Mediterranean climate, as the name signifies, is typically the climate of the areas that border the Mediterranean Sea. The wet winter/dry summer seasonality of precipitation is the defining characteristic of this climate. Apart from the areas mentioned above, this type of climate prevails in California, Cape Town area of South Africa, central Chile, and southwestern Australia.
Climatic Elements
Temperature
The temperatures in these areas remain comfortable for most part of the year due to proximity of these lands to large water bodies. Summer temperatures are around 70 to 80 F (21 to 27 C) while winter temperatures are normally above 43 F (6 C). No month is below 32 F (0 C) and at least 3 months have average above 50 F (10 C). Since the summer days are cloudless so the temperature rises sharply in the daytime and falls rapidly at night so the diurnal range is quite large.
Rainfall
The characteristic feature of this type of climate is frequent winter rains and almost a complete summer drought. At San Francisco , California for example, the total annual rainfall is 19 inches (475 mm) of which 18 inches (421 mm ) falls in the winter months and only 1 inch (54 mm) falls in the summer months from May to September; July and August being practically rainless.
In short the Mediterranean Climates enjoy warm sunny days in the summer season and cool wet winters. As the temperature of winters is usually much milder than those of Central Europe or Central US and Canada so these areas are thriving tourist resorts in winter.
