<P> North Dakota's climate is typical of a continental climate with cold winters and warm - hot summers . The state's location in the Upper Midwest allows it to experience some of the widest variety of weather in the United States, and each of the four seasons has its own distinct characteristics . The eastern half of the state has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with warm to hot, somewhat humid summers and cold, windy winters, while the western half has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk) with less precipitation and less humidity but similar temperature profiles . The areas east of the Missouri River get slightly colder winters, while those west of the stream get higher summer daytime temperatures . In general, the diurnal temperature difference is prone to be more significant in the west due to higher elevation and less humidity . </P> <P> Due to its location in the center of North America North Dakota experiences temperature extremes characteristic of a continental climate, with cold winters and mild to hot summers . Each season has distinctive upper air patterns which bring different weather conditions with them . One feature of a continental climate is that weather patterns can be unpredictable . For example, an Alberta clipper, a low pressure system originating in the province of Alberta in Canada, would be a common winter occurrence in North Dakota . But with the general unpredictability of weather in a continental climate, such a storm system could occur in spring, or in late autumn . Hot weather, though usually confined to July and August, can sometimes begin as early as April or May, and could spill over into September or October . </P> <P> Being 1,000 miles (1,609 km) from any large body of water (with the exception of Lake Superior), temperatures and precipitation in North Dakota can vary widely . North Dakota is far enough north to experience − 60 ° F (− 51 ° C) temperatures and blizzards during the winter months, but far enough south to experience 121 ° F (49 ° C) temperatures and tornado outbreaks in the summer . The 181 ° F degree (100 ° C) variation between North Dakota's highest and lowest temperature is the 3rd largest variation of any U.S. State, and the largest of any non-mountainous state . </P> <P> North Dakota is far from major sources of moisture and is in the transition zone between the moist East and the semi-arid West, as precipitation and humidity decrease from east to west . Annual average precipitation across the state ranges from around 14 in (35.6 cm) in the west to 22 in (55.9 cm) in the east . Snow is the main form of precipitation from November through March, while rain is the most common the rest of the year . It has snowed in North Dakota during every month except July and August . </P>

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