Weather locations in Canada

Canada is the second largest country in the world, spanning almost half the North American continent from about 41°N in the south to above 83°N in the north. That scale produces an extraordinary range of climate: an oceanic, rain-drenched west coast, a semi-arid prairie belt, long harsh continental winters across the middle, and an Arctic archipelago of tundra and ice. Within a few hours' drive from Vancouver to Calgary the weather changes more than in most countries east to west.

Main climate types

The south-west coast around Vancouver and Victoria is the mildest part of the country, with mild wet winters and cool dry summers. The prairies of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are semi-arid steppe with short hot summers and very cold winters. Central Canada, from Ontario and Quebec to the middle of the continent, is humid continental, and the north is subarctic, while the Arctic islands are polar. Only southern British Columbia, the Okanagan and the lower Fraser approach a Mediterranean-like regime.

Temperatures

Winter dominates the annual rhythm. Vancouver averages about 5 °C in January and about 17 °C in July, Toronto about minus 4 °C and 26 °C, and Montreal about minus 7 °C in January. On the prairies Calgary averages about minus 8 °C in January and about 17 °C in July, with bitter cold spells. In the north, Yellowknife averages about minus 20 °C in January and about 19 °C in July.

Rainfall

The west coast is the wettest, with Vancouver taking about 1,000 mm to 1,200 mm a year, most of it in winter, and Halifax about 1,400 mm. Montreal and Toronto receive roughly 900 mm to 1,000 mm each. The prairies are much drier, at 300 mm to 600 mm, with the peak in summer. The Arctic takes under 200 mm, almost entirely as snow.

When to go

For most visitors the season is summer, from early June to late September, when the daylight is very long. Hiking is usually best from late June to mid-August. Winter sports run from January to March, when inland snow depths are reliable.