Ukraine is located in the temperate zone with a predominantly temperate continental climate.  Crimea is closer to a Mediterranean subtropical climate and the Trans Carpathian region is mild with little snow in winter but rainy summer.    Average winter temperature ranges from 8° to 12° C (17.6° F to 3° F). The winter temperature in the southern regions of the country hovers close to 0° C (32° F).   Average summer temperature remains within the range of 18° to 25° C (64,4° F to 77° F) sometimes reaching over 35° C (95° F) during the day.   Sunny and serene days prevail in Ukraine, typically 230 to 236 days during the year. The Mountain Carpathian and Crimean ranges protect the Trans Carpathia and Black Sea Coast of Crimea from penetration of cold masses of arctic air coming from the north.   Ukraine is characterized by frequent changes in weather, which is connected with arrival of cyclones and anticyclones (correspondingly 45 and 36 on average during a year).   Precipitations are distributed irregularly with their annual quantity diminishing in the south and south-east. The peak amount of precipitations falls to the share of the Crimean Mountains and Ukrainian Carpathians.   The annual amount of precipitations in: •           Plains - 300—700 мм •           Crimean Mountain - 1000—1200 мм •           Ukrainian Carpathians - over 1500 мм.   The warmest region of Ukraine is the Southern Coast of Crimea with temperatures reaching 39° С (102.2° F); however pleasant sea breezes soften the heat. Winter is quite warm with average temperature of 4° С (39.2° F) in January. Relative humidity in Crimea is always low being in the range of 65 to 80 percent, making breathing easy here even in hot weather. The low indexes of humidity, especially on the Southern Coast of Crimea in subtropical regions are optimal for Europeans.   The best time to visit Ukraine is in summer, late fall or early spring.