Its geography explains many of the unique features of the province's climate. Its southern extremity lies close to the forty-seventh parallel, approximately the same latitude as Seattle and Paris. There are few physical barriers to protect Newfoundland from weather systems sweeping across it. Its situation on the eastern side of North America favors strong seasonal contrasts in the visiting air masses.
Summers are short and cool.
Summer 1987 was especially pleasant across central Newfoundland. Record high sunshine, scanty rainfall, and seasonable temperatures pleased most residents and tourists. Climatically, Newfoundland is the most maritime of the Atlantic Provinces, and this is evident in all seasons, but especially in spring and summer, which are quite cool by Canadian standards. For one, the wind and weather. The North Atlantic is influenced by the northeast trade wind, the Gulfstream, circulating in a clockwise direction.