The Köppen climate code Dsc represents a dry-summer subarctic climate.
The first letter, D, places the climate in the continental or microthermal group, defined by cold winters and at least one month averaging above 10°C. The second letter, s, means the climate has a dry summer. The final letter, c, indicates a cool summer, with only one to three months averaging above 10°C.
Dsc climates are uncommon because dry summers are unusual in otherwise cold, continental regions. They occur in scattered high-elevation or inland locations, including parts of the Mediterranean Basin, Central Asia, Alaska, the northwestern United States, and the Andes. Some examples are better understood as highland climates influenced by nearby Mediterranean conditions.
A common mix-up is Dfc, the more widespread subarctic code with no pronounced dry season. Dwc instead describes a monsoon-influenced subarctic climate with dry winters, while Csc is a dry-summer warm-temperate climate rather than a subarctic one.