<P> An oceanic climate (also known as' "marine"',' "west coast"',' "highland' ' ' and' "maritime"') is the Köppen classification of the climate typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, and generally features cool summers (relative to their latitude) and cool but not cold winters, with a relatively narrow annual temperature range and few extremes of temperature, with the exception for transitional areas to continental, subarctic and highland climates . Oceanic climates are defined as having a monthly mean temperature below 22 ° C (72 ° F) in the warmest month, and above 0 ° C (32 ° F) in the coldest month . </P> <P> It typically lacks a dry season, as precipitation is more evenly dispersed throughout the year . It is the predominant climate type across much of Western Europe, the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Canada, portions of central Mexico, southwestern South America, southeastern Australia including Tasmania, New Zealand as well as isolated locations elsewhere . Oceanic climates generally have warm summers and cool (but not cold) winters . They are characterised by a narrower annual range of temperatures than are encountered in other places at a comparable latitude, and generally do not have the extremely dry summers of Mediterranean climates or the hot summers of humid subtropical . Oceanic climates are most dominant in Europe, where they spread much farther inland than in other continents . </P> <P> Oceanic climates can have much storm activity as they are located in the belt of the stormy westerlies . Many oceanic climates have frequent cloudy or overcast conditions due to the near constant storms and lows tracking over or near them . The annual range of temperatures is smaller than typical climates at these latitudes due to the constant stable marine air masses that pass through oceanic climates, which lack both very warm and very cool fronts . </P>

The climate of western europe is a predominantly a marine climate