• Mediterranean Summer
• The Mediterranean
• Climate & Habitats

The Mediterranean - Climate and Habitats

The region around the Mediterranean Sea has a distinctive climate of mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. This climate can also be found in four other parts of the world: California, central Chile, south Australia, and the Western Cape of South Africa.

All regions with Mediterranean climates have relatively mild winters (without frosts), but summer temperatures can vary depending on the region. For instance, Athens, Greece experiences high temperatures in the summer, whereas San Francisco in California has cool, mild summers. All regions with a Mediterranean climate are near large bodies of water, which means that temperatures are generally moderate with a comparatively small range between the winter low and summer high. Along coastal areas the summer temperatures are kept down by the cool sea breeze but inland locations can experience severe heat during the summer. Locations inside the Sacramento Valley of northern California, for example, are subject to summer temperatures characteristic of hot deserts (often around 40°C/104°F), although winters are rainy enough to allow lusher vegetation than is typical in deserts.

Likewise, locations that are at slightly higher latitude and cut off from milder ocean winds may have somewhat colder winters and more distinct seasons. This temperate Mediterranean climate is most noticeable in central Spain, southeastern France, northern Italy, and northern Greece. In these areas, plants that are commonly associated with Mediterranean climates, such as citrus, olive, oleander and eucalyptus, can be killed by severe winters.

Find out more:

• The Mediterranean Basin
• California
• Central Chile
• Australia
• South Africa