How does the temperature of the coldest month separate Type C and Type D climates?

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Köppen climate classification map — Köppen climate classification The major climatic types are based on patterns of average precipitation, average temperature, and natural vegetation. This map depicts the world distribution of climate types based on the classification originally invented by Wladimir Köppen in 1900.

In the Köppen climate classification system, the temperature of the coldest month is the primary threshold used to distinguish between Type C and Type D climates, provided that the temperature of the warmest month is at least 10 °C in both cases.12

The distinction is defined as follows:

Type C (Mid-latitude climates): These are defined by a coldest month with a mean temperature that is less than 18 °C but greater than –3 °C.12
Type D (Continental climates): These are defined by a coldest month with a mean temperature of –3 °C or lower.12

This temperature boundary serves as a critical marker in the system to differentiate between regions with milder winters and those characterized by more severe, continental winter conditions.32