Winters are severe with snowstorms, strong winds, bitter cold from Continental Polar or Arctic air masses. Polar climates have year-round cold temperatures with warmest month less than 10 degrees Celsius. Polar climates are found on the northern coastal areas of North America and Europe, Asia and on the landmasses of Greenland and Antarctica. Two minor climate types exist. ET - polar tundra where the soil is permanently frozen to depths of hundreds of meters, a condition known as permafrost.
Vegetation is dominated by mosses, lichens, dwarf trees and scattered woody shrubs.
The design and construction of comfortable, energy-efficient buildings often depends upon prevailing climatic conditions. These climatic zones are useful in indicating the general design approach to be followed, but they cannot always take account of local variations. Characterised by cold but often sunny winter days, cold winter nights, mild summer days with cool nights. This climate is prevalent in the highlands of the Great Dividing Range, in parts of Victoria, NSW, the ACT and in central and western Tasmania. Characterised by cool to cold winter days, cold winter nights, warm to hot summers with moderate to high humidity.