US Climate Map

Prepared for educational and reference requirements, the US Climate Map offers a well-structured view of geographic boundaries and locations, helpful for educational analysis and regional planning purposes. This US Climate Map is available for offline use through the Download Now button provided below the map.

US Climate Map HD US Climate Map PDF

About US Climate Map

The above US climate map illustrates the climate zones of the United States, including Cold, Marine, Hot-Dry, Mixed-Dry, Very Cold, Mixed-Humid, Hot-Humid, and Subarctic. These eight climate zones are shown in different colors on the map. It also displays state boundaries, with Alaska included as an inset.

List of Climate Zones of the United States

Climate Zone	Köppen Classification	Description	Typical Regions	Average Annual Temperature (°F)	Average Annual Precipitation (inches)
Tropical (Humid Tropical)	Af, Am	Characterized by high year-round temperatures and abundant rainfall.	Southern Florida (e.g., Miami)	75–85	55–70
Humid Subtropical	Cfa	Hot, humid summers and mild winters with moderate to high precipitation.	Southeastern U.S. (e.g., Atlanta, Houston)	60–75	40–60
Oceanic (Marine West Coast)	Cfb	Mild temperatures year-round, cloudy skies, and high rainfall.	Pacific Northwest (e.g., Seattle, Portland)	45–60	60–100
Mediterranean	Csa, Csb	Hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.	Coastal California (e.g., Los Angeles, San Francisco)	55–70	10–30
Humid Continental	Dfa, Dfb	Four distinct seasons, with hot summers and cold winters.	Northeast and Upper Midwest (e.g., Chicago, Boston)	40–55	25–50
Subarctic (Boreal)	Dfc, Dfd	Long, very cold winters and short, mild summers.	Interior Alaska	10–30	10–25
Arid Desert	BWh	Very low precipitation and high temperatures, especially in summer.	Southwestern U.S. (e.g., Arizona, southeastern California)	65–85	<10
Semiarid (Steppe)	BSh, BSk	Low rainfall, more than deserts, with hot summers and cooler winters.	Great Plains and parts of the Southwest	50–70	10–20
Highland (Alpine)	H	Highly variable climate based on elevation and slope orientation.	Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, Cascades	25–55	20–60 (varies with elevation)
Tundra	ET	Cold year-round, with short summers and permafrost common.	Northern Alaska, Arctic coastal areas	10–25	5–15

US Climate

The United States extends across a wide range of climate zones because of its large size and varied geography and continental location. The climate zones in the United States extend from the tropical climate of southern Florida to the Arctic tundra of northern Alaska, resulting in a wide range of environmental conditions that affect the way people live, the ecosystems, and the economy of different regions. The Köppen climate classification system, which is one of the most commonly used to classify climates around the world, identifies at least nine major climate zones in the U.S. Each of these zones has its own set of characteristics and weather patterns. The zones are determined by temperature, precipitation, humidity, and seasonal changes.

Tropical and Subtropical Climates

The tropical climate zone exists in the southern tip of Florida under Köppen classification as “Af” and “Am”. The area maintains year-round warm temperatures while receiving between 55 to 70 inches of annual precipitation and experiencing highs between 75°F and 85°F. The southeastern United States from Georgia to Alabama and parts of Texas exists as a humid subtropical zone (Cfa) located north and west of the initial area. The region features hot summer months with high humidity and cold winter months with temperatures between 60°F and 75°F and annual rainfall measurements ranging from 40 to 60 inches. These zones create ideal conditions for dense vegetation growth along with thriving agriculture production and diverse wildlife populations.

Temperate and Mediterranean Regions

The Pacific Coast from central to southern California has a Mediterranean climate (Csa, Csb). This zone has hot dry summers and mild wet winters, with annual precipitation between 10 and 30 inches. The average annual temperature is between 55°F and 70°F. The Pacific Northwest, which includes Seattle and Portland, is characterized by a marine west coast climate (Cfb) with mild temperatures and lots of rain, more than 60 inches per year. The cloudy, wet climate of this region is the reason for its lush forests and rich biodiversity.

Continental and Highland Zones

The humid continental zone (Dfa, Dfb) extends across a large area of the Midwest and Northeast regions encompassing Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York. The region experiences significant seasonal temperature variations because it has cold winter months and hot summer months. The annual temperature range in this area extends from 40°F to 55°F while the rainfall amounts to between 25 to 50 inches. The Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada areas along with their higher elevation regions have a highland or alpine climate zone (H). The climate in this zone shows wide variations depending on elevation and exposure patterns resulting in temperature ranges from 25°F to 55°F and annual precipitation amounts from 20 to 60 inches.

Dry and Desert Areas

The southwestern United States which includes southern California, Arizona, Nevada and parts of Utah is in the arid desert climate (BWh). These areas get less than 10 inches of rainfall per year and have very hot summers with temperatures usually above 85°F. The semiarid or steppe regions (BSk, BSh) border the deserts and act as a link between the dry deserts and the more humid climates. The annual precipitation in these regions ranges from 10 to 20 inches and they have more seasonal temperature variation.

Polar and Subarctic Extremes

The state of Alaska contains some of the most severe weather conditions across the United States. The majority of Alaska's interior operates under subarctic climate zones (Dfc, Dfd) which experience cold long winters together with brief warm summers. The temperature in this area drops below -20°F during winter months while reaching 60°F during the summer months. The yearly rainfall in this area falls between 10 to 25 inches. The northern coastal areas of Alaska experience a tundra climate (ET) with extensive permafrost coverage and annual temperatures below freezing throughout most of the year while receiving only 5 to 15 inches of precipitation.