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Climate type
Cold desert climate
BWk Köppen code BWkArid with sharp seasonal swings — hot summers and cold winters. Cities with this climate include Mendoza, Arequipa, Page.
Example cities with this climate
What this climate is like
Arid with sharp seasonal swings — hot summers and cold winters.
Temperatures
Wide seasonal swings — hot summers (often above 30°C / 86°F) and cold winters with hard freezes. Day-to-night swings are large too.
Rainfall and seasons
Very low rainfall, similar to BWh — annual totals under 200 mm. What little falls comes mostly in spring or autumn.
Where in the world
Central Asia, the western US Great Basin, Patagonia, and inland-Asia plateau steppes.
A typical year, in two recognisable cities — coolest and warmest month averages:
What it means for you
Whether you're thinking of moving, gardening or travelling.
🏠 Living here
Real winters and hot summers, but always dry. Heating in winter and AC in summer; humidity stays low year-round.
🌱 Gardening
Drought-tolerant natives only. Cold-hardy desert plants — sagebrush, juniper, hardy succulents — outperform exotics.
✈️ Travel
Spring and autumn are the comfortable shoulders. Winter is genuinely cold; summer is hot but dry.
Browse cities with this climate
Popular cities with this climate
All 71 cities, across 21 countries — open a country to see its list.