Subtropical (or semitropical) areas are those adjacent to the tropics, usually roughly defined as the ranges 23.5-40° N and 23.5-40° S latitude. These areas typically have hot tropical summers, but non-tropical winters. In certain areas of the world the subtropics are plagued by tropical cyclones that originate in the tropics in the summer and fall.

In Köppen's scheme of climate classification, subtropical climates (Cfa, Cwa) are a subtype of temperate climates. They have an average temperature above 22 °C (72 °F) in their warmest months, a coldest month average between -3 °C and 18 °C (27 °F and 64 °F), and wet, humid summers with driest winter month average precipitation greater than one-tenth wettest summer month average precipitation.

Examples of subtropical cities

• Atlanta, Georgia, United States (33.9° N)
• Auckland, New Zealand (37.0º S)
• Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (27.3º S)
• Buenos Aires, Argentina (34.6º S)
• Johannesburg, South Africa (26.1º S)
• Lisbon, Portugal (38.8º N)
• Miami, Florida, United States (25.8º N)
• New Delhi, India (28.6º N)
• New Orleans, Louisiana, United States (30.0º N)
• Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (34.0º S)
• Tokyo, Japan (35.5º N)

See also

• Subtropical climate