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Climate - Nova Scotia (Canada)


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours

Flag - Canada

Nova Scotia, map


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Index


  • Introduction - Sydney, Yarmouth, Amherst, Halifax
  • When to go

Introduction



Nova Scotia's climate is slightly continental, characterized by very cold, snowy winters and pleasantly warm, quite rainy summers.
Nova Scotia is a maritime province of south-eastern Canada, extended from parallel 43 to parallel 47 north, and is formed by the peninsula of the same name, which is stretched from the continent, and the island of Cape Breton, which is very close to the same peninsula. Then there are several smaller islands.
We are in an area characterized by the continuous clash of air masses, which makes the climate unstable, windy and rainy (and snowy in winter). Furthermore, fogs are frequent along the coasts, especially the southern one, due to the infiltration of damp air coming from the south (in fact, the Gulf Stream flows not far away).
Precipitation is fairly well distributed throughout the year, and ranges from 1,100 millimeters (43.5 inches) per year on the north coast, to 1,500 mm (59 in) on the south coast, to 2,000 mm (78 in) in the north of Cape Breton island.
Snowfall is abundant: generally, 1 and a half meters (59 in) of snow fall per year on the southern coast, 2 and a half meters (98 in) on the northern one, and up to 4 meters (157 in) in the north of Cape Breton island (see Ingonish). Usually it snows from late November to early April. In winter, snow storms can occur, called "nor'easters" because they are brought by strong winds from the north-east.
In winter, on colder days, the temperature drops to -15 °C (5 °F) even on the coasts, and in colder winters, it can reach lower values. In 1994, the temperature dropped to -29 °C (-20 °F) in Amherst, to -27 °C (-16.5 °F) in Sydney and Halifax, and to -21 °C (-6 °F) in Yarmouth.
In the north, the Northumberland Strait, more closed and exposed to cold sea currents, can freeze in winter.
Since Nova Scotia is exposed to cold currents from the north as well as mild currents from the south, the winter is not always freezing, but is characterized by variations in temperature. So, in winter, in addition to snow, rain can fall, and the temperature can exceed freezing, and can sometimes go up to 10 °C (50 °F).
In summer, temperatures are generally pleasant. Hot days, with highs around 30/32 °C (86/90 °F), are rare.
From July to October, Nova Scotia can be reached from time to time by hurricanes of the Atlantic, which bend towards the north-east after affecting the Caribbean. They are generally weak by the time they reach Nova Scotia because they have to cross a cold sea, however they can still bring abundant rainfall and strong wind. The strongest hurricanes were Ginny in October 1963 and Juan in September 2003.
Nova Scotia is a fairly flat province, although in the interior there are hills, called Highlands, whose highest point is White Hill, 538 meters (1,765 ft) high, located in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, on Cape Breton island. Warm, fohn-like winds can descend from these hills on the west coast of the island (see Chéticamp, Grand Étang).
In the north-west, in the bay of Fundy, there are the highest tides in the world, around 12 meters (40 ft). From mid-July to early September, whales can be observed in the same bay.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Sydney

Sydney is located in the north, on the northeastern coast of Cape Breton island.
The average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of -5.9 °C (21 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 18 °C (64 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Sydney - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-10-1-5.4153022.4
February-10-2-5.9132921.4
March-72-2.6203527.3
April-272.5294436.5
May3137.9375646.2
June81913.2466555.7
July132317.8557464.1
August132318567364.4
September91914486657.1
October4138.4405547.2
November073.8324538.8
December-52-1.4233629.4
Year1.410.45.934.650.742.5

Precipitation amounts to 1,515 millimeters (59.6 inches) per year. On average, 283 cm (111 in) of snow fall per year. Here is the average precipitation.
Sydney - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1556.123
February1305.117
March1305.116
April1355.314
May1054.115
June953.714
July903.515
August1003.915
September1204.716
October1455.719
November1556.120
December1656.523
Year151559.6206

On average, there are around 1,815 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Sydney - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January390
February4115
March4.5135
April4.5140
May6.5200
June7.5225
July8245
August7.5230
September5.5165
October4130
November2.575
December270
Year51820

