Climate in Newfoundland (Canada)

Index

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• Introduction - St. Anthony, Corner Brook, St. Lawrence, St. John's, Gander
• When to go

Introduction

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The climate of Newfoundland is characterized by freezing, snowy winters and mild or cool summers. The island is located in the easternmost part of Canada, and administratively it is part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
We are in an area where different currents meet: the cold Labrador current, which descends from Greenland, and the Gulf Stream, which flows further south, not far away. This gives rise to frequent rainfall (and snowfall for a few months a year), but also to wind and mists.
The island is fairly flat, and is occupied by plains or hills that generally do not reach 500 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level. However, in the west there are hills, called Lewis Hills, which reach 815 meters (2,673 feet).
On the coldest days of the year, the temperature generally drops to -25/-28 °C (-13/-18 °F) in the far north (see St. Anthony), to -30 °C (-22 °F) in the interior (see Badger, Gander), and to -13/-15 °C (5/8 °F) on the south coast (see St. Lawrence, St. Shotts, Cape Race).
On the warmest days of the year, the temperature generally reaches 26/28 °C (79/82 °F) in the far north and in St. John's, 30/32 °C (86/90 °F) in inland areas, and only 24/25 °C (75/77 °F) in the southern coasts, which in summer are often affected by fogs and mists.
From March to May, the Labrador current pushes icebergs off the north and east coast of the island of Newfoundland. Some of them run aground given the shallow seabed (we are in the area of the Great Banks of Newfoundland) and remain stationary for a few months. In general, to see them you need to embark, but sometimes they pass so close and are so large that they can also be seen from the coast.
From August to October, the island of Newfoundland can occasionally be hit by hurricanes of the Atlantic, which, after affecting the Caribbean, turn north-east. They generally arrive weakened because they have to cross a cold sea, however they can still bring abundant rains and strong winds.

St. Anthony

The Great Northern Peninsula, which stretches towards the Labrador coast, is very cold, so much so that the average temperature of January and February is below -10 °C (14 °F). Summer is very cool, so much so that the climate can be called subpolar.
In St. Anthony, the average temperature ranges from -11 °C (12 °F) in January and February to 14.5 °C (58 °F) in August. Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation in St. Anthony amounts to 1,300 mm (51 inches) per year. Snow falls from November to April (but sometimes also in May and October). In a year, ah high as 543 cm (214 inches) of snow fall (almost 5 meters and a half or 18 feet!): we are in one of the snowiest cities at sea level in the world.

However, the record in Newfoundland is reached further south, at Woody Point, with 637 cm (250 in) of snow per year.

Corner Brook

Corner Brook, the second largest city on the island and in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, is located on the west coast, on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Here the temperature is a little more forgiving, both in winter and in summer, in fact, the average ranges from -6.5 °C (20.5 °F) in February to almost 18 °C (64.5 °F) in August. Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation in Corner Brook amounts to 1,285 mm (50.5 in) per year, with a maximum in December and January. Snow falls from November to April (but sometimes also in May and October). In one year, 4 meters (13 ft 1 in) of snow fall, of which 2 meters (78.7 in) in the two months of December and January.

The sun at Corner Brook shines for around 1,550 hours a year. It's not much, given the frequent rains and mists.

The sea at Corner Brook is cold all year round, and reaches 0 °C (32 °F) from February to April (remember that the sea freezes at -2 °C (28.5 °F), while it reaches a maximum of 15.5 °C (60 °F) in August.

St. Lawrence

The south coast is less cold in winter, but in summer it remains very cool, due to frequent fogs.
In St. Lawrence, located on the Burin peninsula (beyond which lies the French possession of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon), the average for January and February is close to -4 °C (25 °F), while in August it reaches 17 °C.

In St. Lawrence, precipitation is abundant, given that it amounts to 1,550 mm (61 in) per year, but being the winter temperatures less cold, snow "only" amounts to 247 cm (97 in) per year (and sometimes it can rain even in winter).

St. John's

In the southeast, on the Avalon Peninsula, we find cities like St. John's (the capital), Mount Pearl, Paradise and Conception Bay South.
The average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of -4.5 °C (24 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 16.5 °C (61.5 °F).

With 335 cm (132 in) of snow per year, St. John's is the snowiest major city of Canada, although it's not the one where the snow lasts the longest.

Gander

In inland areas, the summer temperatures are a bit higher, while in winter, during cold waves, the lowest temperatures are reached. In Gander the average temperature ranges from almost -7 °C (19.5 °F) in January to 16.5 °C (61.5 °F) in July and August.

In Gander, precipitation amounts to 1,245 mm (49 in) per year.

When to go

The best months to visit Newfoundland are July and August, as they are the mildest of the year.

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See also the temperatures by month.