United States Climate

United States Climate

Mid-Latitude Climates

• Humid Continental- northern Great Plains to the northern Atlantic coast– Cold winters, long hot summers, rains

throughout the year and snow often falls in this region during winter

Mid-Latitude Climates

• Humid Subtropical-Southern Great Plains and Southeastern states– Winters are milder than northern Great Plains,

summers are hot and humid– Location near the Gulf of Mexico often bring

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

Which Climate Type?

Dry Climates

• Steppe- western Great Plains– Just enough rain to

support thick grasses– Also found on

Plateaus west of the Rockies

.

• Desert- southwest– Death Valley lowest pt

in U.S.– In summer temps

reach 120’s

High Latitude Climate

• Found in Alaska• 2/3 sub artic, 1/3 tundra

– Cool summers, freezing winters– Very little vegetation in far north

Tropical Climates

• Southern tip of Florida and Hawaii– Warm temps year round and year round

rainfall– Hawaii receives most rainfall in U.S.– Hawaii moderate temps– winter temps avg 720

– Summer temps 780

Questions

• 1. Why do you think dry climates are only found in the western United States?

• 2. In which climate zone is Michigan found in?

Tale of Two Cities

• You will be seeing two cities that lie at approximately the same latitude.

• Figure why the climates are so different