In the northern part, the sea, shallow and closer to Labrador, where a cold current flows, is very cold in winter, but warms up more in summer. In Sydney, the sea temperature ranges between 0 °C (32 °F) and 18 °C (64 °F). So, it never becomes warm for swimming. Here are the average sea temperatures.
Sydney - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January133
February032
March-0.531
April0.533
May3.539
June948
July14.558
August17.564
September15.560
October11.553
November745
December3.538
Year744.6

Amherst

Amherst is located in the north of the peninsula, near the coast (Chignecto bay, which freezes in winter), and on the border with New Brunswick.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -7.7 °C (18 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 18.5 °C (65 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Amherst - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-13-3-7.692718.2
February-12-1-6.4112920.4
March-72-2.2203628.1
April-194.1314839.4
May51610.1406050.3
June92115496958.9
July132418.4557565.2
August122418.2547564.7
September92014.2486757.6
October4138.5385647.2
November-173314437.4
December-81-3.4183426
Year111.16.0533.951.943

Precipitation amounts to 1,155 millimeters (45.5 inches) per year. On average, 254 cm (100 in) of snow fall per year. Here is the average precipitation.
Amherst - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1054.122
February853.317
March1054.117
April903.514
May1003.915
June853.312
July903.513
August75313
September1003.913
October1054.117
November1104.319
December1054.121
Year115545.5193

On average, there are around 1,775 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Amherst - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January395
February4110
March4.5140
April5145
May6185
June7210
July7.5230
August7220
September5.5160
October4130
November2.575
December2.580
Year4.91775

Halifax

Halifax, the capital, is located on the Atlantic coast.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -4.2 °C (25 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 19.3 °C (67 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
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

Precipitation amounts to 1,450 millimeters (57.1 inches) per year. On average, 154 cm (60.7 in) of snow fall per year. 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 average, there are around 1,960 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Halifax - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January3.5110
February4.5125
March4.5145
April5155
May6195
June7.5220
July7.5235
August7.5225
September6180
October5160
November3.5105
December3.5105
Year5.41965

The sea temperature ranges between 0 °C (32 °F) and 17 °C (63 °F). So, here too, the sea never becomes warm for swimming. Here are the average sea temperatures.
Halifax - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January235
February0.533
March0.533
April1.535
May4.540
June9.549
July14.558
August16.562
September15.560
October12.555
November948
December541
Year7.645.8

Yarmouth

Yarmouth is located in the southwest, on the coast of the Gulf of Maine, in the mildest but also foggiest area of the province.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -3.1 °C (27 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 17 °C (63 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Yarmouth - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-71-3.1203326.5
February-61-2.7203427.1
March-340.3263932.5
April195.1344841.2
May6149.7425749.5
June101813.8496456.8
July132116.8557062.2
August132117557062.6
September101814.1506557.4
October6139.4425649
November295.1354841.3
December-440.1263932.3
Year3.311.17.237.95245

Precipitation amounts to 1,295 millimeters (51 inches) per year. In a year, 207 cm (81.5 in) of snow fall. Here is the average precipitation.
Yarmouth - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1254.913
February1003.911
March1154.512
April1003.912
May1003.914
June953.714
July903.514
August853.313
September953.715
October1154.516
November1405.514
December1305.113
Year129551160

On average, there are around 1,900 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Yarmouth - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January2.575
February3.5105
March4.5140
April6180
May7215
June7.5220
July7.5230
August7220
September6185
October5.5165
November3.5100
December2.570
Year5.21900

On the southwest coast, the sea is a bit less cold in winter, while in summer it remains cold, not exceeding 15 °C (59 °F). Here are the average sea temperatures.
Yarmouth - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January541
February3.538
March337
April439
May643
June9.549
July13.556
August1559
September1457
October1253
November9.549
December745
Year8.547.3

when to go


The best time to visit Nova Scotia is from June to September, as it is the mildest of the year. July and August are the warmest months.

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