• B – 70 % or more of the total annual rainfall is during the summer half of the year and r (r = average total annual precipitation in mm) is less than 20t + 280 (t = average annual temperature in °C), or 70 % or more of total annual precipitation is during the winter half of the year and r is less than 20t, or no half of the year has less than 70 % of total annual rainfall and r less than 20t + 140. Summer half of the year in the Northern hemisphere is from April to September, on the Southern hemisphere from October to March.
• S – r is less than the upper limit of B type classification parameter
• k - t is less than 18 °C

Cold semi-arid climate is most commonly found in the temperate zone inland, relatively far from the ocean. Although the summers are warm, they are substantially colder than in the case of the hot semi-arid climate type (BSh). The difference can be seen particularly during the winter, when temperatures can drop quite low. The daily temperature amplitude is quite high and the differences between day and night can be more than 20 °C.

Regions with this type of climate, which are at higher altitudes tend to have drier winters and wetter summers, while for areas at lower elevation, it is the opposite – drier summers and wetter winters.

Most often one can see this climate type in Asia and North America, but it also includes for example some regions in Spain, parts of South America, Southern Australia and New Zealand.