Subarctic: cool summer and severe, very cold and dry winter. The coldest month averages below –38° C (–36.4° F), less than one-third of the year is warmer than 10° C (50° F), and the warmest month averages no greater than 22° C (71.6° F). Annual rainfall varies by season -- wetter in summer, dryer in winter -- and totals not more than 100 cm (39"), though 25 cm (10") to 50 cm (19") is typical. Permafrost (permanently frozen soil) exists some distance below the surface in some regions. Vegetation is overwhelmingly needleleaf deciduous forest; some isolated regions instead may be covered with heather or other herbaceous plants.
By Dave Bryant, copyright 2002