Climate - Vancouver (Washington_state)

The climate of Vancouver can be defined as oceanic with Mediterranean influences. In fact, winter is mild enough, but not as in the Mediterranean climate, and rainfall is frequent for many months a year, but summer is warm to hot and sunny, albeit with quite cool nights.
The city is located in Washington State, 100 km (60 mi) away from the Pacific coast, on the banks of the Columbia River, beyond which lies the city of Portland, in the state of Oregon. We are in the northwest of the United States.
In winter, fog can form at night and in the early morning. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops to -7/-8 °C (18/19 °F), but sometimes it can drop even below. In December 1998, the temperature went down to -15 °C (5 °F). Snow is rare, although a heavier snowfall than usual can occasionally occur. On average, 10 cm (4 in) of snow fall per year.
In summer, there are strong temperature variations between night and day. On the hottest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 37/38 °C (99/100 °F). During the exceptional heat wave of late June 2021, it reached 46 °C (115 °F).
Not far from Vancouver there are two volcanoes: 75 km (45 mi) to the north-east, in Washington State, is Mount St. Helens, 2,549 meters (8,363 feet) high and famous for the eruption of 1980, while 75 km (45 mi) to the southeast is Mount Hood, which is the highest peak in Oregon with its 3,425 meters (11,237 ft).
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 4.8 °C (40.7 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 20.8 °C (69.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 950 millimeters (37.5 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. Here too, as in Seattle, excluding the summer, there may be several consecutive days characterized by continuous drizzle. Precipitation ranges from 10 mm (0.4 in) in the driest month (July) to 155 mm (6.1 in) in the wettest (December). Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 2,340 sunshine hours per year. The sun shines 23% of the time in December and 70% of the time in July (in Seattle, a bit further to the north, the average goes from 20% in December to 65% in July). Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best time in Vancouver is from mid-May to late September. The driest and sunniest period is generally from mid-June to early September, but it can sometimes get very hot, especially in July and August. You can therefore go from mid-May to mid-June and in the month of September.

Back to the climate of Washington state.

Vancouver - Weather by month

Based on the period 1998-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Vancouver is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.8 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 1.3 °C (34.4 °F) and a maximum of 8.3 °C (47 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (22.5 °F). However, it dropped to -13.3 °C (8.1 °F) in January 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it reached 19 °C (66.2 °F) in January 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), distributed over 20 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In February, the weather in Vancouver is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.1 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) and a maximum of 10.6 °C (51 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -9.4 °C (15.1 °F) in February 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it reached 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) in February 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In March, the weather in Vancouver is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 8.5 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.4 °F) and a maximum of 13.4 °C (56.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.1 °C (21 °F) in March 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69 °F). However, it reached 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) in March 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In April, the weather in Vancouver is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.9 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 5.7 °C (42.2 °F) and a maximum of 16.2 °C (61.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -3.3 °C (26.1 °F) in April 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 31.7 °C (89.1 °F) in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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In May, the weather in Vancouver is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 9 °C (48.2 °F) and a maximum of 20.2 °C (68.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) in May 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in May 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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In June, the weather in Vancouver is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.4 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 11.7 °C (53 °F) and a maximum of 23.1 °C (73.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.9 °C (39 °F) in June 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) in June 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 9 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 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In July, the weather in Vancouver is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.6 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 13.9 °C (57.1 °F) and a maximum of 27.2 °C (80.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 7.8 °C (46 °F) in July 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F). However, it reached 42.2 °C (108 °F) in July 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In August, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Vancouver is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.8 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 14 °C (57.2 °F) and a maximum of 27.6 °C (81.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 7.2 °C (45 °F) in August 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (97.5 °F). However, it reached 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) in August 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In September, the weather in Vancouver is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.7 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 11.1 °C (52 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.2 °C (36 °F) in September 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 37.2 °C (99 °F) in September 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In October, the weather in Vancouver is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.4 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) and a maximum of 17.6 °C (63.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.4 °C (24.1 °F) in October 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 28.9 °C (84 °F) in October 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In November, the weather in Vancouver is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.9 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 4.1 °C (39.4 °F) and a maximum of 11.7 °C (53 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.9 °C (16 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 22.2 °C (72 °F) in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm (5.5 in), distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In December, the weather in Vancouver is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.9 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 1.7 °C (35 °F) and a maximum of 8.1 °C (46.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C (20.5 °F). However, it dropped to -15 °C (5 °F) in December 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 17.8 °C (64 °F) in December 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 155 mm (6.1 in), distributed over 20 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 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).