Affected by some factors as latitude（纬度）, altitude（海拔）, distance from oceans and prevailing winds（季风）, the climate varies from extremely cold in northern Alaska to semitropical in southern Florida and Hawaii. The coasts of Oregon and Washington are among the rainiest places in the world,while the Mojave Desert in Arizona and California is one of the driest. Between these extremes are many kinds of climate.

New England states have a somewhat cold climate, where winters arelong and snowy, and summers are short and warm.

The Middle Atlantic states have a temperate climate（温带气候）, where there are four definite seasons.

The south has a warm climate, which varies with the geographical position of the individual state.

The climate of the Midwest is temperate. This region is a greatvalley between the Appalachian Mountains and the Great Plains. Alternative north and south winds sweeping over this region freely often cause sudden and extreme changes in temperature.

The climate in the Great Plains also varies greatly. The northern part has a continental climate（大陆性气候）, where extreme cold and hot weather are often experienced. Affectedby the Rocky Mountain, the Great Plains receive little rainfall throughout the year. Farther south the climate grows progressively milder.

Affected by prevailing westerly winds（盛行西风，英国气候里提过） that blow inland off the Pacific, the Pacific coast has a mild and humid climate throughout the year. The climate of the northern part of the Pacific coast is similar to that of England.