The Continental Mediterranean climate is a variation of the Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa) that shows characteristics of a Continental climate due to altitude and limited influence of the sea. It is found in the interior of the Iberian peninsula (the Meseta and the Ebro valley), inner parts of Anatolia, inland Sicily, and the inland of Central Chile. It is a Mediterranean climate, often borderline semi-arid climate (Köppen: BS) but with some typical features of Continental, like cold and snowy or dry winters and warm to hot and dry summers. The difference between average temperatures in winter and summer is 18.5°C. In summer, daily temperatures can exceed 30°C, and snow and frost are common in winter. Rainfall is very similar to Mediterranean climate: 400-600 mm, but with peaks in autumn and spring and a drier stretch in mid-winter. The Continental aspects of this climate are more important with higher altitude.
Map of the areas with Continental Mediterranean climate.Climate chart for Madrid (667 m above sea level).Climate chart for Burgos (856 m above sea level).