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Climate - Canada


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Canada

Map - Canada

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Index


  • Introduction
  • Arctic and subarctic climate - Alert, Churchill, Northwest, Inuvik
  • Rocky Mountains - Calgary
  • Great plains - Regina
  • Pacific Coast - Vancouver
  • The south - Montréal, Toronto
  • Eastern coasts - Halifax

Introduction



Canada is a huge country in North America crossed by the Arctic Circle, and largely characterized by freezing winters: latitude and continentality, as well as the position of the mountain ranges, make it one of the coldest countries on Earth.
The population distribution (the largest cities are located along the southern part of the country) and its scarcity (although Canada is one of the world's largest countries, it has approximately 35 million inhabitants) show how hard the environmental conditions are in much of the country, mainly because of the cold climate.
Nevertheless, during the short summer, there may be some hot days, especially in the southern inland areas.

The only area where the average temperature exceeds the freezing point (32 degrees Fahrenheit or zero degrees Celsius) in winter is the coast of British Columbia (see Vancouver), where the climate is oceanic, cool and rainy.

The Rocky Mountains obstruct the flow of mild Pacific air masses, while there are no topographic barriers that could block cold air masses coming from the North Pole; therefore, apart from the west coast, the rest of the country experiences freezing winters.

The Atlantic coast (see Nova Scotia, Newfoundland) is much colder than the Pacific one, both because the prevailing winds come from the west (so, in the East coast, they come from inland) and because a cold sea current flows along the Atlantic coast, namely, the Labrador Current.

So, the temperature of the ocean near Halifax is 1 °C (34 °F) from January to April, while on the coast near Vancouver, it hits a low of 8 °C (46 °F) in February.

The sunniest area is that of the Great Prairies, east of the Rocky Mountains (Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan): in cities such as Calgary, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Regina, the sun shines more than 2,300 hours per year. However, southern British Columbia (see Vancouver) is also sunny in summer, and Arctic regions (see Alert) in late spring.

Arctic and subarctic climate



The vast Arctic and subarctic regions, from the northern islands to the Hudson Bay, experience only two seasons: a long winter, with night temperatures normally around -30/-35 °C (-31/-22 °F), and three summer months, during which the temperature is around or just above freezing. In Arctic areas, the temperature hovers around freezing or rises a few degrees above, while in subarctic areas, it rises above that value but remains on average below 10 °C (50 °F).

Alert

Here are the average temperatures of Alert, in the far north (in the Nunavut Province, at a latitude of 82 ° N, near Greenland), where only 155 millimeters (6 inches) of rain or snow fall per year.
Alert - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-36-29-32.5-33-20-26.5
February-37-30-33.5-35-22-28.3
March-36-29-32.5-33-20-26.5
April-28-21-24.5-18-6-12.1
May-15-9-1251610.4
June-32-0.5273631.1
July163.5344338.3
August-230.5283732.9
September-12-6-9102115.8
October-23-16-19.5-93-3.1
November-30-23-26.5-22-9-15.7
December-34-26-30-29-15-22
Year-21.2-14.7-17.9-6.15.5-0.5

At these subpolar latitudes, the sun in winter does not rise for a few months; the sunniest season is clearly the spring, while in summer, even though the sun never sets, the number of cloudy and rainy days increases. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Alert - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January00
February00
March3.5110
April11325
May14430
June11335
July10.5320
August8.5270
September3.5110
October05
November00
December00
Year5.21900

Churchill

In Canada, the subarctic climate zone extends down to a relatively low latitude: on the shores of the Hudson Bay, you can find tundra vegetation even around the 60th parallel, while in Europe, at the same latitude, there are big cities like Stockholm and Oslo.
Here are the average temperatures of Churchill, Manitoba, located at a latitude of 58° north, in the Hudson Bay.
Churchill - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-30-22-26-22-8-14.8
February-29-20-24.5-20-4-12.1
March-24-14-19-117-2.2
April-14-5-9.572314.9
May-53-1233730.2
June2127365444.6
July71812.5456454.5
August81712.5466354.5
September3106.5375043.7
October-42-1253630.2
November-16-9-12.53169.5
December-26-18-22-150-7.6
Year-10.6-2.1-6.31328.320.5

