. The greatest amount of precipitation falls on the ocean coasts; up to 2,500 millimeters per year. In the rest of the country, precipitation ranges from 150 millimeters to 1,250 millimeters per year. Near the oceans, the climate differs from the continental one. In the east, the influence of the Atlantic leads to snowfalls and heavy precipitation. On the west coast, near the Pacific, the climate is mild and moderate but these climatic conditions do not extend to the continent because the Rocky Mountains prevent it from happening. These mountains have their impact on the central part of the country, which is called “the Canadian Prairies”. A big part of it experiences continental dry climates.
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