The temperature drops drastically in Armenia in winter, from around 13C in October to 6C and 0.6C in November and December respectively. While precipitation is down for much of the country the mountainous areas can expect to receive 100-150 mm of snow which will remain on the mountain slopes until spring. In winter, cold air masses stagnate in the valleys, causing severe frosts. Differing from the cold and precipitation of the northern mountains, which can regularly reach -10C at the height of winter, the southern capital experiences warmer subtropical temperatures and low rainfall.