Owing to its diverse geographical characteristics, Morocco has a diverse and incomparable climate. Morocco is dominated by the Mediterranean climate made temperate by the influence of the Atlantic Ocean in the northern and southern parts of the country. Inland areas have a hotter drier continental climate. In the south part of the country, the weather is hot and dry throughout most of the year, with cool nights in December and January. Rain falls from November to March in coastal areas, and Atlas mountainous region is moist with frequent snow falls during winter.Daily hours of sunshine on the Atlantic coast average nine to ten as compared with up to twelve inland in the desert. In winter, sunshine hours range from five to six a day in the north to as many as eight in the south part of the country.