Continental climate: hot summers, cold winters
Continental summers run hot and winters run cold. Shade and flush at night in summer. After a heatwave keep night ventilation. In winter air briefly, then close.
Continental weather swings hard: hot summers and cold winters, with little sea to soften either. Walls store that swing. After a heatwave your home can stay warm for days. In winter the same walls hold the heat you want to keep.
Berlin, Warsaw, inland France, and high plateaus like Madrid live this pattern. Summer follows dry-heat rules. Winter follows brief-air rules. The app is useful in both seasons.
The continental checklist
- Summer: shade by day, flush at night when outdoor air is cooler
- After heat: keep night ventilation going; cool-down is slow
- Winter: short openings only, then close
- A sunny winter day is not a reason to leave windows open; take the light through closed glass
Summer and the days after
Treat a continental heatwave like warm and dry weather unless the air turns sticky. Close and shade by day. Open when outdoor air is cooler.
When the forecast breaks, the building may not. Keep night ventilation going until indoor temperature actually catches up. See why the home stays hot after a heatwave.
Winter is the other half of the same walls
Those walls that stored summer heat will store winter warmth if you let them. Air in short bursts, then close, as in when it is cold. A bright January window is for light, not for a draught.
This is not medical advice. Follow your local health agency if heat or cold is making you unwell.
Ventilate ranks each window in both seasons from indoor temperature, local weather, sun, and layout.