Canada - weather in October

October is an autumn month in Canada.
Average temperatures are already below freezing in the north, in vast areas with a polar or subpolar climate. In the south, where the main cities are located, temperatures are still quite mild.
Precipitation is generally light in the north, in the Arctic and Subarctic areas, where it often occurs in the form of snow. Even in the west-central, in the Great Prairies (see Edmonton, Calgary, Regina), the rains are not abundant.
In the extreme west, on the coast of British Columbia (see Vancouver), on the other hand, the rains decidedly increase, and become frequent and often abundant.
In the extreme south, in the Great Lakes area (see Toronto) and in Québec (see Montreal, Ottawa), but also in the east, on the coasts of Atlantic (in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, see Saint John's, Halifax), the rains are frequent, as in the rest of the year.
Every so often, until October, Nova Scotia (see Halifax) and the island of Newfoundland (see Saint John's) can be reached by hurricanes from the Atlantic, which turn to the northeast after affecting the Caribbean. They usually arrive weakened because they have to cross a cold sea, however, they can still bring heavy rains and strong winds.
Sometimes, especially at the beginning of the month, there can still be a warm and sunny period, with highs above 25 °C (77 °F), called Indian summer.
From mid-September to mid-October, going from north to south, after the first cold (but not freezing) nights, especially in the eastern provinces (Ontario, Québec), the trees take on autumn colors (fall foliage), which are often more intense and spectacular than in Europe.
On the other hand, especially in the second half of the month, the first irruptions of cold air can also occur in the south, in which the temperature can drop below freezing and it can snow, while in the west-central, in the Great Prairies (see Edmonton, Calgary, Regina), it can already drop below -10 °C (14 °F).




See also: Canada, the weather in September - November
The climate of Canada