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Category:	Weather
Content source:	SKYbrary
Content control:	EUROCONTROL

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Tag(s)	Climatic Phenomena

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The Climate of Canada

Newfoundland has a Humid Continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) influenced by coastal currents and icebergs. Summers are usually pleasant but brief. July mean temperatures remain cool along the southern and eastern coast, especially, with mean daily temperatures in the low to mid teens Centigrade. However, the interior enjoys warmer mean temperatures slightly above 15°C. In July, the maximum temperature can even occasionally rise to as high as 30°C in the interior! In winter, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the North Atlantic Ocean waters prevent temperatures in Newfoundland from dropping too far. Mean January temperatures range from -9°C to -7°C in the interior, to around -4°C, on the southern coastal areas.

Coastal fog is very frequent in the spring, on the east coast, because of the icebergs off shore. In the summer, when warm air flows from the south quadrant over the cold waters surrounding Newfoundland, fog engulfs the southwestern and southern coast… occasionally for days!

The entire island receives an abundant amount of precipitation, usually peaking in November, and reaching a minimum in April. Winter snowfall is normally in excess of 250cm everywhere, with amounts exceeding 400cm in parts of the western interior.

Spring rains often fall on still frozen ground and objects. Thus, ice storms are frequent in southern Newfoundland.

Airports

The following map shows the Köppen climate classification (KCC) for aerodromes across Canada which are listed on SKYbrary:

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Af: equatorial climate

Am: monsoon climate

Aw: tropical savannah climate

BWh: warm desert climate

Bwk: cold desert climate

Bsh: warm semi-arid climate

Bsk: cold semi-arid climate

Csa: warm Mediterranean climate

Csb: temperate Mediterranean climate

Cwa: humid subtropical climate

Cwb: temperate China climate

Cwc: cool China climate

Cfa: warm oceanic climate/ humid subtropical climate

Cfb: temperate oceanic climate

Cfc: cool oceanic climate

Dsa: warm continental climate/ Mediterranean continental climate

Dsb: temperate continental climate/ Mediterranean continental climate

Dsc: cool continental climate

Dsd: cold continental climate

Dwa: warm continental climate/ humid continental climate

Dwb: temperate continental climate/ humid continental climate

Dwc: cool continental climate/ subarctic climate

Dwd: cold continental climate/ subarctic climate

Dfa: warm continental climate/ humid continental climate

Dfb: temperate continental climate/ humid continental climate

Dfc: cool continental climate/ subarctic climate

Dfd: cold continental climate/ subarctic climate

ET: tundra climate

EF: ice cap climate

Climatic and Weather Phenomena Affecting Aviation in Canada

Fog - Fog, often persistent, affects airports in Newfoundland in spring and summer.
Snowfall - although airports in the region are comparatively well prepared for winter weather, heavy snowfall can serious affect operations and runway availability (see articles on Landing on Contaminated Runways and Runway Surface Friction). Pilots should also take care to ensure clearance from snow banks while taxying.
Ice Storms - Freezing Rain is a significant hazard between February and May.
Low Temperatures - Although the Atlantic waters moderate the temperatures during the winter months, care should be taken to apply Altimeter Temperature Error Correction when the aerodrome temperature is 0°C273.15 K
32 °F
491.67 °R or colder.

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Airport Climatology/Canada

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The Climate of Canada

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Climatic and Weather Phenomena Affecting Aviation in Canada