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Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
In Montreal, the largest city of Québec, located in southeastern Canada, the climate is
continental, with very cold winters and warm summers. Although the city is located on the 45th parallel, ie halfway between the Pole and the Equator, it's freezing in winter because the North American land mass cools down a lot, and outbreaks of polar air masses are frequent.
Precipitation amounts to about 1,050 millimeters (41 inches) per year and is well distributed over the seasons. In fact, weather fronts pass over the city in all months, and are due to the continual clash between warm and cold air masses. In the only season when this clash is less frequent, ie in summer, thunderstorms can develop in the afternoon, adding more rain, so much so that summer is as rainy as autumn, at least in quantity.
During the long winter months, from mid-November to early April, precipitation mostly occurs as snow.
Snow normally covers the ground from late November to mid-March. In Montreal, more than two meters (6 foot 5") of snow fall per year. Occasionally, a snowfall can be seen already in October, and in spring, still in early May. In the winter of 2007/2008, a total of 436 cm (14.3 ft) of snow fell.
Winter in Montreal runs from mid-November to mid-March and is very cold, in fact, the average temperature, about -9 °C (16 °F) in January, is similar to that of Moscow, Russia. However, at least, the days here are not as short as in Nordic countries because, as mentioned, the latitude is not very high.
Waves of freezing cold are accompanied by the
Blizzard, the north wind blowing in gusts, or by the
Barber, the cold and wet wind able to freeze beard and hair, which blows from the north-east, ie from the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Given the constant weather instability, the temperature may exceed freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) even in winter, and in these cases, snow can melt and it can rain.
On the other hand,
cold waves, during which the temperature drops to -25 °C (-13 °F) or below, occur practically every year. The coldest record is -37.8 °C (-36 °F) and was set in January 1957.
Snowfalls are frequent, in fact, it snows for several days per month; occasionally, there can be real snow storms, like that of March 4, 1971, with 43 cm (17 in) of snow in 24 hours and a maximum snow depth of one meter (40 in), or that of December 27, 2012, with 45 cm (17.7 in) in 24 hours.
Spring, from mid-March to May, is an
unstable season, characterized by temperature swings. It is initially cold in March, with snowfalls and frosts still frequent, then it gradually advances, between the first warm days and the return of cold weather, and it's normally cold still in April, while it becomes mild by May, when also thunderstorms begin to develop in the afternoon.
Summer, from June to August, is quite warm, and on hot days, it is also sultry because of the contribution given by the rivers, Saint Lawrence and Ottawa, which widen near the city, creating lakes that provide additional moisture. It is said, a little ironically, that there are only two seasons in Montreal, namely the winter and the month of July: obviously, this is an exaggeration, but there is some truth, in the sense that July stands out as the warmest and sunniest month. August is not really so different, but it's already a bit cooler and less sunny. However, in summer, there is a moderate amount of cool and cloudy days, while on fine days, thunderstorms can erupt in the afternoon.
There can also be periods with
hot and humid weather, with lows around 20/22 °C (68/72 °F) and highs around 32/33 °C (90/91 °F), which typically only last a few days. More rarely, it can even get hotter. The record is 37.6 °C (99.7 °F), set in August 1975.
Autumn, from September to mid-November, is initially pleasant, in fact, with several sunny days, with temperatures exceeding 25 °C (77 °F): this kind of weather, called Indian summer, usually occurs in September, but sometimes also in the first half of October. As the weeks pass, however, the temperature decreases rapidly, bad weather becomes more frequent, and the first cold days occur.
Best Time
The
best time to visit Montréal is from mid-May to late September. In midsummer, especially in July and early August, there can be hot and muggy days, so, this period can be excluded if you cannot stand the heat. In May and early June, it can still be a bit cold. However, you always have to take into account the possibility of rain and changes in temperature.
The following weather data was collected at Trudeau Airport (Dorval).
Montreal - Climate data
In Montreal, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of
-9.2 °C, that of the warmest month (July) is of
21.7 °C. Here are the average temperatures.
