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Despite its small size Korea experiences a wide range of weather conditions through four distinct seasons. The Korean Peninsula's climate is comparable to that of the northeast United States between the same latitudes. Under the influence of the maritime Pacific High, summers are usually hot and humid. At the other extreme, winters in Korea are bitterly cold, influenced by the massive arctic Siberian High sitting north of Mongolia. In between, Korea's spring and autumn are sunny and generally dry. Although about 28 typhoons occur in the western Pacific from June to September, only two or three usually approach the Korean peninsula.
Korea is favored with plenty of sunshine, receiving a considerably higher percentage than Japan, though somewhat less than the comparable latitudes in the United States. The variation of annual mean temperature ranges from 10 to 16°C (40 to 61°F), except in the mountains.
Korea's average annual rainfall ranges between 800 and 1,500 mm (31.5 to 59.1 in), about twice that of mainland China and half the amount usually measured in Japan. The peninsula receives over half its total rainfall between June and August, and less than 10% of its total precipitation during the dry season, which lasts from October to March.
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