In Churchill, precipitation is not abundant, since it amounts to 455 mm (18 in) per year; the rainiest season is summer, while in winter, snowfalls are frequent but not abundant. Here is the average precipitation.
Churchill - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January200.811
February150.69
March200.89
April2518
May301.211
June451.813
July602.411
August702.810
September702.88
October5027
November351.48
December200.811
Year45517.9115

In Churchill, the sun is quite rarely seen in winter, while in July, the sunniest month, it is seen roughly half the time.
Churchill - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January2.580
February4120
March5.5180
April6.5200
May6.5195
June8245
July9280
August7.5225
September3.5110
October260
November255
December1.555
Year4.91800

The Hudson Bay is frozen solid from December to April, while in May, June and November, it can be more or less frozen depending on year. It is worth while to recall that sea water, being salty, freezes at about -2 °C (28.5 °F).
Churchill - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January-228
February-228
March-228
April-228
May-130
June032
July337
August846
September745
October337
November032
December-228
Year0.933.5

Northwest

In the northwest, in the provinces of Yukon and Northwest Territories, the climate is strongly continental, with a long, cold winter and an intense summer, during which the daytime temperature can sometimes reach 30 °C (86 °F). Summer nights, however, remain cool. Of course, this applies to valleys and hilly areas: high mountains remain obviously cold even in summer.
In the northwest, the lowest temperatures of the entire North American continent have been recorded: on February 3, 1947, in Snag, Yukon, almost 600 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level, on the border with Alaska, the temperature dropped to -63 °C (-81.5 °F). Cold waves like this are due to the proximity to Siberia: when a high pressure system moves over the Pacific Ocean, a "train" of cold air (which in North America is called "Siberian Express") flows from eastern Siberia, and sometimes reaches the mid-west regions of the United States as well. However, in Snag, the monthly average temperature ranges from -27.5 °C (-17.5 °F) in January to 13.5 °C (56.5 °F) July, when the average maximum is 20 °C (68 °F).

Inuvik

Here are the average temperatures of Inuvik, located in the Northwest Territories, at a latitude of 68 ° N, not far from the coast of the Beaufort Sea. Here, the coldest record is -57 °C (-70.5 °F).
Inuvik - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-32-23-27.5-26-9-17.5
February-32-22-27-26-8-16.6
March-29-18-23.5-200-10.3
April-18-7-12.50199.5
May-550234132
June51711416351.8
July92014.5486858.1
August61611436151.8
September084324639.2
October-12-5-8.5102316.7
November-25-17-21-131-5.8
December-30-21-25.5-22-6-13.9
Year-13.5-3.8-8.657.725.116.5

Precipitation in this area is not abundant, and remains generally below 500 mm (20 in) per year. Here is the average precipitation in Inuvik, where only 250 mm (10 in) fall per year.
Inuvik - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January150.621
February120.517
March110.417
April110.416
May170.715
June220.914
July351.412
August401.613
September301.214
October301.216
November200.818
December150.621
Year2509.8191

Inuvik is located just north of the polar circle, where the sun does not rise for a month, from December 6th to January 5th. The sunniest month is June, when the sun never sets (so the percentage of the sunshine hours is not very high, about 52%).
Inuvik - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January05
February2.565
March5.5175
April8.5250
May9.5295
June12.5375
July11340
August7215
September3.5110
October1.550
November0.520
December00
Year5.21900

Rocky Mountains



In the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and Alberta, the climate varies according to altitude and slope exposure.

