How does the climate of the Baltic states compare with the climate of nearby Russia?

The climate of the Baltic states is generally cooler and more damp than that of the East European Plain, including neighboring Russia. While the Baltic region experiences a transitional climate between the maritime type of western Europe and the continental type found further east, it is significantly moderated by the influence of the Baltic Sea.12

In contrast, Russia’s climate is dominated by continental regimes due to its vast size and distance from the sea. Because Russia lacks major relief barriers to the west, it is open to both Atlantic and Arctic influences, but its interior regions experience extreme seasonal ranges with severe winter cold.34

Key differences include:
* Moderation: The Baltic states benefit from air masses originating in the North Atlantic, which carry warmer air in winter and cooler air in summer compared to the more extreme continental temperatures found in Russia at similar latitudes.52
* Seasonality: Russia is characterized by two primary seasons—winter and summer—with brief periods of spring and autumn. The Baltic states also experience marked seasonality, but their temperatures remain more moderate than those in the Russian interior.316