The humid continental climate is found over large areas of land masses in the temperate regions of the mid latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between polar and tropical air masses. The humid continental climate is marked by variable weather patterns and a large temperature range. The seasonal temperature variance can be as great as 25 to 35 degrees Celsius (45 to 63 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature difference between the warmest and coldest months increases inland, away from the moderating influence of the ocean.

The warm summer subtype of the humid continental climate lies on the eastern and midwestern portions of the United States from the Atlantic to the 100th meridian. It is also found in east central Europe, northern China, and northern Korea. The warm summer subtype is marked by hot humid summers and winter cold waves. The cool summer subtype is found in New England, the Great Lakes region and upper midwest into south and south central Canada. It is also found in much of Scandinavia, eastern Europe, and Russia. The cool summer subtype is marked by mild summers, long cold winters and less precipitation than the warm summer subtype.

The humid continental climate is primarily a phenomenon of the northern hemisphere since large land masses are absent at the significant latitudes of the southern hemisphere.