The western slopes have a very humid and relatively mild climate, with precipitation exceeding 2,000 millimeters (80 inches) per year.
On the contrary, in inland areas and on the eastern slopes, precipitation decreases rapidly and drops below 500 mm (20 in) per year; in addition, the climate in this eastern area is continental, with very cold winters: in Calgary, at 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, the average temperature in January is -6.3 °C (20.7 °F), while in Edmonton, more to the north and at 670 meters (2,200 feet), it's -10 °C (14 °F). Summers are mild, with cool nights, while days are pleasant, though there may some hot days, during which the temperature can rise to around 30 °C (86 °F). Here are the average temperatures in Calgary.
Calgary - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-130-6.393220.6
February-122-5113523
March-85-1.2184229.8
April-2124.9285440.8
May31810.4386450.7
June72114.1456957.4
July102517.4507763.4
August92416.8487662.2
September52012.3406854.2
October-1135.8305542.5
November-85-1.3184129.7
December-121-5.6113321.9
Year-1.612.15.252953.841.5

During the cold months, in valleys and slopes facing east, the terrible Blizzard often blows from the north, but sometimes a totally different wind blows, the warm and dry Chinook, which is similar to the Föhn of the Alps but is even more intense, and can raise the temperature in a spectacular way (by tens of degrees Celsius), so much so that snow can quickly evaporate (or better, sublimate). The Chinook causes such spectacular changes in temperatures because of strong air compression (in fact, the wind descends from very high mountains), but also to the different origin of the air mass (which is much milder because it comes from the Pacific Ocean). While the Chinook blows at the foot of the mountains, the Blizzard typically blows in the vast prairies and plains of Canada (see below).
Canada landscape

Great plains



In the Midwest plains, from the southern part of the Northwest Territories (see Fort Smith) to the central and southern plains of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (see Winnipeg, Regina), the climate is strongly continental, with long, cold winters and short summers, when days are warm and nights remain cool, but during which there may also be some hot days.
The continentality is so strong that in the same place, the temperature can drop below -40 °C (-40 °F) in winter and reach as high as 40 °C (104 °F) in summer.
Precipitation, which has a maximum in summer, is not abundant: west of Winnipeg, it's lower than 500 mm (20 in) per year, and sometimes this region may experience periods of drought.
In winter, the blizzard brings terrifying snow storms.
In Regina, located at the 50th parallel, the average temperature ranges from -14 °C (5.5 °F) in January to 19 °C (66.5 °F) in July. Here are the average temperatures.
Regina - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-20-9-14.2-4176.5
February-18-6-12.102110.3
March-111-5133323
April-3124.5275340.1
May41911.6396752.8
June92316.3497461.3
July122719.2538066.6
August112718.6518065.4
September52113.3417156
October-2125285441
November-101-4.3143524.2
December-17-6-11.222211.8
Year-3.210.33.5526.350.638.5

Pacific coast



On the Pacific coast, the climate is oceanic, very different from the rest of the country. Winters are relatively mild but rainy; usually, the temperature is above freezing, even though there can be a few days with snow and frosts almost every year. Summers are cool and fairly sunny, although sometimes it can rain.
Vancouver is the only large city in Canada which is not freezing in winter: the average temperature is 4.5 °C (39.5 °F) in January, and 18.5 °C (65 °F) in July and in August. The climate is more similar to that of London (even though the summer in Vancouver is sunnier) than to that of cold countries.
Vancouver - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January174.3344539.7
February194.9344740.9
March3116.9375144.3
April5149.6425749.2
May91813.3486455.9
June122015.9536860.6
July142318.4577365
August142318.4577365.1
September112015.3526759.6
October71410.6445851.1
November3106.6385044
December174.1344539.4
Year6.814.710.744.258.451

The sea in Vancouver and along the coast of British Columbia is always cold, as you can see in the following table.
Vancouver - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January846
February846
March847
April1049
May1253
June1356
July1458
August1457
September1355
October1151
November949
December847
Year10.651.2

