Sobienie Russian climate determined by a number of geographical factors , including the location, size and length from east to west and north to south, a wide variety of terrain .The climate on the whole territory of Russia is characterized by a clear division of the year for the cold and warm seasons. Most of the country lies in the temperate zone , the islands of the Arctic Ocean and the northern continental areas - in arctic and subarctic zones , the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus is located in the subtropical zone . Within each zone there is a significant change in climate , from west to east (climatic region) and north to south ( zoned climate types ) . For example, there are four subtypes of climate in the temperate climate zone : temperate continental , continental and sharply continental and monsoon ( the Far East ) . The coldest region - Siberia, where in the town of Verkhoyansk is " cold pole of the northern hemisphere " - the average temperature in January is below -52 degrees, and in February the column falls below -62 degrees. In winter, almost all of Russia (normal ) set a steady snow cover . The exception are the southern Black Sea coast. Summer in the country is very different : in the southern areas set hot weather, while in northern areas but the snow melts and the frost disappears . Much of the country is characterized by permafrost .