Montreal - Average temperatures (1991-2020) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | -13.5 | -5 | -9.2 |
|---|
| February | -12.4 | -3.4 | -7.9 |
|---|
| March | -6.5 | 2.4 | -2 |
|---|
| April | 1.1 | 11.3 | 6.2 |
|---|
| May | 8.3 | 19.4 | 13.8 |
|---|
| June | 13.8 | 24.2 | 19 |
|---|
| July | 16.7 | 26.7 | 21.7 |
|---|
| August | 15.6 | 25.7 | 20.6 |
|---|
| September | 10.9 | 21.1 | 16 |
|---|
| October | 4.5 | 13.2 | 8.8 |
|---|
| November | -1.7 | 6.1 | 2.2 |
|---|
| December | -8.7 | -1.2 | -4.9 |
|---|
| Year | 2.4 | 11.8 | 7.1 |
|---|
amounts to
1040 millimeters per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from
65.5 millimeters in the driest month (February) to
103.1 millimeters in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.
Montreal - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 86 | 11 |
|---|
| February | 66 | 9 |
|---|
| March | 77 | 10 |
|---|
| April | 90 | 10 |
|---|
| May | 86 | 10 |
|---|
| June | 84 | 10 |
|---|
| July | 91 | 10 |
|---|
| August | 94 | 9 |
|---|
| September | 89 | 9 |
|---|
| October | 103 | 10 |
|---|
| November | 84 | 11 |
|---|
| December | 92 | 12 |
|---|
| Year | 1040 | 122 |
|---|
There are on average around 2055
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Montreal - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
| January | 3.5 | 100 |
|---|
| February | 4.5 | 130 |
|---|
| March | 5.5 | 165 |
|---|
| April | 6 | 180 |
|---|
| May | 7.5 | 230 |
|---|
| June | 8 | 240 |
|---|
| July | 9 | 270 |
|---|
| August | 8 | 245 |
|---|
| September | 6 | 180 |
|---|
| October | 4.5 | 145 |
|---|
| November | 3 | 85 |
|---|
| December | 2.5 | 85 |
|---|
| Year | 5.6 | 2055 |
|---|
Montreal - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-9.2 °C, with a minimum of
-13.5 °C and a maximum of
-5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-25 °C. However, it dropped to
-31.8 °C in January 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
7 °C. However, it reached
13.1 °C in January 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
85.8 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.9 kph.
February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-7.9 °C, with a minimum of
-12.4 °C and a maximum of
-3.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-22.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-30.3 °C in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6.5 °C. However, it reached
12 °C in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
65.5 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
16.7 kph.
March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2 °C, with a minimum of
-6.5 °C and a maximum of
2.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-18 °C. However, it dropped to
-26.9 °C in March 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13.5 °C. However, it reached
25.8 °C in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
77.2 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
16.5 kph.
April is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
6.2 °C, with a minimum of
1.1 °C and a maximum of
11.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-14.5 °C in April 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
29.4 °C in April 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is of
17 kph.
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.8 °C, with a minimum of
8.3 °C and a maximum of
19.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.9 °C in May 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
36.6 °C in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
85.6 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of
15.4 kph.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19 °C, with a minimum of
13.8 °C and a maximum of
24.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
2.8 °C in June 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
34.8 °C in June 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
83.6 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
14.2 kph.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.7 °C, with a minimum of
16.7 °C and a maximum of
26.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
7.1 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
36.1 °C in July 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
91.1 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
13.6 kph.
August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.6 °C, with a minimum of
15.6 °C and a maximum of
25.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
6.2 °C in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
36.2 °C in August 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
93.6 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
13.1 kph.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16 °C, with a minimum of
10.9 °C and a maximum of
21.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.8 °C in September 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
33.5 °C in September 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
89.2 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.3 kph.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.8 °C, with a minimum of
4.5 °C and a maximum of
13.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.9 °C in October 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
26.8 °C in October 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
103.1 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.2 kph.
November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.2 °C, with a minimum of
-1.7 °C and a maximum of
6.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-10 °C. However, it dropped to
-17.8 °C in November 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17 °C. However, it reached
22.4 °C in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
84.2 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.9 kph.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-4.9 °C, with a minimum of
-8.7 °C and a maximum of
-1.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-20 °C. However, it dropped to
-30.6 °C in December 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
10 °C. However, it reached
18 °C in December 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
91.9 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.4 kph.