The south



In the Great Lakes region, in the plains of central-southern Ontario and Quebec (see Montréal, Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City), the climate is still continental, but it is also humid, with precipitation around 1,000 mm (40 in) per year, well distributed throughout the year.
During winter, in the Great Lakes region, cold air masses from the north-west pick up moisture when passing over the Great Lakes, and then collide with warmer air masses coming from the United States; therefore, in this area there are often waves of bad weather with heavy snowfalls.
Spring comes quite late and is very cool.
Summer is not long and is characterized by rainy, cool days that alternate with hot, sunny days, during which thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon.
In the southern part of Ontario, which is also the southernmost part of the country, during the summer, hot and muggy days can sometimes occur, when the area is reached by hot air masses from inland areas of the United States: in these cases, the temperature can rise up to 40 °C (104 °F).
In Montreal, which is located at the latitude of southern France, temperatures in winter are similar to those of Moscow, Russia, with an average in January of -9 °C (16 °F), while summers are warm, with an average temperature of 22 °C (71 °F) in July. Here are the average temperatures.
Montreal - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-14-4-8.982416
February-12-2-7.4102818.7
March-73-1.8203828.8
April1126.4335343.4
May82014466857.1
June142519.2567766.6
July162721.8628171.2
August152620.8607969.5
September112216.4527261.6
October5149.4405848.9
November-272.4294436.4
December-80-4.4173124.1
Year2.312.57.436.154.645.5

In Montreal, 1,000 mm (40 in) of rain or snow fall per year, and there is no dry season. Here is the average precipitation.
Montreal - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January75317
February652.614
March702.814
April803.113
May803.114
June853.313
July903.512
August953.712
September853.311
October903.513
November953.715
December853.316
Year100039.4163

In Toronto, Ontario, located further south, winter is less cold: the average in January is -5.5 °C (22 °F), but the temperature drops below -20 °C (-4 °F) for a few days almost every year. Summer in Toronto is similar to that of Montreal, though slightly warmer: days are usually warm, and sometimes even hot, with some chance of thunderstorms, but there can be cool and rainy days as well.
Near Toronto, lake Ontario is very cold in winter, while in summer, it becomes almost acceptable for swimming, at least for those who do not suffer from the cold, especially in August, when it reaches 21 °C (70 °F).

Toronto

Eastern coasts



The east coast of Canada (see New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador) has a humid climate, cold and snowy in winter, mild and rainy in summer.
Here are the average temperatures in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Halifax - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-80-4.1173224.5
February-80-3.6183325.6
March-44-0.1253831.7
April194.8344840.7
May61410.1425850.2
June112015.2516759.3
July142318.8587465.8
August152319.2607466.6
September121915.6536760
October6139.9445649.8
November284.8354740.6
December-43-0.8243730.6
Year3.711.47.538.652.645.5

In Halifax, precipitation is abundant, since it amounts to 1,450 mm (57 in) per year; in fact, disturbances form in all seasons because of the continuous clash between different air masses. Being on the coast of the Atlantic ocean and exposed to the south, Halifax can receive southern currents even in mid-winter, which raise the temperature above freezing and bring rainfall. Here is the average precipitation.
Halifax - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1505.920
February1154.517
March1355.316
April1204.714
May1104.314
June1003.913
July1003.913
August953.713
September1054.113
October1305.116
November1455.716
December1556.119
Year145057.1185

On the south coast of Nova Scotia, the sea does not freeze in winter, except in the most closed and sheltered bays. In summer, the sea is very cool, if not cold.
Halifax - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January235
February033
March033
April235
May540
June949
July1458
August1762
September1660
October1355
November948
December541
Year7.645.8

The most eastern and northern coasts of Newfoundland (see St.John's) are cool or even cold even in midsummer because of the direct influence of the Labrador Current. Here, the climate is similar to that of the Sakhalin Island and the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk in the Russian Far East, and in summer, it's cool and foggy. The clash between the cold sea current and the warmer waters coming from the tropical latitudes of the Atlantic, generates frequent and dense fogs. For this reason, the area of the Grand Banks is the foggiest place on Earth.

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